Foreword: I published chapter 7 on a whim last week and when I went to the library to properly sort out my story, I was shocked to find that the timeline in Chapter 7 had been messed up. It was already Spring but I still wrote in the context of Winter. AAHHHH! I've corrected it, the plot remains just that now they weather has changed. (:
So anyway, to clear things up for everybody, I've done a simple timeline :D I decided to write into the future so don't be confused hahaha.
10th Nov 2012 – The day Len met the children (Chapter 1) As of this day, the ages of the children are
Tsukimori Len: 21
Tsukimori Ryoutaro: 12
Tsukimori Azuma: 10
Tsukimori Kazuki: 8
Tsukimori Kahoko: 7
Tsukimori Keichii: 6
Tsukimori Shouko: 4
Nami Amou: 21
I know in chap 1 I wrote their family names as the original one but they've been legally adopted so they must now wear the Tsukimori name :D
4th Dec 2012 - A month later, Shouko was discharged. (Chapter 2)
5th Jan 2013 – Shouko mops the floor in the bonus of chapter 5
7th Jan 2013 – First day of school for the children. (Chapter 4) They started school midway through the third trimester so they all have to repeat a year, and their first trimester will start on 1st April
9th Jan 2013 – Kazuki's mother, Hihara Hoshino, came for him. (Chapter 5)
16th Jan 2013 – Kazuki returned to the Tsukimori household. (Chapter 6)
1st Feb 2013 – The first day of Spring, and Len's concert day, where he played Vivaldi's Spring. Also the day where Ryoutaro confesses that he had a girlfriend since January.
21st Feb 2013 – Chapter 7. Len's and Amou's ''date'.
Because Amou's birthday was on 9th Feb, so from chapter 8 she is now 22 years old! As for Kazuki, he turned 9 on Dec 12th.
Elementary School isn't supposed to start till the children are 7 years of age in that year, but Shimizu was enrolled in Jushou Elementary despite being 6 because he is going to repeat the year anyway. Just saying hahaha. Same with Ryoutaro being enrolled in Junior High at age 12.
I never liked the idea of forewords, since it tends to reveal too much. And not many people read forewords either. Do you? To allow fellow readers like yourself to faster skip to the main storyline, I would just like to say that this Chapter took much more thinking than expected. I had so many ideas but I didn't want to cram them and threaten the liquidity of the plot.
But after finally completing it, I must say I'm rather satisfied. And I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I did enjoy materialising them into existence :D
Chapter 8 : Reunion with a chance of Poetry
Ever since the day when Len and Amou had supposedly went on a "date", many things had happened. It seemed to Len that peace and quiet were now a thing of the past. As March drew closer, everyone was busy preparing for Kahoko's 8th birthday. It was the Tsukimori family's first ever birthday party, since Shouko spent her birthday in the hospital last year. The birthday party was unforgettable and everyone piped in one way or another to help out.
I'd rather not dwell on the events of the party. But it was truly delightful and would be a pity if it wasn't described at length. 27th February, it was a normal school day and even Kahoko had forgotten her own birthday. As absurd as it may sound, she couldn't even remember the last time she blew candles off a cake, thanks to 4 out of 6 years of her early childhood spent at the orphanage. The moment the children had been sent to school Len drove straight home and together with Megumi they put up the decorations. The doors were decked with pom-poms and the kitchen was set up with an Enchanted Garden theme, with toadstools for chairs and a lavish candle lamp in the middle.
When Len went to pick up Shouko, she couldn't stop asking him whether he had finished setting up the preparations. She asked everything from the party elf hats to the Orchid shaped cake. Len nodded mechanically, reassuring Shouko that he had not missed out anything especially with Megumi around during the preparations.
The school bell of Jushou Elementary tolled and the silhouettes of 4 children slowly emerged from the shadows of the entrance. Spring had fully awakened and the weather was lovely and cool. Len signalled Shouko with his eyes to stop asking questions so as to keep the surprise a secret. The children climbed into the car and Len got into the driver seat. Then they gently pulled out of the school gates and headed home.
In the car the children noisily shared their school events. Kazuki was going on about how cool his classmate's new game cards were. Azuma started laughing when he told them of how he saw Shimizu standing outside the class asleep on his feet. Everyone broke into a hearty laughter as Shimizu's faced turned pink.
The car rolled into the garage and everyone got out. As they headed for the door, Kahoko was surprised to find that their usual white door had a prop attached around the entrance. It resembled thick vines with festoons of flowers and leaves. Azuma opened the door for everyone, announcing loudly, "You are about to enter a Secret Garden, mademoiselle."
