Girl with issues

5:30 am

There was eerie silence, everyone was sleeping, perfect time to run away. I checked my backpack, making sure I had some money I stole from my father's pocket. He won't be needing it soon anyway, unless he was planning to drink and sprout nonsense on my mother again.

Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore. It was me that was the reason he was like that in the first place, so it would be better to just cut myself off from their lives.

I slowly climbed down the stairs, making sure it didn't creak and wake my mother up. He would come up, around nine, smelling of alcohol and what not.

Then he would give me one look and sneer, start with the verbal attack and then mother would intervene and get hit in the process. I hated this routine, which had started to take route since I was fourteen.

Yesterday had been the worst. As soon as I stepped out of the house, I ran. I ran, and ran and ran until I could run no more. It was a matter of life and death for me, as soon as I had crossed the threshold. The heavens had closed their doors on me because I had taken the dangerous step into the unknown.

And when I'd finally stopped, it was an unfamiliar road, with unfamiliar faces and unfamiliar street names. I had never come to this neighborhood. There were beautiful trees, vast parks with large and colourful playground for kids.

I found a bench, and slept there for sometime. I didn't really care about anything other than being found by dad. He should never find me anywhere outside the house except school.

However, I was sure he'd never come here. I knew the name of the bar, the name of the street he goes for work and all his co-workers and friends he interacts with. He made sure he'd insulted me at least a hundred times to them before he slept at the end of the day.

The worst part was, I couldn't confide about all this to anyone. No one noticed or cared enough about me to at least ask, just three words: Are you okay?

The grocery store was just across the street, and the rice ball was cheap too. I guess I can survive here for sometime before I moved away.


"Kyoko? Is that you?"

I froze, the riceball pack falling from my hand. It was the last one I was buying, which was impressive considering I had been able to survive for six days.

No, this can't be good. I had to get going before she actually made some small talk.

"Kyoko, hey, I'm talking to you!" the girl grabbed my arm and I was forced to face her. As soon as she saw my face, she gasped.

"What the...what happened? Why do you look like a hobo?"

"That's none of your business!" I snapped back. She had no right to interfere with my life after brutally putting me down in front of her 'new' friends. The so-called best friend. She knew everything about me, even the things I'd never tell anyone.

I yanked my hand from her hold and walked past her, deciding that I was done in this neighborhood. I had to move away, preferably as far away as possible.

But my stomach was grumbling, I had only one rice cake yesterday. And before that too. And today was going to be the same if Sayuri hadn't shown up.

"I guess there's no food for me today..." I mumbled to my stomach sadly. Maybe if I took the subway, maybe I'd be able to find a really far place from here and finally be away from everyone. And also find some job to survive for a few days.

However, as soon as I reached the subway station, I could feel my head feeling lighter and my body getting tired and heavy.

As soon as I sat down on the bench, I blanked out.


"...She needs urgent attention, and food. Where did you find her?"

"In the subway, passed out on the bench." A deep voice said.

I tried to raise my body, but it felt so heavy, I couldn't move an inch.

"Her name is Kyoko Mogami, age eighteen."

"So you do know her."

"Dr. Yashiro, I assure you I have no joy in picking up teenage girls from the subway."

"Mhmff!!?"

Both the men whipped their heads at me, who was struggling to talk through the oxygen mask.

The doctor gently pushed it down, "How do you feel, Mogami-san?"

"Dead..." I muttered.

He nodded and looked back at the dark haired man. When my eyes adjusted, she almost gasped. The tall man, with his soft hair falling over his brown eyes was none other than my art teacher, Tsuruga Sensei.

"She will be alright, give her these suppliments and make she has her food on time. Other than that, make sure you don't agitate her. She needs rest."

Sensei nodded and led the doctor to the outside. When he came back, I was staring at the door. His eyes met mine, I honestly didn't know what to say. Imagine being in your teacher's house. I think you wod get what I'd mean then.

"So...why were you sleeping on the bench in Subway?"

"Why do you care, Sensei?" I muttered, still embarrassed.

He sighed, holding the bridge of his nose. "Kyoko, I would really appreciate if you told me what you were doing over there in the middle of the night, going missing for over a week."

"Sensei, with all due respect, you have no right and business why I hadn't come to school for over a week. As for your hospitality, thank you for taking care of me. I need to go now."

"Okay, let me call your father, then you can go," he said, taking his phone and dialing my father's number.

"NO!" I snatched the phone from his hand, terrified of seeing my father come here. There were a number of things he'd do if he ever found out where I had been all the past days.

He raised an eyebrow, eyeing the phone I had snatched. I stared at him defiantly, my hands trembling. "Just let me go as I want to."

"I can't do that. Give me a valid reason why you'd not want to meet your father."

Tears started to collect in my eyes, I felt helpless when I saw that he wasn't going to let me go. "Why does everyone want to interfere with my life? Can't you just let me breathe? I said I don't want to meet that man! Anyone but him..." My voice had died down to a whisper, and I was sobbing. He stared at me for some time before leaving me alone.


The next time I opened my eyes, I could feel my swollen eyes, the result of crying so much. The days of holding it in overflowed like a dam. I was in fresh clothes, which kind of freaked me out, but for some reason I had this reassurance that Tsuruga Sensei would never do anything to me. If I considered all the times he politely rejected the school girls, proved just how amazing he was. And he was just twenty-one! Three years older than me.

Wait...he was just three years older than me...

"Mogami-san? Can I come in?"

