Once you finish reading this, there are some notes and facts that might clear up some confusion.
I sit down on the stage and talk with Maria.
"Kyoko Jie Jie, what do you usually chat with your dad about?" Maria asks me. I give a sad look, yet I will be honest with her.
"That question is a little hard to answer because I don't have a dad. " Her reaction says it all.
"Huh?" She tells me with a shocked face. Soon the president speaks up.
"I'm so sorry. Apologize to Jie Jie." He tells me and Maria.
"Kyoko jie jie, I'm sorry. I didn't know you don't have a dad." Maria tells me. I smile at her. She has a dad, but no mother. I have a mother, but not a dad.
"It's okay," I tell her.
"How about your mom? What do you talk to your mom about?" She asks me. I give a sorrow-filled look and I can tell the president is looking at me with that question. Oh man, this is going to be hard... "Do you not have a mom either?" How should I react to that? I do but I don't. No, wait I got it!
"I have a mom."
"You scared me." She tells me. If only she knew the truth.
"Maria, if you don't know what to say to your dad, then just tell him directly that you miss him and want to see him." I see her reaction to that.
"No, I can't say stuff like that. If I do, then the airplane will..." I interrupt her.
"It won't, Maria. Daddy will come back safely." I tell her.
"Really?" She asks me concerned.
"Yes. The airplane incident that time was unrelated to you wanting to see your mom and your mom wants to see you. The problem with an airplane has to do with the airplane's health, the person flying the airplane, and also weather-related causes." I tell her.
"I get it." I smile at her reaction this time.
"Good, then hurry and call your dad." She turns around and faces her grandfather/president.
"Okay. Grandpa, may I borrow your office phone to call?" She asks him sweetly. I remember those times but not having times that are that sweet. I wish I knew who my father was. If I can talk to the president about it. No, no way.
"It's a very expensive call to America." He tells her with a puzzled look.
"After I grow up, I'll be very good to you," Maria tells him.
"All right. But, you better not forget in a few days." The president says.
"Okay, I'm not like you." Maria then runs off and does what she was going to do. I smile at her. She quickly comes back and kisses me on the cheek. I wish I had siblings. I smile at her once more and she walks off.
"Does your mom know about you joining my company? If it's convenient, please notify her." The President asks me.
"Is that a rule?" I ask lightly and sadly. He shakes his head yes. Damn, I have to tell him now. "If I don't notify her, does that mean I can't stay on at LME?" He looks at me with an unknowingly look.
"From what I know, she has never cared about where I am or what I'm doing. Since I know that is the kind of person she is that I am aware of, do I still have to notify her about what I'm doing right now?" I tell him the truth.
"Then you decide on your own, I won't force you." He tells me as he gets up. I stop him.
"Wait, if I give you her name, could you at least tell me if she is alive or not? Also, I know for a fact it takes two people to create a life. Could you maybe see if my father is alive or dead? I would like to know." He turns around and looks at me.
"I could check. What is your mother's name?"
"Saena Mogami is her name." He then gives me a shocked look. He looks up and down at me.
"No, not possible.." He says out loud. He gives me another look. "Saena-san. It couldn't be. I need you to come with me, please. It is urgent. " Soon enough, I am with him and Maria. He is taking the both of us somewhere
"What is going on grandpa?" Maria asks.
"We are going to the hospitable. I need something checked out. It involves both your's and Kyoko's blood. It won't hurt. It is a simple test." The President says. Blood? Checked out? Oya, I am confused.
Soon enough, we are there and taking our blood. All three of us wait for the results in six weeks. As each week passes by, Mr. Takarada gets impatient and excited more. I continue my work and I see Tsuruga-san and Yashiro-san in between here and there.
During the six weeks, a lot has happened. First was that I got a Love Me job to play a chicken by the name of 'Bo'. Playing as 'Bo' is a lot of fun. That was just during the first weeks though. That itself was eventful.
The second week passed by like nothing. It was during the third week that I was offered to be a part of Sho's MV. I took the job without a second thought and had fun. I have completely forgotten about revenge while doing the job. It wasn't until near the end that Sho tried to get my attention but I left before any damage could be done thankfully.
