I don't own Skip beat!
"How have you been, Mogami-san?"
Hizuri Kuon, the one person she never wished to see, was the very person asking for a surrogate mom. She wish for the floor to open and eat her.
Kuon approaches the frozen woman. "Mogami-san?" Kyoko flinches as he touches her shoulder to get her attention.
"Mogami-san, are you okay?"
Kyoko looks at him with a hint of betrayal and confusion whirling at her eyes. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"
"Mogami-"
"Because I don't find it amusing at all."
"..."
"You know what, I'm going" Kyoko was preparing to depart immediately. She reckoned this man a sadist. 'My pain, your joy'
When she opens the door it closes immediately with a loud bang. In her haste to get away from him, she did not notice that he followed her. Kuon has trapped her between the door and his body. "Please let me go", Kyoko pleaded her voice shaking, head bowed down.
Kuon ushered her to sit again and politely asked the other occupants of the room to leave them, Yukihito was reluctant to go but when he saw Kuon's face, he did not waste time to give the two the privacy they needed. The demon lord is piercing him with his scary eyes.
"Mogami-san, before you go and retract your decision. Let me explain why I choose you." Kuon clears his throat before he continues, "I have high standards in finding the perfect surrogate mother for my kid and you fit the criteria. You are beautiful inside and out and intelligent. You're humble and loving and courageous and kind. I want my kid to have all those beautiful traits." 'Maybe your beautiful eyes too' Kuon added in his mind. "Let me assure that my intentions are clear".
"You do realize those traits are to be learned, they are not passed thru genes" Kyoko said, she refuse to look at the man. She feels like this person is playing with her, taking advantage of the situation.
"Yes, I know you think that I'm taking advantage of you, I assure you I am not"
Did she say that out loud. Oh joy.
But she gave him a look that said she doesn't believe him.
"Okay, maybe just a bit" Kuon confessed, suddenly getting shy being caught. When he chose Kyoko, the situation they were in is his safety net. He knows she will agree to his demand, he just need to play his cards right. "This is not a normal request coming for someone like me, if words get out it might end my life. I trust that you will compromise, knowing you are a kind hearted person" insert puppy eyes look. Kyoko almost gave in, almost.
"Look i want a baby, you need the money. I have the money and you can be the surrogate. It's a win-win deal"
"win-win for who? For me? Obviously this deal favors you more, i needed the money to pay you Hizuri-san," Kyoko scoffs. This guy is really something.
"Pay me a baby then" Kuon knows he is threading a very thin line here. "Give me a heir and everything is settled"
"but Kijima-sama said you wanted 2-" Oops.
Kuon's smile had Kyoko berated herself, 'Stupid, stupid Kyoko. He was asking for a baby now you have to make it two.'
"That sounds like a better deal, 2 kids and everything is settled" he can't contain his happiness anymore. The smile he was directing her could fry your brains and send hearts to your eyes. But then Kyoko said something that wiped all his happiness and excitement away.
"Let me think about it"
She was unsure, definitely. She feels like agreeing to something she will regret. The weigh of responsibility is getting heavy but she just cant give in easily. She needed to think things through.
"Hm. What else is there to think?" Kuon wanted her to agree, she have to. Then maybe they can change the process of making her pregnant, he can do it the natural way- 'Now is not the right time for that. Get a grip'
"Hizuri-san, when I agreed to this, I never thought it was you, please understand. If it's okay to you, let me put more thoughts into this." Kyoko bowed her head. She was requesting him to give her more time and maybe reconsider agreeing as a surrogate.
He felt crushed, yeah pretty bad. He was exasperated by her.
He left her sitting, masking his frustrations. Walking toward the window, he spoke "I may change my mind by then, Mogami-san"
'Darn it Kyoko. What is wrong with you' "I'll understand if you do Hizuri-san"
Kuon let a huge weary sigh "I see, if that's all you can go now."
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience Hizuri-san."
And with that Kyoko left the room. And Kuon well lets just say anger doesn't even begin with what he is feeling right now.
Kanae wanted to know what happened in there. But she was stopping herself from asking. It looks like the deal didn't go well. She should be happy but she felt bothered.
Kyoko was in one corner of the room, staring blankly outside the window. Not knowing what to do to comfort her friend, she sit beside her and put her head on Kyoko's shoulder, " Know that I am here, if you need a friend".
