Title: Happy Pill
Plot Writer: NerdyInuProductions
Manga/Anime: Skip Beat
Status: Complete
Disclaimer: I don't own this Anime, Manga and its characters, but I proudly own the Plot and the Story which I thought and loved to share, hope you give me some reviews and tell me what you think.
Salamat!
The Hizuri home buzzed after years of silence and emptiness, now the oldest is staying for a year after his new project with few series and movies, after the main Japanese branch of his acting agency transferred him and his girlfriend for a short term contract. "Kubo, drop it!"
"What happened, dad?" Kuon chuckled.
"Kubo took my slippers." Kuon's father sighed. Of course, Kuu and Juliena Hizuri grew delighted that their youngest that they thought they lost forever is now with them for five months. Although, despite being physically home, there was no actual progress in their relationship, Kuu and Julie suffers heartbreak every day. They can see him sad, pained and silent – he never bothered anyone and avoided his parents when he can.
"Good morning! Where's Koudi?" Julie all dressed for the day bounced in the kitchen to join her family for breakfast.
"He left early." Kuon's girlfriend commented, "I don't know where he went but he went out all dressed for business."
"He's probably going to a meeting." Kuu joined his eldest son on the island counter while Kyoko served breakfast. Two barking dogs were heard and started to paw at Kuon and Kuu.
"See! That's because you boys kept on spoiling Kubo, Mon!" Julie scolded while the German shepherd and tiny fluffy toy poodle did their best to act cute. Kuu stood up and went to get their food.
"No work today, dad?" Kyoko asked after Kuu finished feeding their pets.
"No… I asked Paul to give me a day or two to rest, I've been busy lately and I needed a bit rest."
"That's good, I'll make some few snack for you, me and Kuon are heading to the studio with Yashiro-san later."
"Do your best for the shooting later!" he smiled and cheered on them, "Call me when you guys need anything."
"Thanks dad." Kuon nodded.
After everyone left, Kuu relaxed in his favorite recliner in his pajamas and robe, watching his favorite movie where his eldest son and daughter-in-law were starring; munching at the huge sandwich Kyoko made for him. He was about to fall asleep when a loud crash next door was heard, peeking on the window to see what as going on at his son's cluster house property he couldn't see anything.
Heading down to check things there, he found his youngest scooted in a corner; trembling with his right wrist bleeding from the broken glass, Kuu panicked and grab hold of his son, embracing him tightly, he tended to the bleeding writ and pulled the young man to stand steady and walked slowly to the parked car on the driveway.
He rushed to the nearest hospital and took his son to the emergency room after the bleeding won't stop, he did not want to worry his wife so he called his manager first since there will be commotion happening after people saw him in his pajamas rushing his son to the hospital. With Paul on the way, he called his wife, telling her the news in a gentle manner avoiding heart attack.
Julie rushed in as well, "We need to put him under observation. Your son lost a lot of blood from the five inches cut. It took sixteen stiches to close the wound, but luckily it wasn't deep." Kuu breathed out in relief, flopping to the plastic chair offered in the waiting area, "I advise that he needs to stay here and have him rest. Although, I would recommend a psychiatric friend of mine to look at your son, he isn't stable." The doctor broke the news to him.
"I know he had been suffering depression, but I wasn't aware that he is still having these kind of attacks. He has been taking his medication and been doing well lately." Kuu replied.
"I see. But it is better to have my friend take look at him. And you don't have to worry, Mr. Hizuri, this will not be leaked to the media, I had assistant and nurses hush down."
"Thank you, doctor?"
"My name is Doctor Elias Ainsworth." He offered his hand.
"Thank you, Ainsworth-san." Kuu took his hand and they talked a bit. After the doctor left Kuu went in his son's private room and stayed there, sitting and watching Koudi sleep.
"Where am I?" Koudi finally woke-up and Kuu rushed to his side.
"You're in the hospital, buddy. You had a bad cut; can you tell dad what happened?" Kuu lovingly stroked his son's hair and held his son's left hand. Kuu did not expect what happened.