Into the fourth week, I had received a call from Mr. Takarada. He had arranged for me to take a mid-intake* student exam. (Year 2 or up). I was just happy that I would go to college. A while during that week, I arranged with Yashiro to meet up with both himself and Tsuruga-san. I explained myself to them both and apologized profusely. All I want from them both is an honest and sincere friendship.
When entering the fifth week, an odd request for a job landed in my hands. I landed myself as a temporary manager in charge of one, Ren Tsuruga. Yashiro got sick and asked for a week's leave. During that week, Tsuruga-san got sick himself. I even had to reprimand him for being unprofessional. In the long run, Tsuruga-san and I achieved a better friendship during this process. I also have compassion for Yashiro-san for being a super manager.
Between being Tsuruga-san's temporary manager, along with myself prepping for my exams. I still have the Love Me work, myself. I had to be 'Bo' during all of this and gotten to see a different side of Tsuruga-san. By the time the week was over, Tsuruga-san was thankful for me helping him during the time he was sick. The fact that there were no problems was even better on my end.
This is where I am currently. In the sixth week and I am getting apprehensive myself. I am now expecting a call from Mr. Takarada, waiting for the justification of having my blood drawn.
I have fixed Tsuruga-san food while he lets me stay with him during the time I was his manager and just continued from there on occasions. It is nice to have a friend and mentor. It happens two or three times a week.
"Tsuruga-san, are we friends?" I ask him one night while we are eating what I fixed at his place. He gives me an expression I haven't seen before. I am not sure what to make of it.
"I would like to think that we are friends but also co-workers," Tsuruga-san tells me. I smile at him.
"I am glad we are on the same page. I see you as a friend and mentor. I can see that we are co-workers. I just wanted to make sure that is all. This makes you my second friend." I smile knowing this myself.
"Who's your first friend?" Tsuruga-san asks, making small talk.
"Moko-san. I never really had friends when I was growing up, well that's not true. I did have Corn, but only for a short while. He is my very first true friend. I wonder how he is doing nowadays." I look at my plate with a sad face. Suddenly I hear a gasp. What?
"What's wrong Tsuruga-san?" I look back up to see him staring straight at me. I don't understand. Oh, maybe it's the name I just said just now. He doesn't know... I pull out my Corn stone. "Here, this is what Corn gave me... It's silly, but I always called it my Corn stone. It was the very first thing I have ever gotten from anyone. Corn told me." I chuckle.
"He told me that this stone. It washes away any bad emotions. Along with any bad negativity. I looked into it. What he said is true, this stone is called, Iolite. It's known as a Water sapphire. This stone has many uses. I use it for emotional properties. It is known for the soothing tonic when I deal with painful memories or emotions. It also helps with the idea of the pain of losing my father since I never knew him. I enjoy the emotional release when I keep Corn stone on me at all times. Thus why I have always had it on my person at all times."
Tsuruga-san is still staring at me even with the explanation. What's his problem? It's as if something has hit him and he has been throw into the past. Ahhh. I have seen the expression on myself many times. What is he seeing in his past? Does it have to do with me? Why is he still staring? Doesn't he know that staring is rude?
"Uhm, Tsuruga-san... Are you okay? Is everything alright?" I ask him. Soon he comes back to reality. "I'm sorry for spacing like that. Normally that doesn't happen. Never mind that it happened." Tsurugan-san tells me.
Worrisome. Ah, I do mind, but I won't tell him that. "That's alright. Enough on the stone. Though, it would be nice to know how Corn, himself, is doing. I still remember what he told me about being trapped. I appreciated the fact that he put it more simply for me, but I knew what his metaphors meant. The fact that he was being trapped by his father's shadow and kept him from reaching his true potential. I wonder, did he break from his father's shadow? Did he reach his true potential? I do hope so. I always knew Corn would one day, break free." I smile thinking of Corn.