I opened my mouth, and noticed that I had been sleeping in a man's house, and probably in his room for God knows how many days and he was asking me permission for entering the room.

"C-Come in, Sensei.."

He gently opened the door and gave me a smile that made me flutter. He looked really handsome, the way his dress shirt hung over his body, with the first two buttons open and the little of his collarbones being seen.

I could feel getting hot, which made him frown. He put his cold hand on my forehead and looked at me with concern.

"You seem to be getting a fever."

I pushed his hand away, looking away. "I-I am fine...I don't have a fever."

"But your forehead is burning—"

"I'm really fine! Please."

"Oh..." he pulled away, the awkward look on his face as soon as he realised that I was blushing.

"So...I thought that maybe if I called your father—"

"I said I don't—"

"Just listen to me once before you make any assumptions!"

I shut my mouth as he gave me a patronizing look. "I'll just ask him about you and see how he would answer. I promise I won't tell him on you. Okay?"

I didn't answer, but I didn't like it either. If it was in my hands, I'd rather never hear his voice.

So he dialed my father's number and waited till my father picked up. On the third ring, I heard him after days.

"Hello?"

"Mogami-san, this is Tsuruga Sensei, Kasturba School's Art teacher."

"Oh, if you are asking about that whore, she is not here."

He disconnected the call.

But the words he said were so harsh, I couldn't help breaking down. Sensei pulled me into a hug, slowly patting my back and saying comforting words. I clutched his shirt and cried.

I felt worthless.


Melancholy, that's what I was feeling. Empty, blank and sad. I didn't know how many times I'd sighed looking at the window.

Sensei had left the porridge before he left for school. But I hadn't touched it. I could imagine the dark circles under my eyes, which must've been why he insisted on me staying until I regained my health.

But how long would that be? I had to leave eventually, and I couldn't impose on my teacher just because of some issues at home.

This was my chance to run away, or else he won't let me.

I willed myself to get up, which seemed like a task. But I felt better than before, I didn't feel like I was almost dead. But my legs were trembling, from the lack of movement. However, when I moved around a little, I felt better and I could move easily.

I grabbed my bag, and ran outside the door. But as soon as I made ten feet out of the door, I felt so tired, I felt like I could crash on the footpath and go off to sleep.

"KYOKO!"

I straightened up and found Sensei looking at me from across the street and and I panicked. I couldn't think, and with the sudden rush of adrenaline, I ran. My legs pushed me to move alongside the road and the next thing I knew, I was flying in the air...

...and landing on road with a thud, with the voices dissolving as I felt myself blacking out.


The strong smell of the hospital is what woke me up. I knew that I was in the hospital even more I had opened my eyes, the sound from the heart monitor kept beeping, indicating that my breathing was normal.

"...that ugly thing isn't my daughter! I am not going to pay for any bills! Why should I pay for some unknown girl out there?!"

I felt my heart pierce, it hurt so much.

I closed my eyes, trying hard to push those sounds out as much as I could. I concentrated on the sounds inside the room.

"Kyoko?"

I raised my eyes and found a worried Sensei looking at me, with a doctor on his side. I didn't want to be treated. No wanted me. Why should I even bother?

"Mogami-san, you need to stay in bed, until you recover fully. You have a concussion and broken ribs and your right ulna is dislocated. Keep your elbow in place for at least three weeks. At least until you heal. I hope this idiot Ren doesn't treat you badly, and if he does call on this number right away and I will the doctor thing to make sure his patient isn't harmed in any way."

I tried to smile, but it was hard.

Sensei pursed his lips and asked a couple of questions before he approached me. I saw him extended his arms and my eyes widened.

"No no no no, you are most definitely NOT going to—"

"I really do not wish to be called pedophile at this point too, but if you don't comply I might just do something we both would regret."

I blushed so hard, I didn't even react when he picked me up bridal style and took me out of the hospital and into his car.

But deep down I wished that he cared about me more than just as a teacher.


For the third time, he had come inside the room without knocking and sat down. He stared at me for a second before he picked the bowl and spoon up, scooping a spoonful of the porridge and leaning forward.

I turned my head, refusing to eat.

"Please, eat Mogami-san. I can't bear to see you like this. It's terrible."

I shut my eyes, ignoring his soothing voice.

"I don't want to, Sensei! I'd rather die like this than live a miserable life where no one around me cares about me."

"Who said no one cares about you? I—"

"Are you my family? Did my father care when I was lying on the ventilator with the machine attached to my body? Did my friends care when I went missing for so many days? Who, who cares from my close people?"

"I can't let you get by without eating."

I shook my head, reminding myself that I can't fold my arms over my chest until I was fully healed.

"Do you remember the first time you'd come into my class?"

I frowned, wondering why he'd changed the subject so suddenly.

"The paint has fallen on me and everyone had laughed at that," he said, recalling the fond memory.

"Except me, I didn't like that you deliberately tried to gain the peoples favor."

He chuckled, "Yeah, I noticed it. You'd even muttered how foolish that was. That was the first time someone had said that."

I turned red, feeling embarrassed. I didn't know Sensei had heard that.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Sensei."

"No, it's all cool. I'm not sensitive to feel bad about it."

"I...I didn't like that you were pretending to be disappointed with your watch getting all dirty from the paint when you knew it would be like that."

He pushed the spoon into my mouth as he smiled cheekily. "I honestly didn't think you'd see through me, Mogami-san. That's pretty impressive for a fourteen year-old."

"But Sensei, you weren't that old either. You were just an seventeen year old person who was talented enough to be a teacher."

