Chapter 3: Arriving in Kyoto

Aiko didn't want to leave Tokyo. She wanted to stay in school with her friends and for daddy to be back to the fun daddy that would wrestle with her and write songs just for her. But he was too weak to play, and he and her grandparents decided to move her to Kyoto. She went from being in school to being home schooled. They never asked what she wanted.

But after going to Kyoto, instead of her daddy getting better like he and her grandparents told her, he got worse. She wished that everything could go back to how it used to be, and from what she had heard when eavesdropping when the adults didn't think she was listening... She wouldn't think about that.

After hearing about Kyoko, she tried finding more information. Her daddy and grandmother didn't let her know anything about Kyoko when she asked for more information. When she asked her grandfather, the only information she got was that Kyoko used to help him cook for the ryokan and they hadn't talked to her in a few years.

All she knew is she didn't want a mom. Her mother left when she was a baby. Her daddy always said her mom wasn't ready for kids and she was missing out. Aiko didn't really care about that lady. She was just fine with a daddy only.

The morning after hearing that conversation, she could not concentrate on her school work at all, so she packed a bag with her journal, some snacks, and her MP3 player and told her family she was going for a walk in the woods.

Yayoi opened the door to the Fuwas' living space in the Ryokan to see Kyoko and Kuon. "You came. So Sho finally contacted you." She said, "Come inside, Sho's asleep right now. I'm not sure what he's told you so far."

"Not much." Kuon responded, holding Kyoko's hand. Kyoko had a blank stare, as if she was holding back her emotions and if she would respond she would let them free. They walked into the living room where they sat down with Sho's parents.

"It started last summer." Yayoi started. "Sho went to a doctor and got diagnosed... I'll leave that for him to tell you if he wants. He's gotten worse. We started out by going to Tokyo more often to help with doctor's appointments and taking care of Aiko. It got to a point though that we couldn't keep going to Tokyo."

Yayoi took a deep breath, though she was not crying her eyes were glistening of the tears she was holding back. "The doctors he's visited have tried their best, but he's not responding to any medication except the pain medication. It's terminal."

"Thank you for telling us." Kyoko spoke quickly in an emotionless voice. "I'm going for a walk." With that she stood up quickly and ran outside.

Kuon began to stand up to follow, but Yayoi stopped him. "There's one more thing you should know in case you see Aiko. Sho made his will after his diagnosis. He put Kyoko as Aiko's guardian. You can say no, but Aiko heard us talking the other day."

"I... We'll be back to talk." Kuon responded before following his wife.

When he got outside, he didn't see Kyoko but he did have an idea of where she went. He started running towards the forest wondering if he would be able to catch up to her.

Coming to Kyoto, he expected that it would be hard emotionally for Kyoko. What he didn't expect was the impact it would have on their lives after the visit. Early in their relationship they had talked about having children. Though they had decided if it happened they would love their child, they also had decided not to have a baby on purpose.

They both felt that with their jobs and their past they would not make good parents. Kuon mostly wanted to make sure if they had a child, they would be able to protect him or her from the public and that they would be able to spend time with their child so they could have a normal childhood. Kyoko felt that she did not have the right type of experience to be a mother.

Though Kuon thought that was bullshit.

And now, if Aiko did come to live with them, would they be able to give her what she needs? Would Kyoko be ok with her coming to live with them? They were less in the public eye since he started directing a few years ago and Kyoko finished her last acting job a few months ago.

What was true even one year ago that made them decide that they would not have any children, was no longer true. Their marriage was also something they have been able to protect from the public. When they got married, he changed his last name to Mogami which was known to nobody but those close to them. They should be able to protect her from others trying to use that connection. That is if she wasn't already known to the public.

But they would be able to let her have as much or as little exposure to the entertainment world as she wanted. And if she did want to do something in entertainment in the future she would have the best guardians to help her follow her dreams.

Was that why Sho had chosen them? Or maybe it was that Sho actually didn't have many people that he was close enough to to trust his daughter to?

Kuon ran through the woods with thoughts of how Kyoko is feeling and the future when he came upon a clearing in the forest. Across the stream he saw Kyoko and a young girl looking at each other as if they were trying to figure out something about the other.