"I just wish I could see him. Is he still naturally blonde? Or did he dye his hair? Does he still have his bright emerald green eyes? Or did he get colored contacts? I wouldn't be able to recognize him if he is under disguise. Overall, I would be just happy if Corn is free, like what he always wanted." I state passionately about wanting the best for my very, very first friend. Tsuruga-san is just listening to me. I smile just thinking of Corn.
"It sounds like that you miss him," Tsuruga-san says. I think of the young Corn. "I do. I truly miss him. He was the very first friend that listened to me. Sometimes it's like he is with me. In here." I motion to my heart. A pure friendship. No lies, no deceit.
"He may have been vague about his situation, but he was honest and tried to keep it simple for me to understand. That fact alone means a lot to me. If he is under disguise, he did it for good intentions. Even if he tries to think otherwise." I would have never thought I would be talking about my old and true friend Corn.
"Thanks for listening Tsuruga-san. I am happy to have met you, even if we met in an odd set of circumstances. I would be happy to meet you again." His reaction is priceless. I chuckle at him.
"Even if the circumstances were the same?"
I think about it honestly and hard. Yeah, I probably would. "Yes," I tell Tsuruga-san. I smile at him. We enjoy our meal together. Once we finish, Tsuruga-san offers to help clean up as always.
"I do have one question for you Morgami-san, If by chance the Corn you speak of, is under disguise. What would happen if he has been with you this whole time and yet hasn't told you it was him, what would you expect?" Tsuruga-san asks me while I wash another dish. I honestly think about his question.
"Nothing. I would expect nothing. He will tell me that it is him in due time, even if not knowing why he has put himself in that position. Corn will be honest no matter what has happened. Especially if it is something bad that happened in his past after meeting me but before meeting me again. He will try to be open-minded just like as before. I just hope he is overall healthy and in one piece at that point." I tell Tsuruga-san.
I continue doing dishes until all of them are done and he drys them. He drives me back home. "Thanks for the ride. I will perhaps see you tomorrow... Have a good night and sleep well. Bye." I tell Tsuruga-san.
Within the next few days, I receive a call from Mr. Takarada asking me to meet with him in his office while he gets Maria. We going to the hospital when both Maria and I had gotten our blood drawn weeks ago. Soon, we hear a doctor hand the results to the President. I wonder what the results say.
"Here we go." Is all he says. I wonder what is going on. The President gets up and sees the results.
The President gets up and sees the results. "Well, then it is true. Damn. Well then, welcome to the family Kyoko. You are also my half-niece, still a niece all the same. Your mother Saena, and my son Kouki had a relationship at one point in time between January and April. She left shortly after the week of Easter. You were the reason why she left. She was pregnant with you. Maria, you and Kyoko have the same dad."
I am floored at hearing this. I have to tell Moko-san! I am shocked to hear that I do have a family. The president is my grandfather! Oh My Gosh. I don't know what to say or how to react.
"Awesome. Kyoko is really my older sister! I am so happy." Maria says. She soon hugs me and doesn't let go on the way out. I am just not sure what to do. I am too shocked to say anything...Speechless would be the correct word.
"I will have to inform my son that he has a second and older kid. Oh damn. This is all too surprising." The President says. Oh wait.
"Sir, does this mean I can stay? I can keep what I am doing at LME?" He looks back at me. He just smiles.
"Yes, you can stay and continue the job. Do you have a place to stay?" He asks me. All of this is new to me. I have a father and grandfather. Holy shit!
"Uhm yeah I do. How should I address you now that I know your my grandfather?" I ask.
"Very good question there. Professionally, it would be wise if we kept things formal. Out of work though, you can call me grandpa or grandfather. It's your choice." He tells me. I have a sister to, oh sweet little Maria. I am so happy that I do have family after all. I keep on smiling. We go back to LME and continue to work. For me , I have to do the 'Bo' the chicken once more. The audiunce loved me being the chicken so much that I get to continue the act.
I continue my day as usually until I bump into someone. I look up to see that it is Tsuruga-san with his manager. I just smile at both of them. I am oddly great. I normally don't feel this way. "Hi Tsuruga-san. Hi Yashiro-san. How are the both of you today?" I ask them both. Ren, lifts up both his eyebrows. Yashiro-san smiles back at me.