He laughed, a tint of red on his ears which made him look so adorable. God, why was he my teacher?

I averted my eyes, and saw that the bowl was empty. I looked at him accusingly, as he smirked at me.

"Well, if you put it that way, then can we be friends instead of Teacher and student?"

My heart started racing, I already started imagining us together holding hands and closing our eyes about to kiss.

"Yes."

Oh how I wish it was true, my fantasies are getting wilder I know. He leaned a bit closer, and for a second I thought he was about to kiss me.

"I'm glad I met that girl who wasn't afraid to voice her thoughts and stand out."

He stepped away, leaving me dishevelled and wishing for more. God, please help me. I watched his back and wished against all my wishes that we weren't teacher and student.


You are worthless! Such a loose woman, such disgusting plans to destroy me, I knew from the start you were not genuine. Why do you think I left you?" His angry shouts reached my ears.

"I did no such thing, I was always loyal to you!" I heard my mother argue back and I couldn't take it anymore, this fight was sounding like bigger than I thought.

My legs moved swiftly, and I saw something that horrified me.

There, lying on the floor was my mother holding her cheek that was bleeding.

He stood there, watching me running towards my mother and pressing her cheek to stop the blood.

"You, Kyoko!" Immediately felt myself freeze as I heard his angry voice.

My mother was now standing in front of my, "I love you, at least don't stop it for their sake." my mother said, saying those words after a long time. Her actions said enough to convey her feelings, but this time I could feel like stomach twist painfully and my heart beat strangely faster as the cold feeling numbed my hands' sensation.

I noticed my father inching towards my mother with his hand raised, I saw her flinch and suddenly something inside me snapped.

"Stop it, dad." I felt confidence surge inside me.

"Don't back answer me! In fact, you are to get married this week, to Fuwa Sho." I knew my face was frozen, dread covering my features.

He knew that that jerk was my ex—childhood friend and that I hated him, but still he was setting me up.

"You are joking." I finally was able to say. He laughed so bitterly, I backed away.

I shook my head as he tried to reach for and then I ran.

I ran away from the one who I once called dad. But he caught me, and he was smirking at me!

And then someone else jerked me, my right side felt like it was squeezed between two walls. I found myself face to face with Sho and I screamed.

"Kyoko!"

"Kyoko!"

My eyes snapped open as I gasped as soon as I woke up. I was hugged as soon as I sat up, and by the scent of cologne and mint, I knew it was him. I hugged him, clutching him with my good hand as I sobbed in his arms.

It was enough for me that he was holding me like this, saying nothing. His presence was enough to calm me down.

I tightened my hand around him, like a child unwilling to let go her mother, I didn't want to let him go.

My eyes started to droop, and then I drifted back to sleep.


It was too warm, too tight, and if possible, extremely bright. I tried to move, but whatever was below me, was squeezing me tightly.

"Don't move..."

My eyes snapped open and I got up sharply staring at the sleeping body below, horrified. I almost screamed when he opened half opened his eyes. If I wasn't so dumbfounded, I would've found him adorable.

"Y-y-you!" I stammered, trembling as I stood.

"Are you alright? You were mumbling in your sleep," he muttered as he slowly got up and rubbed his eyes. He was so cute, I wanted to take a picture. But right now I felt extremely shocked, and stunned. Why the heck was I sleepin with him?

"We slept together!" I said.

Then I realised just what I said and blushed extremely red, watching as he tried hard not to laugh. "Uhh, yes so it seems."

She hid her face in her palm, "Somebody just kill me now!"

He laughed openly, getting out of her bed and scratching his head.

"I'm really sorry for sleeping in, but a certain someone wouldn't let me go and held unto me so tightly that I had no choice but to sleep like that. Nonetheless, I hope you are okay since you seemed to be having a nightmare."

"I'm okay..." I muttered lowly, hoping he would just go away.

He laughed and left the room. Was this appropriate between a teacher and a student? And for the love of God, why the heck aren't we behaving like that?

Well, if you put it that way, then can we be friends instead of Teacher and student?

Yeah, sure. But wasn't he afraid of what the students in school might say? That he befriended the ugly girl in their class?


"You…can move your hand." he said stupidly. I nodded, flexing my right hand. He dropped the bag he was holding, and I sneaked in a smile as I tried hard no to giggle.

I didn't know if I should feel happy or sad about it. We had agreed to talk about me staying after I recovered. But now I am almost recovered. Which meant, I had to leave.

I looked at him and our eyes met, making him take long strides towards me, engulfing me in a warm hug. It still made my heart race, my face feel hot and nerves travel at high speed that sent tingles down my spine.

He looked down, disappointment clearly visible in his features. It had been two months since I got hit by that truck. And I still didn't know why he was going to such meters to help me.

"So, does it mean that you leave?" he asked so quietly, I almost didn't hear it. I knew I had to leave, I had imposed enough on him already.

"I must, I have been nothing but a burden over you. I don't think I can live knowing that I have been imposing on you making you deprive from your work."

It was true, he didn't go to school for a month and a half. He would always be there whenever I needed him, even at times I didn't need him. After that little stunt of me trying to run away, he was extra vigilant. He would make sure I smiled, telling me jokes and playing games that were fun and made me lose. Although he did let me win one time making me angry.

I looked around, deep in thought. Wondering how we got so close in such less time.

"Go after the doctor gives you the okay." he muttered, pulling away from me. I couldn't see his eyes, they were hooded. He avoided meeting my gaze.