Behind, a trumpet blasted a fanfare tune. Kahoko was befuddled but giggled uncontrollably. Inside the house a flower carpet led the way to the dining table, which now looked nothing like their usual modern glass table with upright chairs. A wood-printed picnic mat lay over the table and toadstool cushions had been placed on the chairs. On each chair was a paper crown and a pair of elven ears. On the door archways hung the words "HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS".
Even Megumi had dressed up in forest green and white like a elven server, a cake held sturdily in her hand. Everyone eagerly climbed atop the chairs and wore their elven props while Len specially pulled a chair back for Kahoko to sit, then daintily helped her wear her own props. Keiichi then arrived with a silver crown on a velvet cushion. He gave an awkward bow as Len took the crown from the cushion and placed it atop the special girl's head.
"Enjoy the party, Princess," he said it before withdrawing to his spot in the dining table.
Kahoko was absolutely elated. Her smile only grew bigger with each new surprise and she kept reaching out her hand to touch her. Just as Megumi dimmed the lights for Kahoko to blow out the candles, she suddenly asked about Ryoutaro. He was nowhere to be seen, and she didn't want to blow out the candles when the whole family was not yet assembled.
Like some lucky spell, Ryoutaro emerged from the doors, drapped in a red cape, epaulettes and a row of gilt buttons down the white uniform. He marched up to Kahoko elegantly and bent down on one knee before her. Kahoko let out a shy and surprised squeal. Then she started giggling again when she processed that Ryoutaro was pretending to be the elven prince to ask for her hand in marriage on this day. She giggled so much she couldn't give a straight answer. And Ryoutaro who was still on one knee felt rather silly so he stood up and started tickling her. She burst into tears and the other children decided to jump wagon.
Adorable was the word to describe the party.
Reluctantly March arrived, and with it brought an unexpected yet anticipated visitor. Spring break in Japan lasts from 22nd March to 31st March, with 1st April being the first day of school. The Tsukimori family had already laid out plans a month ago when Kahoko wished to have a holiday by the beach on her 8th birthday. But fate is a queer thing. When you're in lowest of spirits, it surprises you with hope, and when in highest spirits, they drag you down with the sourest news. On the morning of Spring Break, a young couple rang the doorbell, claiming to be Shouko's parents.
The luggage and beach toys were cluttered in a corner of the living room, and the children had reluctantly changed from their beach shorts and Aloha shirts into plain jeans and shirts. The guests sat opposite Len, the man had a short crop jade hair, stunningly resembling Shouko's pale emerald bob. The lady had waist long flaxen hair and they both wore travelling clothes, their gazes fixed on the youngest girl without discretion.
"When we first saw the news, we really couldn't believe our eyes." The father gave a disbelieving chuckle.
"And we even hired a private investigator to verify that the girl in the news were definitely our child."
"When he did, which was 3 days ago, we immediately rushed down from Osaka, full of excitement and brimming with hope that our family would once again be complete… And when I rang that door bell… I just… I…" He stared at the floor and brought his clasped fists to his chin, shaking his head repeatedly while the corners of his eyes slowly moistened. "It's fate…" he whispered. His voice cracking from sheer happiness.
Shouko eyed her parents stolidly. It wasn't that she was incapable of emotion, but these 2 adults struck no memory chord at all. When she left them she was only 30 months old, and her first memories were that of Ryoutaro. As Shouko was the youngest there then, Ryoutaro couldn't help but give her more attention and protection.
She moved closer to Len, grabbing his shirt with her tiny fist.
After the incident with Hoshino, Len couldn't help but be more wary of these two adults. He had made a mistake once by not checking out Hoshino's background. He offered more tea to the couple across him, casually slipping out his hand phone to request the mayor to do a background check on Fuyuumi Eiji and Fuyuumi Mitani.
The couple kept their gaze on her but neither dared to reach out to touch her. To caress those soft cheeks and comb their fingers through her delicate gossamer like hair. They felt like they did not deserve to hold her, especially when they were not there for her during her most needed times. And all they could do was stare at their child whom they had thought was gone.
The tension in the air was gaining thickness as Len searched for words to say. He didn't want to propose that they bring her home immediately, and Shouko didn't give any hint that she wished to close the physical distance between her biological parents and herself. Luckily, the tension dispersed when Kahoko's giggle echoed the living room. Her squeals gradated subtly. She tumbled into the living room with Kazuki behind her holding a toy light saber.