Yashiro-san responds back first. "My day is going well, thanks for asking."
Tsuruga-san starts in next. "Whats made you this excited? New role?" He asks me... Should I tell them? I have no idea.. I should ask for perimission first.
"In a way, yes. Its just the new role is more surprising than I expected. I can't say much. I have to ask for perimssion first before I can tell either of you. I am not sure how to ask him first..." I tell them
Awhile later once I clocked out, I saw that Tsuruga-san was waiting for me... That's nice of him. I have to see if I can talk to Mr. Takarada first... I can call him grandfather in my head. "Excuse me, Tsuruga-san, but I need to find Mr. Takarada. I need to speak to him about the new role and see if he will accept me taking it on." I think that was a very reasonable excuse. I just hope that he believes it.
At Tsuruga-san request, he kept me company. Finally at the main office doors, I knock first to see if Mr. Takarada is in. Knock, knock, knock! I can't believe Tsuruga-san is willingly to wait for me. Even if I have kept things to myself, I feel bad not sharing it with him. I just don't know if I am allowed to share it with him or not. Grandfather would understand that right?
"Come in, the door is open." Hearing Mr. Takarada, nah, Grandfather's voice. Good. Opening the doors I walk in, unknowingly Tsuruga-san follows.
"Ah, it's nice to see you again. I was hoping you would come by. I wanted-" Hearing Grandfather's voice fade and I follow his gaze. Shit! Tsuruga-san!
"Sir, I was hoping that the 'new role' that came as surprising news ealier, with Maria was beside me. I wanted to ask for your perimission if I could share it with Tsuruga-san." Grandfather picked it my major hint.
"Ahhhh. Ren... Kyoko is my long lost granddaughter." Grandfather expilictly told him right here!
Tsuruga-san only blinks with his mouth agap. "But, how?" Tsuruga-san says.
"My mother has a relationship with his son at one piont. Didn't you say that Maria and I looked similair as well?" I tell Tsuruga-san. His mouth is still asgaped. I shut his mouth for him. "Tsuruga-san, You ok?"
"Don't worry about him, Kyoko. He's just in shock. Now that he knows, back to what I was saying. I wanted to talk to you about the old couple that you are staying with. Have you told them that you didn't have any living relatives?" I blush at grandfather's words. I think I am in trouble.
"Uhm, at the time, yes. For all I knew, my mother was never in the picture and I thought my dad was dead." I have my head tilted downward.
"I didn't know what else to say to them. They took me in and even gave me a job. They are the reason, why I managed the auditon when I first stepped into LME. Ever since I was young, I have been trained for someone's purpose or someone else's use. I practiced a lot in order to do the Radish Flower. Not because I wanted to be a chef, but becasue of the beauty in it. That should be shared with anyone who would appericate the art in itself." I explained a little to much. Shit. Why did I bring up Fowa's parents?
"No need to explain child. I just wanted to see if you wanted to stay with them or if you wanted to move it with Maria and I, maybe even your own place." I am shocked at the last piece of his statement. My own place? I wouldn't know. It is now when Tsururga-san comes out from his shock.
"Her living arragment?" Tsuruga-san says... He says it as if it is a big deal. It's not for me. I have moved around so much in the past four years.
"Grandfather, does it bother you, that I live with them?" I ask him. He looks down at me with an unguarded expression on his face.
"I am just worried for you and your safety, Kyoko." That single line went right through me. Worried? Safety? Hearing those words and my past going right through my eyes. I flinich, unvoliuntary. I crumble down and feel a sense of relief with ease all of a sudden. Why? Why am I feeling like this for?
"Kyoko? Kyoko. Kyoko!" I hear my name in the distance but I am so lost in my flashbacks and emotions. Soon, it was a grip that make me come back to the world of living. "Kyoko, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Tsuruga-san says to me. I look up to him only to realize that he is holding me.
"I don't think nothing is wrong. Its just. I don't know why, but I feel relief. I am also at ease with myself. I don't understand. Why do I feel like this?" I ask him... His eyes speak without him saying anything. Feeling another set of hands on me, I hear my grandfather's voice.