I stood there, wondering what had just happened.


"Let me tell you a story." Tsuruga-san said randomly while we were having lunch. The doctor had left in the morning after the check up and had given the okay for me. However, we both had avoided to talk about it because I was afraid of what he might say. I don't know why he didn't tell me anything. Probably he was too polite to say anything.

Looking at his plate, I smiled. Today was the second time he was eating something I'd cooked.

The first time was when I was given a dare four years ago, when I was still Sayuri's best friend and we had played truth and dare, only to find myself knocking on his door and cursing him before running away. The next day I had cooked some delicious sweet and sour ribs as an apology and told him why I had done what I had done.

I looked at him incredulously from the TV. Some random news was going on. I was staring at people who were strangers and heard about their gossips that didn't have any significance.

He sat down, smiling as he reminsced something he was about to say.

"When I first bumped into you, you were a girl with cute pigtails. And when I saw your face, I was reminded of my time I had come here before in my childhood."

I sat down facing him as he started recounting about something I didn't know.

"I lived in America for years until I came to Japan to start my career as a teacher."

"So are you an American, Tsuruga-san?"

"Not really. I am partly American, Russian and Japanese."

My jaw almost dropped, making him laugh at my expressions.

"So I'd come to Japan once, when I was fourteen, to Kyoto specifically. My father had brought me to that place, and I used to wander about because I would get bored at home."

I had a really funny feeling about this.

"So, I met a girl when I was going about, it was strange, but I thought she was really cute even though she was crying. She was sitting on a large rock and sobbing over something I had no idea about at that time."

"Hey, is everything alright?" a boy with emerald green eyes and blonde hair looked at her.

"Yes, I got a pat on my head from my father." she happily told him then stopped.

"I don't know you. And I don't talk to strangers." he laughed, she was different from others. she turned her head arrogantly but he found that cute.

"Alright, my name is Koun—"

"Wait!" I interrupted him, my heart suddenly beating even more fast. I got up from my place and pulled my chair beside him.

"What's wrong?" he was obviously confused from my outburst.

"And then that girl gave him a confused look, then smiled brightly because she had never seen someone so beautiful look at her with such interest then she told him the truth that her father was usually strict and angry, he would fight with his wife everyday but make it up the next day. She would always make it a point to mention everything to Corn because they both would enter this creek which was Hamburger Kingdom to them." I finished the story for him, my heart hammering. Could it be…?

"Are you really that Kyoko-chan from the creak...?"

My hands flew to my mouth, eyes shining as I nodded. I embraced him willingly, the best memory in my messed up life.

We pulled away and grinned like fools as we stared into each other's eyes.

And before I knew it, I was leaning into him, his hot breathe on mine. My heart was racing when his warm lips caught my lips into a much wanted kiss. It was the 30th February as far as I knew, to feel such pleasure with us holding each other with our warm bodies pressed so close that it was impossible to find space inbetween. I felt hot, alive and impossibly driven crazy. But this was something I'd never imagined. His hand were holding me as mine were holding his wrapped as if he would disappear.

Something I could only hear in stories, read in books and watch on movies. I never knew that the feeling of his lips would make me feel like I was in heaven.

When we pulled away slowly, and looked at each other, the reality of the situation started to set in.

I gasped and detached myself from his embrace.

"No, no no no, Oh no, what have I done!" I started panicking. This was wrong, this was so wrong I can't believe I kissed my teacher! I must be the worst woman alive out there to do something so shameful!

"Kyoko I—"

"No! Please, don't talk. I need to get out of here, before something regretful actually happened."

"Just list—"

I dashed out of the kitchen, feeling like crying. This was so wrong, I wanted him! I wanted him like a shameless girl and I can't believe I couldn't control my desires. How could I even pounce on him like that?!

He grabbed my hand just as I was about to step out, but I used all my strength and stomped his foot so he wouldn't follow me. When I looked at his hurt expression, I wanted to go back and comfort him but I can't do that.

Not after doing that.

The last thing I saw were his eyes before I slammed the door shut and ran away, without any direction much like all those weeks ago.


The train stopped and I got down. I think it was around twelve.

Looking around me, there was a small restaurant, with the name "Darumaya" written in bold black letters. I gulped, I can try for the job here as a waitress.

Stepping inside, the wooden plank gave the sound of a footwear, making a few heads turn and the head cook look at the door with the Okami to come around to greet the fellow customer.

"Welcome to Darumaya, I am the Okami of this restaurant and Ryokan. What can I help you with?" an old kind woman greeted me, bowing down embarrassing me.

"Oh no, please don't bow, I wanted to ask if I could have a job here as a waitress." I was nervous, who would take in this girl who looked more like a pile of dirt after being in the heat for a couple of hours; running like a maniac.

"Oh dear, come inside first." the Okami escorted me to an inner room and stood in front me.

"Are you okay?" she looked at me kindly, reminding me of my mother that I left behind. My lips trembled slightly, but I managed to give her a smile. "Nothing really. I just wanted a place to stay—I will pay of course, I also wanted to work so I could pay for staying." I knew by the time I had finished that I didn't actually make any sense.

But the Okami didn't press further, she smiled at me, "I see, we do have a room upstairs in the far corner. You can stay there, and you will have to wear the uniform I give you for waitresses. I did want to hire a waitress, and it was good omen you came by. What is your name, dear?"

"Kyo—Saena." I said, not wanting to disclose my real name. It was my mother's name after all, and even though it hurt to use it, I had to hide my identity.