"I am your father!" he bellowed. Then he saw the guests in the living room and immediately fell silent to Len's glare. Kahoko was still oblivious and giggling away, her laughter chiming like a string of silver bells.
"Shouko, play with us?" The couple looked at each other.
Kazuki gave her the Len-is-staring-at-you-you're-dead gape, but surprisingly Len encouraged Shouko to join them. Lucky break. He thought to himself.
"I don't know how to put this," the father began. Seeing Shouko was out of hearing radius, he continued, "We were on a holiday. A-and, we were irresponsible… leaving an infant in the car while we went to the toilet. When my wife and I returned…"He paused to compose himself. "…our car and daughter were gone. It taught us a painful lesson."
"I was in shock for half a year, my wife took longer." His wife slowly put her fingers to her eyes and wiped. Len listened to the couple, casting no judgement upon them.
"We really wish that she could return home with us," the wife suddenly said. "But to her we would just be strangers. And besides, after her loss, we decided to start anew." She placed her hand on her abdomen.
"So…" Len quizzed, "what is your purpose here today? You aren't going to take her back, are you?"
"Oh no, after seeing what good hands she's in, we're relieved. On our way here, our sole purpose was to see her again. To check if she was in a place that made her happy. If she wasn't, we'd taken her back without hesitation. But after we saw the other children playing with her, we know that we can entrust our daughter's happiness to this household." The father stood up and reached for his wallet. "A token of our gratitude," he handed the wad of notes to Len. Len politely rejected the offer. He was feeling more relieved than the parents that Shouko would be staying.
After seeing them out of the gates, assuring them repeatedly that he would take extremely good care of her, he returned full of smiles and a wondrous feeling burning in his heart. After explaining the situation to the children, they cheered and changed back into their holiday clothes. Then they climbed into the car once more and they were off to their holiday in even greater spirits.
A Mercedes Benz was parked a distance away from the gates and the people in the vehicle watched the family car drive away. The chauffeur wore a tux and there were two bodyguards sitting beside an old but fit woman wearing a green kimono. She had her greying hair tied up tightly and her thin lips pursed at the sight of the vanishing car. She gave a little wave to signal to the chauffeur, muttering under her breath. "So that wretched kid my daughter died giving birth to is still alive."
There was never a bigger shock to the members of the Tsukimori household than Kazuki announcing that he was shortlisted for the Poem Festival finals in the under 12 category. Kazuki and poetry? Disastor. Everyone was befuddled. Ok, they admitted that Kazuki had great story telling and drama skills. "But poetry bores him like how everything except cello music bores Keiichi!" Ryoutaro exclaimed, laughing in disbelief as he took his seat in the auditorium. The hall was packed with anxious and excited families. Some were boasting about the talented child, how they had a unique liking to poetry and whatnot. Others were like the Tsukimoris, not having a single clue what they nor their child were doing here. The finals had a total of 20 competitors and only 1 grand winner. The rest would be giving Honor or Participation certificates.
"Maybe Kazuki will get a special reward. 'We made a mistake shortlisting you but thanks for appearing' cert," jeered Kahoko. The rest burst out laughing and Len had to shush them as the lights started to dim.
"I'm interested in watching Kazuki's performance," chuckled Azuma softly.
The organiser of the competition started out by thanking families and friends for turning up to support the competitors and then went on to explain the selection process. All Elementory schools across Tokyo either made the selection round a compulsory or optional one for their students, and Jushou Elementary had made it compulsory for their students to participate in the initial selection round. Students from across all levels had to prepare a poem and recite it in class while the teachers picked the best reciters to enter into the competition.
"Why weren't you selected?" Ryoutaro whispered to Azuma.
Everyone leaned in to hear. They were undoubtedly curious to hear why Azuma didn't get picked. He and poetry were like carrots and peas.
"They found Edgar Poe too dark," Azuma smiled innocently. Everyone shifted back into their seats uncomfortably.
Finally the competition was beginning.
The first few contestants were jaw dropping. They recited form memory will clear pronunciation and dramatic voices. They tone matching the poem.
Len glimpsed at Kazuki occasionally and was horrified but not surprised to find him dozing off. After the 5th contestant, the emcee called on Kazuki's name. "Next up is Tsukimori Kazuki, recited 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost."