Koudi burst into tears and started to speak shakily. Kuu grabbed him and held him tight making hushing sounds, "It is okay… dad's here now." Kuu's heart was being torn into pieces. In the past he was strict and stern speaking coldly to his son, now he was soft and gentle. Unaware that his son was suffering in the past, he was a terrible father being coldly stern to him. Now that he realized he wanted to do everything in his power and reach to treat his child the way he deserved.
"I know you went through hell because of me, I didn't know you were suffering like this yet I treated you badly. I thought I needed to discipline you after your behavior but I didn't know you were upset we were neglecting you. You mother and I thought that because you are with us, we don't need to focus on you since we can always see and meet you, but unlike your brother, we have to be secretive and support him because he wasn't with us." Kuu explained.
"I am sorry, if I was a terrible father to you. I never knew or even tried to bond with you. Seeing you like this breaks me, my son. I'm sorry." To his surprise, his crying child held him equally tight. Yes it was bitter and painful even though Kuu was being held by his boy. The child is holding him tight because he was in pain.
"I promise, I'll make it up to you." Kuu promised and stroked his son's head gently.
Minutes later, Julie and Paul arrived. Julie saw her husband sitting on the hospital bed and humming calming songs to their child and holding the uninjured hand.
Kuu changed his clothes after Julie brought him what he asked. Julie on the other hand cried seeing their youngest son's state. "So what happened?" Julie asked her husband.
"He broke down and held on me tightly, I don't know what exactly happened, but he is in bad shape. I don't know what to do, but I'll do my best to help and save him." Kuu sat beside her and buried his face on his palms, Julie rubbed his back reassuringly.
"I'll go get Kuon and Kyoko, you stay here with him, okay?" Despite Julie hesitating leaving her son, she know Kuu wanted to be alone with their son.
"Hey, buddy? How do you feel?" Kuu asked Koudi after he woke up.
"Terrible. Headache, my heart hurts, I'm seeing things and nightmares." He explained.
"Can you tell dad what happened earlier?" Kuu sat beside him.
"There was a sea of people, flashing lights and loud noises. I hate how they chaotically ask questions to me." Kuu can see his head was spinning, "I don't like those… it reminds me where I need to get those papers and I can't see you and mom from the stage. I felt scared, alone and trash."
The last word broke Kuu, "I feel useless, I wish I wasn't born, I wish I died, I don't like this anymore." He admitted and his tears started falling. "I want to die, just please let me die?" Kuu realized that the wound he got was self-inflicted.
"NO!" Kuu disagreed, "You are not dying on me and your mother, I know I messed up as a father, but we don't want you gone. You are precious to us, and we realized our mistake after you finally slapped us with your pain when you left that day." Kuu held him close to his chest again, "I promise you, you are wanted and we were over the moon when you were born. I know we missed your progress growing up because we focused on Kuon because we thought we lost him. But we didn't know that we are also losing another in the process. I'm sorry… son." Koudi turned silent and never returned the embrace.
When Kyoko and Kuon arrived, Kuon attacked his brother with affection, smothering him with attention. Koudi hated it.
"How is he?" Kuu asked his wife, Julie smiled a little.
"I gave him his medication, he's in his office working again." After Julie updated him, she followed her husband who went to see their son, they peeked from the corner and saw Koudi focused on his computer screen typing away.
The house and property he purchased became a cluster design building, where his office, lobby and pantry became one cluster, while his sunroom is connected to center-yard giant koi pond. His garage that housed three vehicles were all styled into an all-glass walls similar to his other cluster buildings.
"So what did Dr. Jack say?" Julie inquired.
"If the slow approach is not working, maybe I need to be straightforward. I am scared to do that method as he might reject me more, but I would try it anyways. I want progress and I want to help him, I know he is alright with you, but not to me."
"I made lots of mistake too, remember I was the one who insisted to fly to Japan and attend Kuon's awarding and have our other son ignored." Julie admitted her mistake.
"We don't blame anyone other than me, honey. I was the one who was cold towards him." Kuu cupped the check of his wife and kissed her, "I'll try to fix this." He sighed anxiously, "But I don't know where to start."