The Okami raised a brow but didn't comment on it. She nodded her head and led me to a room which was empty.I had nothing on me, but it's okay. My everything was in his apartment, but I didn't have the courage to go back and take it. Especially not after that...

This was going to be only for some days until I had enough cash to go to another place.

Away from him.


Two Years Later


"

Are you alright?" I snap my head, there was a man coughing uncontrollably, his head bent. I glanced at my kind renter, he had his hand over the blonde man.

I wiped my hands on my apron and approached them. "Ouji-sama, is something the matter?" I asked, the kind owner smiled at me and pointed at the blonde man who was still bent over.

His hair was lemon yellow as I approached him and kept a hand over his shoulder. "Sir, are you alright?"

He raised his head and I froze in my place. He blinked his eyes then stared at me for a minute. I gulped inaudibly, trying my hardest so he doesn't recognize me.

"Kyoko?" his light blue eyes silently peered into my golden eyes.

Regaining my composure, I smiled sweetly at him, and replied, "I'm sorry, I am not Kyoko. Is she perhaps your wife?"

My eyes pierced into his eyes, daring him to deny and act like an idiot in this place. He better not try anything funny. Or I would not treat him kindly.

"I suppose I was mistaken. I'm sorry."I gave him a brief nod before disappearing into the kitchen, taking his glass with me. Letting a huge sigh, I felt my energy drain out. It took everything in me not to run away from him.

Why was Sho in Fukuoka? Why the heck was Fuwa Sho here?! Luckily, Darumaya had shifted from Tokyo to Fukuoko, or I wouldn't have been able to handle myself if I had met Koun.

Just the thought of his name made my heart leap.

I took another deep breath and stepped into the dining area again, waiting for anyone who wanted help. A hand was raised and I looked over to the table, finding Sho looking at me.

I had no choice, I guess I had to serve him since there was no one else. I walked towards him, steeling my nerves and reminding myself that he can't do anything to me now that I am capable to defending myself and I had people who would not let their waitresses be harmed.

So, I stood in front of him, a professional smile plastered on my face as I looked at him and said, "How can I help you, Sir?"

"I would like to stay the night in this Ryokan, are there any rooms available?"

"Please wait a moment until I ask my superior and get back to you. Anything else?"

He replied in the negative, so I walked towards Taisho-san. Asking him about the availability of the rooms, I hoped against hope that the rooms won't be available.

However, luck wasn't on my side, and I had no choice but to go back and give him a positive response.

I went back and asked a few of the staff members to prepare his room, until he waited.

Fifteen minutes had passed by, and I hoped even though I knew it was pointless that he would cancel his bookings and leave.

But he didn't.

The room was finally ready and I led him into the corridor, explaining about the things he can ask for and the services he can enjoy by the Ryokan.

"I hope that you enjoooooo—"

I yelped so loudly, I was sure someone outside must've heard me. But Sho quickly closed the door and locked it.

I stood on my feet and glared at him. "Are you crazy?! What the hell are you doing?"

"Making you realise that your little act was really dumb and that I know you are Kyoko. Stop pretending."

I scoffed, folding my arms over my chest

"I thought you might be interested in this..."

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Sho uncover something and it was dark blue, like a hard substance...like a stone...

"How the heck did you have Corn Stone?!" I blurted out as I saw what he was holding.

He smirked, as I realised that I'd just given myself away. But I didn't care, as I snatched the stone from his hand and checked for any damage.

"So it is true. That teacher and you have something going on."

I pocketed the precious stone, ignoring him.

"I don't know who you are talking about."

"Oh really? Would you really be like this if I told you that Tsuruga Ren is right now close to the mouth of death, just one gulp and you would lose him forever?"

I froze, my heart freezing as I heard him.

"What?"

He held my shoulder and turned me around. He looked at me concerned. "I'm sorry okay? I know I did bad things to you. I genuinely feel sorry. And alot of things have happened since you disappeared."

I did not have the energy to reply, so I watched him silently, hoping he would elaborate more on what he just said.

"Your father divorced your mother, as a result of our engagement breaking off. I visited her a couple of times, and I know for a fact that she needs you right now."

I gulped, trying to process what he was telling.

"And Sensei is extremely sick. He stopped coming to school, and when a few students visited him, he refused to see them. Recently, a previous student wanted to meet him and went to meet him. Some woman opened the door and said that he wasn't in the state to meet anyone as he was terribly sick."

My heart started pounding, and I could feel the fear bubbling up in my throat.

He said a few more things, but I wasn't listening. My ears were ringing, and my heart was telling me to run to him. He needed me, no, I needed to see him. I loved him! I loved him too much to let him go like this!

All those years when I let him go, I had intended for him to meet someone better than me, who he deserved not someone who didn't deserve him. He was the kindest, most beautiful and selfless soul.

Sho unlocked the door, and I walked out in a trance, my eyes glassy because of the tears. My legs gave out when I reached my room and I sobbed, hugging myself.

Why was fate so cruel? Why was I like this? Why is Ren suffering because of me?

I wiped my tears and pulled myself together, grabbing my purse, counting the money I had. I guess I'll have to rely on my savings too.

"Ren…." my wished my whispers would be carried by the wind. Hands trembling, my fingers traced the stone. With a painful lungful of air, my eyes scanned through my savings. It was enough for one trip, I will just look at him one last time. One last time before….

I curled up, crying my eyes out.

Oh, what have I done?


I tried not to hyperventilate, but I was so nervous. I rang the bell, but I felt like I was only going to make it worse.