"Kyoko, dear child. Has no one ever loved you before?" He asks me. Love? Love me? I am confused.
"What do you mean, Grandfather?" I ask with squeak. I turn around from Tsuruga-san's hold on me, but he never lets go. What? I do not understand.
"Who raised you, dear Kyoko?" My grandfather asks me. Raised? To many questions, that i don't know how to answer.
"I.. I.. Grandfather. Do you know who Sho Fuwa is?" I ask needing an answer.
"Yes, I do, but how does he involve with you?" Grandfather asks me. It is about time I told him the truth why I am even here in the first place.
"Everything." Tsuruga says to grandfather. Grandfather offers me a seat next to him.
"He knows everything already. I should probably tell you, now that I know your my family. You should probably thank Shotaro Fuwa actually otherwise I wouldn't even be here..." I explain everything to Grandfather about my colorful past with Sho to when I first broke into the LME as a Love Me member... It only took about thirty minutes.
"I can see why you hate him. I would hate him as well if I where in your shoes. It also explains a lot about that specific emotion and why it was missing when you first adutioned for LME. You had your heart broken recently when you auditioned, barely a week out. No wonder Exective Shen told me about your grave forlorn expression." Grandfather tells me. Is he taking about that love emotion again?
"Oh that explains why she looked like that. Well, here I thought it was because of somethine completely irrelevant." Tsuruga-san says.
"So it was the Fuwa parents who raised you and Saena completely leaving you... Why did she leave you?" Grandfather asks me.
"Honestly, I don't even know... As a kid, all I ever heard was mistake and worthless and being stupid for not getting the perfect score.. I didn't have much of a childhood. I grew up way to early similiar to Maria." I tell Grandfather.
"Oh dear child." Grandfather says to me. In the end, he gives me a hug. I didn't expect it whatsoever. I return the hug. Ren Tsuruga is still in the room just watching me intently.
"Uhm, Lory... Since we are on the subject," he gulps, " on Kyoko's childhood. I need to say somethime on the matter." Tsuruga-san says. Grandfather pulls away from the hug from me but keeps holding my hand.
Me? What does Tsuruga have to say about my past? I look at Tsuruga-san only to see something that isn't there whatsoever.
"No. It's impossible." I state out loud. I actually look at him. Grandfather stares between the two of us. I stand up. "It can't be..." He is still looking at me. I start to talk towards Ren Tsuruga. "Is it? Please tell me, I'm not dreaming."
"Your not dreaming..." He tells me. I tear up. This can't be. I fall down to the ground again. I smile and cry at the same time.
"I told you before, that you would tell me in due time... Just not like this. Not at my best and worst at the same time." I cry within my hands. Feeling two sets of hands on my person once again. On my right side, I can smell Tsuruga-san's colonge. On my left side, my grandfather, both are pulling me back up on my feet.
" Whats happening here?" Grandfather asks. I simply ignore the question and throw myself at Tsuruga. I embrace him as hard as I can.
"Didn't I tell you, you would reach your true potential? You broke away and became free. You are happy and your free. Your have become your own person Corn... I've missed you so." I continue to embrace him.
Both Corn and Grandfather freeze at the name. "What's wrong? I know it's really you. So what's wrong?" I ask letting Corn go.
Grandfather looks at both us. "Explain now." He states demandingly... Uhm, is Grandfather mad?
"Ah, uhm, remember when Father and I where at Kyoto?" Corn/Tsuruga asks.
"Yes. You where only ten years old though." Grandfather tells Corn/Tsuruga. I smile at the thought of our younger selves. I continue off from where Corn/Tsuruga stated.
"I was only six years old at the time... I would go to a special place to cry because I was a big crybaby when I was younger. One day, when I was six, I found a older boy around ten or eleven I guessed at the time. He had bright shiny blonde hair with a pair of emerald eyes I had ever seen. I orginally thought he was some sort of prince or creature and not a human at all." I chuckle at my childish humor. "A fairy to be exact." I smile at Corn/Tsuruga.
"How should I address you with your dyed hair and fake contacts?" I ask quickly.