Kazuki awoke with a startle and shuffled to the centre of the stage. He adjusted his tie and started tucking in his pants in front of everyone. Some parents laughed, others clicked their tongues in disapproval. He flashed his famous cheeky grin and took out a folded paper from his chest pocket. Holding it out in front of him, he cleared his throat loudly.
"I would like to share with all of you, a poem. By Robert Frost." Kazuki said uninterestedly.
"Two roads diverged in the woods. And I took the road less travelled." He said in a monotonous tone. The audience was awkwardly silent. The gap between him and all the previous contestants were so wide. Len could only slide down in his seat in embarrassment.
Suddenly, Kazuki crushed his paper and shouted into the mike, "AND IT HURT!"
The audience were caught off guard.
"IT HURT, MAN!"
This wasn't part of the poem. Was he improvising?
"ROCKS!" Kazuki overturned his hands and twitched his fingers, his expression showed comical disgust.
"THORNS!" He lifted up his foot as if in pain and started hopping on one leg.
"GLASS!" He despaired, holding his head between his hands.
"MY SHOES BROKE!" He then went on to remove his shoe, and holding his shoe in his right hand while revealing One Piece socks, he waved his shoe threateningly. "Not cool, Robert Frost."
Some laughter broke amongst the audience. Kazuki definitely had their attention now.
"That being said, take a look at Michael Jordon. What if he stopped playing basketball after not being able to get into the school team?" His gaze was intense and true. Then he broke that seriousness and said, "Ok he's stopped playing now. But that's different." Swatting his hand the way one would when they told a bad joke. He then brought his hand to his mouth the way one would when telling a secret and whispered. "He's retired." His mouth crooked and one of his eyebrows raised. More laughter broke. He really was a born comedian. "If he hadn't kept going, he wouldn't have made Space Jam." Kazuki was pacing across the stage. "And I Love Space Jam." There was a hearty laughter amongst the audience now.
"Or how about Beethoven? What if he stopped composing music after he went cuckoo?" He covered his mouth quickly. "Ahem, I mean deaf." The audience were cackling now. "We wouldn't have DUM DUM DUM DUUUUMMM!" sang Kazuki with his arms outstretched as if banging an invisible piano, his head thrusted backwards in synchronisation. Some of the audience started clapping their hands and a few hysteric laughters broke.
"What Robert Frost was probably trying to say is, have guts!" He clenched his right fist and withdrew it inwards. "Take a risk!" He punched into the air in front. Then he stepped backwards, "And make a difference to society." He held his breath, before finishing with a "Thank you." And he bowed. The applause was deafening. It was a standing ovation.
Without question, Kazuki clinched top prize. The organiser said he had never seen such a kid with so much creativity and artistic potential. The rules of the competition were to recite a poem in the most engaging way. Some of the children recited original poems written by themselves, so Kazuki's improvisation of the Robert Frost poem was not fouled. The Tsukimori family was ecstatic. Kazuki winning a prize for Poetry! Len decided to treat them to ice cream at his usual haunt, namely the café where he had met Amou previously to salvage Ryoutaro's crisis.
As they journeyed there in the car, his throphy was being passed back and forth repeatedly until Len had to confiscate it and put it in the front with Ryoutaro as he claimed their passing affected his rear view mirror vision. They pulled in beside the café and the children filed out of the car. The owner recognised the ceruleanised-headed driver and immediately beckoned the children to a comfortable spot at a corner with full view of the television.
The owner of Robert's Café was a bespectacled guy with auburn hair that parted in the middle. He was a full-fledged Japanese who went by the name of Shinobu Ousaki. The name of his café had been inspired by his professor back in college when he was studying Servicing and Bakery. Robert Hillwell had always wanted to open his own café and entertain customers with his own music. But 2 years after Ousaki had graduated and finally got the license to his own shop, he searched for his professor to tell him the good news, only to find out that he had passed away 5 months ago from a heart attack. Hence in memory of his passionate and patient professor, Ousaki had named the café after him.
The kids scuttled about the café, exploring the jukebox and the counters while Len ordered 6 sundaes and 1 cup of black coffee. Len and Ousaki were on good terms with each other, which was rare since Len hardly got close to anyone, let alone a café owner. Ousaki being 11 years older than Len gained his respect on the night he played Beau Soir. Len was surprised that such a music talent was working in a lowly café when he could be playing for thousands and Ousaki blushed upon hearing the compliment. He then confessed to have studied music before majoring in Servicing.