Before I could change my mind, a woman, who seemed to be in her forties opened a the door.

She narrowed her eyes and stared down at me. I bit my lip and looked at her as confidently as I can.

"Good morning ma'am, I came here for the job of a cook. I heard that you were hiring."

I crossed my fingers, hoping she would buy my story. I vaguely recall Sho saying that all the people who were hired as cooks had quit because he had refused to let anything go into his stomach unless his mother forced it down his throat.

"Who are you and why do you want this job? Are you also after my son?"

"My name is Kotono Kobayashi, I'm actually from Fukuoka from Darumaya Restaurant. Someone from Tokyo told me that they were offering more salary than what I was receiving."

She stared at me until finally she opened the door wider and let me in.

I looked around, and everything was the same, not a single thing seemed out of place.

It was the same black and white apartment that looked like a sophisticated pad of some famous actor who lived in the richest neighbourhood.

"So you can cook. What can you cook?"

"Anything you ask me to cook," Kyoko replied, trying to calm her racing her heart. He was just across the hall, in that room where I had never taken one foot inside during all the days I had stayed there.

"That's great, alright then, whip something real quick because it's time for Kuon to eat his medicines. And if possible, please make him eat his medicines. I'm tired to having to feed him like feeding a baby."

She rubbed her temples, closing her eyes, "I'm going to strangle the woman who broke his heart and ran off."

I gulped, hoping she would never find that I was that woman

I quickly started making some porridge and vegetable soup, slipping the tablets his mother had given me.

I took a note and wrote a few instructions, just in time as his mother came in.

"Ma'am, I'm done, I'm ready to hand this over to the servants to take it to him."

"I'll take that."

She gently gripped the tray and was about to leave when Kyoko kept her hand on her arm.

"I am extremely uncomfortable in front of men, especially sick men. So if any appears, please send in a servant to deliver the message and I'll comply all thr wishes asked."

She gave me a weird look, but didn't comment on it. "There are no servants on this house."

I realised that I was digging my own grave, but I gave her a weak smile and hoped that she would understand.

"That's good that you yourself don't want to meet him. It's alright."

I sighed in relief, hoping against hope that he would not in his wildest dreams recognise my handwriting.


(Third POV)

Julie took the tray to her son, hoping that he would at least be tempted by the delicious aroma of the food in front of him. She had to admit that the cook was pretty good, she was swift and beautiful too.

But strange, very strange. She could clearly see through her excuse, but she decided she wouldn't push it.

When she placed the tray in front of him, he turned his and stared at his food like he was seeing it for the first time.

"Mom?"

Julie felt extremely happy when she heard him talk for the first time in months.

"Yes, my darling."

"Who made this food?" he asked, his voice hoarse from being silent for far too long.

Julie was excited that her son had finally become vocal. "Oh? It's the new cook! Doesn't she cook well?"

He spotted a piece of paper folded on the side, picked it up with trembling hands.

As soon as he opened it, he dropped it, staring at it, completely shocked. He shot up from the bed, almost knocking the tray from the portable tray, "Kyoko! Kyoko! Please—"

"Kuon calm down, please! Why are you acting like this? There is no Kyoko!"

He snatched the paper from the table, "This is her handwriting! I have to get to her before she leaves me again! Please mom, let me go." His eyes were brimming with unshed tears. It had been months since he last shaved. But he didn't care. He wanted to get to her before she ran away again. The stabbing pain in his heart was still fresh. It was driving him crazy, making him pull his hair and cry every night.

"What are you saying? The cook's name is Kotono Kobayashi." he stopped struggling just a little.

"And there can be many people with the same handwriting. If it really was Kyoko, wouldn't she want you to eat after making it?" he stopped struggling completely. Yes, she would have. She had been caring and worried about him even though she was the one who had been injured in the first place.

He sat down on his bed and with trembling hand, he took a spoonful of the soap and sipped it, savoring in the taste of his Kyoko's cooking.

All he ever wanted to do was catch a glimpse of her, rest assured by the fact that she was alright. But disappointedly, it was his mother who took back the tray and closed the door behind as she went.

However, when he was about to fall into the spell of a deep slumber, he thought he saw golden eyes staring at him from the door.


Julie took the tray back, observing a nervous Kyoko bite her lip and stare at the stove intently lost in her thoughts.

So this was the woman who had stolen her son's heart. But why was she hiding?

She sized her up and down, noting that she a petite woman with orange hair tied in a bun. She had a cute face, her features sharp. She didn't seem like someone who would use her son and throw him as soon as she was done. In fact, no gold digging woman would come back dressed as a poor begger in the first place, wearing baggy jeans and oversized t shirts and a cap that hid half of her face.

"He ate everything."

Kyoko snapped her head and looked down at the tray, sighing in relief as she took the tray back and started washing the dishes.

"I...I am glad that my cooking has suited the younger master."

She was starting to believe that this woman loved her son, but for some reason didn't want him to find out. But she wanted to confirm her doubts before she actually thought anything about her.

"And Kyoko?"

"Yes, Ma'am?"

Kyoko stopped washing the dishes and looked at Julie, panic written in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, you called me Kotono right?"

Julie sighed, "It's no use pretending now. I know you are Kyoko."

"I...I...Please don't tell him! Please! I beg you!" She grabbed Julie's hands and pleaded her with her entire being.

Julie frowned, "Why?"

She pulled away, looking so heartbroken, Julie wanted to take her in her arms and hug her until she had lightened her burden.