"Thank you Moko-san." Her mind is in complete chaos right now. She wanted to agree, her being is pushing her to agree, but a tiny bit of her is scared, and was questioning her reasoning. Why did I even agree to do? Is this a good idea? Questions are being asked over and over again.
Kanae decided to leave her friend in peace. She will come around eventually.
After the meeting, Kuon drove home. He informed Yukihito on his way.
He is here in his empty apartment,drinking.. Drowning his frustrations away.
Rejections. Rejected.
That word doesn't fit beside his name, but thats what he feels. He was rejected to the point he feel defeated.
"this idea was ludicrous anyway", he said particularly to no one.
He chuckled, what was he thinking feeding his imagination with kids anyway, what's worse was kids with her. He should have listened to that nagging voice behind his head.
Taking another sip of the strong liquid in his glass, Kuon concluded that he needed a distraction to forget it all. So he picked up his jacket and car keys with one destination in mind.
'To the red district it is' he thought darkly.
Kyoko was helping Mrs. Kotonami with breakfast. She woke up early again. Honestly, she didn't get any sleep at all. She was up thinking all night.
The older woman said something which she didn't catch, "could you repeat that again, Kotonami-san? I'm sorry"
"What's bothering you? I didn't mean to pry but you've been gloomy for a few days now"
True. Ever since giving out her bio, her mind was flying elsewhere. Deciding to put some ease in her mind she asked the older woman, "Kotonami-san, what would you if you need to give away something important just to settle a problem?"
"That depends on the problem. Is it something that cannot be solve any other way?"
"Well it can be but it'll take longer"
"I see, so the real question is will I go the long way or short, right?"
"I guess, Kotonami-san"
"I'm sorry dear, but I'm afraid my answer will just disappoint you. I maybe be older than you but definitely not wiser. Whoever said wisdom comes with age is crazy" she said, laughing.
"Still Kotonami-san, I want to hear your answer" Kyoko insisted.
"If the problem involves my family, of course I will do whatever it takes to solve it dear. Even if I have to sell myself to the devil himself." Mrs. Kotonami said. "Oh but don't mind that, its just an old lady speaking. Come on, let's fix the table everyone will be waking up soon"
She called Kijima-san and asked for his help. He wanted to meet Hizuri-san that day, and yes she has decided to take on his request. With a few conditions on her own of course. She needed to protect herself in this agreement so she dragged Kanae with her.
After breakfast, she told Kanae everything. She said that she will agree but she needs her friend's help so she wont be taken advantage of. She requested her to make a contract, which will be signed by her, Hizuri-san, Kijima-san and Kanae as witnesses.
Kanae was surprised, but agreed to help. Well she did sign herself in when Kyoko agreed to meet the The Hizuri person, the difference is, now Kyoko knows it already. No way she will abandon her friend into this.
XXX
Kuon entered his office with visitors he did not expect. He called his secretary and asked for a coffee, a very strong coffee. His head is pounding due to hangover, caused by the woman in his office.
"Good Morning Hizuri-san," She greeted. "We are sorry for intruding but Kijima-san said its fine. This is Kotonami Kanae," gesturing to her friend, "a lawyer."
Letting out a sigh she continued, "I agree, but with a few conditions"
"What if I changed my mind, Mogami-san?" Kuon asked. To be honest, he was on a high when she said she agreed, but he is not gonna show it. Playing a little hard to get. Heh. A little part of him is still hurt, of course.
"I see, so there is nothing for us to do here anymore then" Kyoko said dejected.
"What's with the lawyer Mogami-san?"
"Well, I wanted her to draft a contract that will safeguard both of us with this agreement. I needed a guarantee that after the whole baby ordeal I will be a free from anything" Kyoko explained.
Smart. Kuon really made the right choice.
"Okay, let's see that contract"
"Wait" Kyoko called out, "So it's okay with you? I mean so you agree to choose me"
All she get was a smile for confirmation.
She was smiling as Kanae explained the nature of the contract.
'Just a bit more Father. i promise I will fix all of this.'
Author's note: The next chapter is being constructed already. Give me a day or two to post a new chapter.
Also, have you guys heard of the song "Out of my league by Stephen Speaks" I was all giddy when I did last Saturday. An idea for a new story was already crawling out of my head. Well if anyone wanted to write a story out of the song, let me know i wanna read it XD