"Ren should be good." Corn/Tsuruga says. Ren. Ok. Ren-san.
"Ren-san even made up a whole story with truth behind it. Using metaphors at the time, but I was a smart girl." I nudge his shoulder. He hangs his head downward a little. I see him blushing. Ah, how cute... I smile.
"I told her that I was a fairy prince and The Fairy King traps me with his hands everytime I try to break free." Ren-san says...
"Hands, silly silly. It is the fact that you felt you where being trapped by your father's shadow and it kept you from reaching your true potential. Very vague about your situation back then, but you where honest and tried to keep it simple for me to understand. It meant so much to me. No lies and no deceit. A pure and true friendship, even now. I always try to stay honest, even after I apologize for lying because you can see right through me." I blush at that.
Grandfather finally heard the story on how a young Corn and young Kyoko had met. Just not the detials of how we met. We just explain when and where. He looks at the two of us. I give Ren-san another hug and smiling so hard to know that he is in onc piece like I had hoped. "Ok, I think thats enough hugging for right now Kyoko." Ren pulls me away.
"But I just found you." I tell him. "Fourteen years is long enough Ren-san. I do hope we can become closer friends." I tell Ren-san. Grandfather chuckles.
"I just have a quick question, why do you pronouce it like the vegatable Kyoko?" Hearing Grandfather's question.I smile and tell him honestly.
"It was the way I heard it at that young ripe age of six. I honestly thought Ren-san said Corn... Why did you mean by saying no one ever loving me? Also why would you be worried and about my safety?" I ask for it is still running through my head.
Grandfather takes his hand and runs through his hair. "Kyoko, dear child. Before Sho broke your heart, what did you think on the idea of love?" Hearing his question and going through my own thoughts and past memories.
"I originally thought that the only way to love someone with the thought, no matter if they love you in return or not it isn't worthless. Not matter how they treat me, I stilled loved them in return. In the end though, I was left crushed."
"Now imagine that thought but apply it to yourself. Someone loving you no matter how far they are willingly to put themselves in pain or not. They will love you no matter what happens to themselves." I imagine and realize I do have people who love me for me and not expecting anything in return. Exspically Ren-san, he knows me the longest because we have been friends for that long. I just want to hug him again, but I stop myself.
"Now being worried about you is a part of loving you. Same goes with your safety, I just wish the best for you my dear granddaughter. A lot comes from the deep eomotion on love. It will take time for your wound to heal... I just hope for not to long, because it can take long for others, it takes longer to heal and sometimes think that they don't deserve happiness. Please don't tell me you thought of that. I had one person to heal once already. Somewhat similiar to you in that sense." Grandfather explains to me. Ok now that I understand what has been said...
"Then why did I feel a sense of relief and sudden ease when you first asked me that. Both feelings are new to me." I ask with hope for an answer. Grandfather pauses for a minute.
"That's because you kept hoping to be loved in return. You kept that hope. The hope of wanting someone or anyone to love you for who you are. That's why you felt the sense of relief and ease wash over you." Grandfather explains to me. Even if it was a shiver of hope, he is right. I start to tear up again and hug grandfather.
"It will be alright Kyoko." Ren-san says to me. As the night progresses Ren offers me a ride back home. I told grandfather to let me think on my living arangements. It has been a long emotional day for me.
I gained a whole new and completely different family within six weeks all because of a single DNA blood test. Lory Takarada is my grandfather. Maria is my younger sister. I just haven't yet to meet father. I will have to talk to Maria and Grandfather another day.
I get changed and head to sleep. Shotaro wouldn't believe me and I don't care. He has lost something precious and that is his fault. Not mine. I still hate him. I probably will for awhile. I am just happy to know that I have a real and proper family.
Mr. Takarada is my grandfather. Maria is my yonger sister. I have a father whom I have never met. Then there is close friends I consider as family. I smile thinking of Moko-san. Yashiro is like an older brother to me who is in my life.
Ren is Corn. He is my very first friend. He has been there all along. He is everything to me. Ren is something utterly and entirely different. My feelings for him are completely different. It shakes me to my core. Is this what Grandfather means by love?