"I am a woman who is undeserving of his love. I ran away like a coward afraid that he would be stained by the accusation that he fell in love with his own student. I'd rather he stood beside a woman who was his equal and made him happy and didn't tarnish his reputation."

Julie just wanted to knock some sense into the girl and perhaps give her some self esteem lessons. His son had definitely found an unpolished gem who didn't know her worth.


He started to believe that his Kyoko was back indeed.

The next time he opened his eyes, the lunch was served, and he knew immediately that it was Kyoko who had cooked. He happily enjoyed her meal and tried his best to talk to Kyoko. But try as he might, she had deflected every one of his advances.

Until, he pushed the tray away and crossed his arms. "I want meat in my food."

Julie pursed her lips. She knew why he was being like that. She had already noticed how he had tried every means possible to meet her. But Kyoko was more smarter, and she would get creative to evade his advances.

"There's near in your food, son."

Kuon looked down and realised his stupidity. But he stubbornly cleared his throat, "I wanted another flavour, this smell makes me nauseous."

Julie went back and asked Kyoko to quickly make something that would entice Kuon.

And when it was in front of him, it was nearly impossible to resist the aroma that wafted into the air. He turned his head, "I changed my mind. I want fish. Make me something that I actually want to eat."

"What are you trying to do, Kuon?"

He looked back at his mother with hurt in his eyes. She panicked, thinking that he was actually affected by the food.

"I don't want to eat this. Are you trying to force me to eat something I don't want to?"

Julie was about to go back when he stopped her, "Why don't you call the cook here? I would like to tell her what I want exactly."

She figured out immediately that this was one of the many tricks of his son. She sighed, "She said she can't stand sick men. And you still are suffering from cold."

"I'll cover myself if need be. Could you get me some blankets...?"

Julie went back to Kyoko and told her that Kuon wanted to specifically tell her what he wanted.

"Um...why not call me? I would perfectly understand what he wanted even on the phone call."

Julie clapped her hands, "Great! So give me your number and I will call you from the room!"

Kyoko didn't have a phone, unfortunately. So she couldn't call him either.

"Well, I was thinking that maybe I could call him from your phone to his phone...?"

Julie sighed, "My phone is charging and I can't keep going back and forth. Just come with me."

She grabbed her arm and dragged her all the way to his room as Kyoko stammered some excuses that Julie ignored with all her might. She wished Kuu was here, but he was in the US handling some stupid company. She will make sure he will learn his lesson when he comes to Japan.

And when Kyoko actually stepped into the room, she felt all her organs had left her body and it was only a ghost of a body standing before a man who had spent two years going crazy looking for her. He had become skinnier, his eyes were sunken and his face pulled in because of lack of food.

She could compare him to the eighteen year old her. But he didn't look nearly as dead as she did. He still looked handsome as ever, even though he was not well.

On the other hand, Kuon felt like the world had stopped and everything had frozen in their places.

In place of the little student Kyoko from two years ago, there was a beautiful woman standing in his doorway with her orange hair tied up in a bun with a few strands hanging loosely, her long shirt tucked in hastily and her baggy jeans making her look so wantonly enticing, that he just wanted to pull her and kiss her senseless, locking the door and never letting her go.

"You asked for me?" her voice, it was as sweet as it had been, he just wanted to record her voice and pull her in his arms. God, how he had missed her. He blinked his eyes as she slowly slid her feet, as if bracing herself to run out of the room as soon as he said she wasn't needed.

"I want light salmon, the one with kimchi and a few snacks so I could have after I have my breakfast." he noted how she frowned only to realise later that he was trying to make her scold him.

"I will do whatever I can." she deadpanned, although it sounded like she didn't remember him at all, he smiled. He knew she was holding back. He needed to grab her before she ran away like before.

She came back with steaming salmon(seriously, from where did she even get so many salmons and meat) she hesitantly placed it on his bed, her feminine scent close for him to feel intoxicated and want her. He had to control himself before he did anything in front of his mother who was watching him.

He cleared his throat and gulped. "Where are the snacks? Rice crackers, rice cakes, and many more—I don't find any." he frowned, making her bite her lip. God, he just wanted to be the one biting that lip and doing unspeakable things to her.

Control yourself, Kuon. Control.

"I'm sorry, sir. There were no snacks in the house. Please forgive me for not restocking." He had expected her to fall down on her knees and beg for his forgiveness. But she didn't.

"Koun, I am going out to get some rice crackers and rice cakes. I'll be back in a few." he silently high fied his mother in his mind, giving her a brilliant smile that would have blinded Kyoko if she'd peered into his mind.

"Err...madam, I'll get it. Please sit here." his eyes wandered to the back of Kyoko, whose expression mirrored a pleading dog.

Julie shook her head and left before she could give in to the cute face Kyoko had been making. She felt like a rabbit trapped in a net that was so neatly spread out for her to get stuck in.

"Um...so I will be in the kit—"

"Could you cut the salmon for me?"

Kyoko gulped, "Uh, the knife is on your tray, and I—"

"Kyoko, how long are you going to pretend as we were strangers?" She bit her lip and turned red.

Her heart almost lurched out of her chest, but before she could make a run for it, he grabbed her hand andpulled her into him, crashing his lips into hers.

She struggled against him, trying to resist his kiss, as his lips moved on her lips and plunging his tongue into her mouth, and touching her in places he had never touched before with one hand and holding her with another. The pads of his palms running down the length of her body, feeling the softness of her skin.