Kuu came home after his word that afternoon, "Koudi?" Kuu started to look for his son only to find him in their backyard sitting by the pool deck, soaked with two dogs were all over him.
Kuu dropped what he bought and rushed to his son, he sighed in relief after finding Koudi snuggling the trembling ginger colored kitten to his chest, "What happened?" Kuu inquired.
"Kubo started barking, and Cotton almost jumped in the pool, they found a kitten drowning." He explained.
"I'll go get towels." Kuu went to the needed things and brought a blow dryer as well. After Koudi put on new and dry clothes, Kuu helped him change his wrist bandage, Kuu watched his son care for the kitten.
That evening, Kuu and Julie talked in bed, "I'm glad you finally found something that would help you." Julie smiled at her husband, "I hope this time, it would work."
"I pray it will." He sighed in relief.
Kuon, Kyoko and the youngest were sharing breakfast in the kitchen, "Kiddo, go get dressed, you're coming with me today." Kuu called for Koudi with a bright smile.
"I got work." Koudi declined.
"I know, but I am also aware you are bringing your phone or tablet along so you carry your work around." Kuu pressed, "Now come along, go get dressed." Koudi sighed in defeat and changed into his usual button down shirt, khaki shorts and flipflops.
After everyone left for work, Kuu brought his youngest boy along for work. Paul looked confused as to why his charge brought Koudi, he knows that Kuu is worried about the boy's mental state and currently on the edge, but Kuu didn't have to be a helicopter parent to watch over his child.
When they arrived to Kuu's outdoor set, Paul noticed Koudi's change of mood and behavior. The set is full of dogs; furry, four legged, barking friends from the local shelter. Hired for the current scene in Kuu's drama, as a father he would notice his children's likes and dislikes. Kuu might be absent to the boy's progress but he wasn't a clueless and useless father. Since childhood, he knew his children loved animals.
Kuon being a sucker to those that had feathers, while the youngest loved those with fur and four legs, "They are from the local shelter." Kuu explained. Kuu failed to explain that the animals from that shelter are also local volunteer as a therapy animals brought to hospitals and home for the aged to comfort those that need them.
While Kuu was taken for hair, makeup and costume; he watched his son grew interested with the dogs, however Koudi was fond with the black chubby Pitbull. It has cropped ears with little orange accent that looked like a Doberman black and orange pattern, the cubby little fluff looked like it has eyebrows.
"Paul?" Kuu called for his manager, "I want that dog." He demanded, "Koudi likes him and I want that little fluff trained to be a little helper." Paul smiled and nodded.
With his taping finished, Kuu is free for the afternoon, "Let's go grab some munchies." Kuu pulled his son to another car ride, Koudi recognized the place, it hurts him a lot remembering that it is the usual place he and Kuu would visit often when Kuu would take him to work.
Kuu ordered their usual, a bunch of fries, burgers, hotdogs and pizzas. Of course without any disguise they were swarmed by local fans, but the manager and owner of the store all familiar with the father and son, helped them fend of those crazy fans.
With their order out, they headed straight home, "Strange…" Koudi started.
"Why?" Kuu hummed.
"I don't like it. I hate that place and all this."
Kuu again sighed, "Why?" he asked again.
"It reminds me of the past."
"I know, but I missed it. I'm sorry me and your mother were blinded and focused on Kuon. I should've done this kind of things with you often." Kuu sadly drove, "But you know what, after you left, I hated that place too… it reminded me of the good old days where I used to take you there and eat, I never visited that place nor used this direction to get home." Koudi ignored. "Julie and I thought we lost you forever. Thank you for coming home." He slowly drove enjoying his son's company.
When they arrived, Julie was shocked at the massive food they brought but in the same time knows that the amount of grubs they brought wasn't enough for the father and son.
"What the…" Koudi was woken up by wet slathering all over his face matched with barking and meowing. Opening his eyes he found the same dog yesterday with the German shepherd, toy poodle and orange kitten.