The girl spoke first. "Hello, Brooke-sama? My name is Aiko." Both Kyoko and Kuon were surprised that Aiko recognized Kyoko. Aiko must have seen that movie though it was from right before they got married - older than Aiko. It was also released in English, but did have the option to watch in Japanese. Kuon stood behind a tree, peeking at the two's conversation, ready to come in if needed.

"You recognize me." Somehow Kyoko's uncertainty and sadness from the past day went away. She was always surprised when someone recognized her from one of her roles, especially since that was a part she acted in 12 years ago.

"You look a little different." Aiko responded. "I don't know how to explain it. I used to only want to watch that movie. You were my favorite character. Daddy had me watch it to learn English."

"I'm honored to be recognized." Kyoko responded, smiling softly. "What brings you to these woods?"

"The house was too quiet. I came out here to draw." Aiko held up her journal that she used to write and draw in. "What's your real name? " Aiko asked.

Kuon took that as his opportunity to enter. "We're here to visit your father. We found out he was sick yesterday." He took Kyoko's hand in his and squeezed it firmly.

"Oh." Aiko responded, not sure who this man could be. Her family only mentioned the name Kyoko. She had thought that Brooke could be Kyoko but was afraid ot ask when she first saw her but with this man here, maybe this wasn't the same person. "I didn't know he had friends. I've only really met the people he records songs with and his manager Shoko-san."

"I was much closer to your father when we were younger." Kyoko responded. "You have actually met me before - you were about 3 years old so you probably don't remember."

"If you want this place to stay as your escape, we can go somewhere else." Kuon added. "We are staying with your family so we can talk more then."

"It's fine, you can stay here if you want. I should probably be heading back soon anyways. Daddy usually wakes up around now. Are you going to talk to him?"

"We will, but you go talk to him first. Take all the time you need. You are his most important person Aiko, do not forget that." Kyoko responded.

Aiko nodded and started walking back towards the Ryokan. Once she was out of sight, Kyoko looked at Kuon with a curious expression: "Why did you not let me tell her my name?"

"You caught on to that didn't you." Kuon responded. "Aiko heard Sho talking to Yayoi-san yesterday and we should probably talk about it before heading back so you're prepared once Aiko knows your name. We have some decisions to make."

Kyoko wasn't sure what to think - what else was there that they would have to decide? She stared at Kuon waiting for him to continue. "Sho put you as Aiko's guardian in his will."

"Oh." was all Kyoko could say. She wasn't sure what to think. "Damn Sho, making decisions for me without talking to me first."

Kuon sighed. "Yayoi-san did say we did not have to go along with it. I'm assuming Aiko could stay with them, but I think she needs us."

"I don't know if I could be a good mother to her."

Kuon grabbed both of Kyoko's hands and looked into her shining eyes. He took a deep breath before responding. "Kyoko, you have always been good at caring for others, and you won't be alone. We could be her guardians, her aunt and uncle, her Fairy godparents, whatever she needs. I'll be here with you. Aiko may not even want new parents though she does need someone to take care of her."

"I don't know about us being the best guardians though." Kyoko responded. "But what do we tell her when we go back to the Ryokan?"

Kuon hesitated, trying to think of what they should say. "We can tell her we are not taking her from her father unless that is what she wants. We don't have to have a decision right now but should probably decide soon. Maybe after talking to Sho you'll have a better idea." Kuon responded.

"We'll talk more after talking to Sho. You're right." Kyoko responded.

What Kyoko and Kuon didn't know is Aiko did not go back to the Ryokan. After she got out of sight she decided she was too curious about these people that were here visiting her father. She turned back until she could hear them and hid behind a tree. She has found that if she wants information she needs to listen to adults when they think she is not listening.

She got into earshot when the name Kyoko was spoken. Was this the same person? Or did her daddy know multiple people named Kyoko? She looks just like the forest fairy queen Brooke from her favorite movie too.

When the two adults started walking back towards the Ryokan hand in hand. Aiko stayed out of site until she could no longer hear their footsteps, then she started walking that direction too. She did want to be there when her daddy woke up.

Author's note: Thank you for the reviews, favorites, and follows. This is the furthest I've ever gotten in writing fanfiction - I tried many years ago but didn't get past the first chapter. Hope you enjoyed this chapter - I wanted to be sure anyone reading would be able to have a good idea of what is going on in all our main characters' heads.