After a moment, she gave in and kissed him back, tearing up. Moaning as his hands touched her in places that made her shiver. She couldn't think, she had lost the ability to sense anything except his touches.

They pulled away for air, as he swooped down and gave her a final kiss before resting his forehead on hers and closing his eyes revelling on the feeling of having her so close to him.

"God, how I missed this...how I missed you."

Kyoko blushed, the tears fresh. He wiped them up, as she refused to meet his gaze.

"Please, for once. Just hear me out. Then I'll let you go."

Silence, Kyoko had no energy to say anything.

He pulled her in his arms, enjoying the feeling of her being with him and loving every minute of it.

"Just...for how long do you intend to make me suffer, Kuon? Why are you making this even harder than it already is?" Kyoko whispered as her lower lip trembled.

"Why are you making it harder for me to live? When you were with me, I was alive. But when you left, you took away my entire being and left behind an empty shell of a man to despair and suffer at your loss."

Kyoko refused to believe it.

He cupped her cheeks, "I love you, Kyoko. Perhaps even before you ever imagined I would. I know it was wrong of me to have feelings for a girl in the school I worked in. I couldn't help myself, and sometimes catch myself staring at you in school."

She caught the hands that were holding her cheeks, looking into his beautiful shade of emerald eyes. The eyes that she had seen so many years ago near the creak as a child.

"All those boys who eyed you like some eye candy, I felt like gauging their eyes out and washing their brains with soap. God, Kyoko you have no idea how freaking beautiful you are. When I heard a group of the male students talking dirty about you, I lost my mind."

Kyoko gasped, "Did you hit them?!"

"Well, I might've just given them a light bruise over their cheeks and stomach and some other parts."

Kyoko looked horrified, but she honestly couldn't do anything about. Kuon wrapped his arms around her waist.

"When I saw you slamming the door in my face, I thought I had stopped breathing, I couldn't think, I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat and I wanted to kill myself if something had happened to you. I was searching for you for days yet I could find nothing. The first time I'd lost you to a truck accident, I thought my heart had stopped. But you were alive and breathing and I couldn't thank God that you were alright. In all these days I realised how hard it was to live with noknowledge of the one thing my life had started to revolve around."

"Please Kyoko, please don't leave me, I love you, I love you so much I can die. Don't go, stay with me, marry me and be mine. No, you are mine, but only if you agree."

Kyoko felt tears falling down her cheeks, she was sobbing as Kuon pleaded her, his eyes begging her to agree.

"Why me?" Kyoko asked, her hands clutching his shoulders.

"Because it's you. You don't need anything else for me to love you."

Kyoko embraced him, sobbing and saying, "I love you, Kuon, I love you too."

And the next thing she knew, her lips were caught in a passionate kiss, with him holding her cheeks while he conveyed his feelings through that one kiss. A sea of

electrifying shivers were felt, and she was holding his shirt so hard that it was wrinkling.

Kuon adjusted himself until he was lying on top of her. Her hair was so soft, just how it had been two years ago, and he wanted to disappear into those locks.

Kyoko was red, breathless as his lips moved on her own.

Suddenly, Kuon went limp on her, surprising her.

She realised that it must've taken alot of his energy since he was already having fever.

"I'm back! Oh!" Julie exclaimed as soon as she saw both her favourite people in the world in the most compromising and exciting situation ever.

Kyoko wanted to die in a hole right now.


Saena Mogami rubbed her temples, trying to finish the latest case she was working on. She glanced at the picture on the table and felt a pang of pain like everytime she felt whenever she saw her picture.

Hopefully, she was somewhere safe and happy.

Anyway, back to work. She needed to finish reading this file before she can do anything else. Not many people worked on weekends. But she wanted to.

"Miss Mogami?" she raised her eyes, her assistant said as she read the file.

"Yes?"

"Someone's come to meet you. Said it was urgent.

Should I send them in?" She frowned, who would want to meet her on this holiday?

"Alright, send them." she said, closing the file and stowing them away.

She heard the knock on the door and soon in came two people, a tall blonde man and a woman with black hair.

But as soon as her eyes met the same pair of Amber eyes as herself, she dropped the papers that were in her hands.

The brilliant smile on the woman's face made Saena tear up. She stood from her chair as the woman stepped closer and hugged her.

"Mother..." she whispered, drinking in her scent.

Saena couldn't believe it, her daughter was back, and looked so beautiful.

"Let me have a good look at you," she said, pulling away. She smiled proudly and said, "I'm so glad that you are safe."

She turned and looked at Kuon with grateful eyes, as he stood there smiling.

"Mother, he is my fiance, Kuon Hizuri."

"Fiance? Aren't you just twenty?"

"I know mother, but we love each other so much," she gazed at Kuon with loving eyes, as he gazed back at her as if she was she only woman in the room. That's when she knew, that her daughter was in good hands.

Saena sighed, "Well, since I can't do anything now, all that I can ask is, Koun you are coming with me inside the room for questions. And no, Kyoko you are staying out of it."

All that Kyoko could do, was pray for him not to be cross questioned like in investigations and freak out.

And well, we can do the same. Although Kyoko managed to find her dawn in this universe, in some other universe she was still coping with the beautiful feelings that were confessed.

Hoping that in the other universe, our lovely will also end up happily.

The End


Author's Note:

Hello Guys!!!

Sooooo I wanted to rewrite this story since it was...not written as satisfactory.

Hope you guys like it. Please leave your thoughts in the comment box below!

And no, it's still T-rated, lol.

Thank you again.

XOXO

Loyalty Counts.