Seeing Len brought joy to Ousaki as they both had a lot in common and often talked endlessly. As the waitress piled the sundaes on the tray, Ousaki offered to serve them personally, and maybe chat a little, if Len didn't mind, Ousaki thought. He had known about Len's decision to adopt the six children since last year, but this was the first time he had ever seen them.
Gliding the glasses of ice cream gracefully across the table, the children scurried back at the sight of the dessert. One, two, three… Ousaki counted as the children settled themselves. Then a flurry of red slipped under his nose and Ousaki stopped counting. She eagerly reached out for her Caramel Sundae and tucked in greedily. Ousaki still had his gaze fixed on her, his eyes undistracted and unmoving while in the back of his head a pool of memories surged.
"Kahoko… Hino Kahoko…?" he said questioningly. The children were still chatting away happily and oblivious. But Len and Kahoko eyed him with equal bewilderment.
Kahoko had seen that man before. She couldn't remember when or where. But he was definitely familiar.
Afterword: Just like the foreword, I wonder how many people actually read this part of the author's writings hahahaha. I confess that when forewords and afterwords get too lengthy and full of credits to editors and inspirations I too skip them :X
This chapter leaves many many question marks. Like the old woman in the car. Whose grandmother is she? Well we could strike out Kazuki and Shouko. And what were Shouko's parents names? I don't know. Hahaha. The anime/manga never mentioned them, and I couldn't come up with fancy names either. Ousaki a café owner? Now that's a first hahahahaha… But I like Ousaki, though his appearance was little and often fillers =.=
EXTRA : A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TSUKIMORI (5)
Today is Fiction Tuesday, which happens on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, and on such days the Tsukimori household decided that everyone would role play a character from any fiction story. Last month they did Avengers and Kazuki took advantage of it to throw pillows at everybody and blame it on his anger just because he was The Incredible Hulk. But they got bored of it because the costumes were so difficult to make given the clothes they had and supply of coloured paper and toilet paper.
This month, without much argument, they decided on Harry Potter after watching Deathly Hallows Part 2 which just released in the cinemas last week.
There was an uproar in the living room as the children fought over the roles. Kahoko couldn't decide between the brightest witch, Hermione Grangers, and the pretty Cho Chang. Shouko wanted to be Hermione but everyone said she should be Neville and this made her raving mad. Reasons because one, Neville was a boy and second, she absolutely preferred Potions to Herbology. Azuma was fine with any role but when Ryoutaro suggested Cedric Diggory Azuma complained that he didn't like Cho Chang nor did he want to die.
"Kazuki fits the image of Ron Weaseley. A blunder yet likeable." Kahoko commented.
"Nah, I'm too much for one person to handle. I insist on being both Fred and George Weasely at the same time." Kazuki cheekily replied.
After much debate and uproars and many retarded and unnecessary comments by Kazuki, they finally decided on the following roles.
Ryoutaro was to be Neville, he didn't think he was worthy being Harry Potter and the fact that he could sense You-Know-Who's emotions was far too much for him to handle. Azuma would be Draco Malfoy, though there was no Harry potter for him to make fun of. In the end Kahoko got neither Hermione not Cho but Ginny Weasely and Shouko got Hermione. Shizuku insisted that Owls and House Elves were important characters too, so he got Pidgewigeon, since Hedwig died.
In the end, they realised all their roles needed the crucial main character Harry Potter, in which no one seemed to fit the bill.
"But we left out someone." Shizuku said.
And all heads turned to Len sitting at the table reading his music encyclopedia.
Len didn't look up but the sudden hush hinted that the children had noticed his presence. He knew that soon they were going to do some hanky panky to him again. I guess peace and quiet can only last SO long, he thought. He braced himself mentally and calmly flipped the page.
"Len as Harry Potter? Not in a million years." Kahoko whispered.
"Yeah he has no guts and no talent." Azuma nodded.
"But don't you think he fits someone one hundred percent?" suggested Ryoutaro.
Everyone grinned as the telepathic message spreaded through all their minds. The role was perfect.
"Snape! Snap! Severus Snap!" they chanted.
"Fifty points from Griffyndor!" Len snapped.
Azuma broke into an evil snarl.
"Ho ho ho. Serves you right Potterheads."
"IT WAS A TRAP! MALFOY LEAD US!"
Everybody clamoured onto Azuma, playfully drowning him in pillows and cushions and rolled up newspapers for wands. In between peals of silky laughter Azuma exclaimed, "My father shall hear about this!"
The next time they decided to do One Piece characters.
Post Afterword: I LOVE ONE PIECE!