"Kubo, Mon, Mustard. Down!" he commanded and the two dogs wagged their tails sitting, panting in excitement, "Beefy?" Koudi tilted his head in confusion looking at the puppy Pitbull with its paw to his knee, tail aggressively wagging leaving his but to shake, and kitten latched to his shirt.
Leaving his room and walking down to the kitchen to join his family for breakfast; Kuu sipped his coffee with a bright smile, Kuon looking for the dogs and Kyoko cooking. Julie followed with some bags with her new designed clothes.
"What's going on?" he asked pointing at the dog.
"The shelter that partnered with our drama, cares for strays and abandoned cats and dogs that helps hospitals and homes for therapy." Kuu explained, "And seeing you are fond of Chunky right there, I think our family had another space." Kuu knew deep inside his son he was happy to keep the dog.
Indeed, the dog was helpful. Julie once found Koudi suffering another attack and balled at the corner of his office; the Pitbull pawing at her son persistent on nudging its nose to snap Koudi out of his attack, while the two dogs followed suit trying their best to comfort Koudi. The kitten mewled like crazy in alert. It wasn't long when Koudi tightly hugged the dogs.
Julie realized that her son wasn't ready to rely on her or Kuu, but she was delighted to see that her son found some anchor that would help him open up and heal.
Kuu and Julie had been active on social media showing their family update, all focused on Kuon and Koudi. Kuu posted an old picture taken by Paul; simple candid family picture where Julie cradling a toddler Koudi in his cute little pajama onesie that matching the family attire, snuggling his puppy plush toy. Julie in her beautiful white floral off shoulder dress, Kuu and eight years old Kuon in white floral beach button down. Kuu with is long and muscular arm wrapped his family into a loose hug.
The new picture where Paul was credited by Kuu as the photographer, they wore similar white floral design, except adult Koudi is now dressed in his favorite mandarin collared shirt, being joined by Kyoko who adorn similar off shoulder dress and pink flower tucked behind her ear, and three dogs handsomely clothed in white floral shirts, the kitten being cradled by Julie instead of baby Koudi.
Kuu shared a long story post with side-by-side picture, explaining his depression after his family was torn and how they are recovering, how his eldest and youngest suffered depression as well and his wife unable to work due to the grief of almost losing their children. However he explained how his youngest got affected worse and almost took his life.
His fans, both in Japan and America supported him by commenting positive responses from his "Happy Pill" post. His family update was followed by appreciation post for the pets he called the Rescue Team.
"Kubo, muscle and mischievous pupper of the rescue pack. The gentle giant that failed being part of our home security, his trainer/handler who is our head security, gave him to us as a pet instead because he's too cuddly and nice" He started with the German shepherd. "Cinnamon, AKA Monty or Mon. The cutest and sweetest of the recue pack." A cute picture of chocolate brown toy poodle accompanied the caption.
"Meaty. The new pupper recruit and professional support rescuer of the pack." Meaty looked like he was smiling while rolling out his tongue giving a cute smile for the picture. "Lastly, meet Mustard. The purrist, fluffiest, serial snuggler and the leader of the rescue pack." stolen picture of Koudi working on his computer in the family living room, where he sat comfortably with a cat snuggled and sleeping on his neck, with cute little pink tongue doing a mlem.
His fans melted at the cute angel pictures of their family pets as well as his sons' pictures, funny how he would fend off the girls after he read some thirsty messages for his youngest son.
The empty second floor-family room that used to be abandoned is now being often used by the family, the closed curtains are now open and the full glass wall is overlooking the beautiful view of their family pool, garden and deck. The lounge became comfortable after Julie added more giant beanbags that could fit her youngest son to sleep. Dog beds and cat towers were added in the background for their new members.
News blared on television while the family enjoyed the company of each other and some snacks, "West Frontier Founder and CEO Hizuri declined Kanbe Group's offer in partnership for the third party project. The new Hizuri group of companies pridefully slams the assista-" Koudi turned the TV off with a sigh.
"I refuse to sell property for bloodshed, we created our machines and weapons to protect and secure. We create to help support, not to kill." He commented, "Daisuke-san is arrogant, and I dislike him."
His family can sense his irritation, but glad that he was back to normal.
~END?~