Chapter 9
It was a little strange. Every day for the past week, Lory and Maria would disappear for two hours around noon; he hadn't seen his mother or father; Kanae Kotonami and Chiori Amamiya hadn't been to the LoveME Section and Ruto was also scarce. Then came the whispers in the halls about the new talent that had just had her twins and nearly died doing it. For some strange reason, Kuon felt his heart lurch and an intense emotional pain from the news. He didn't understand his reaction, he barely knew the woman.
"Thank goodness she's alright now. It was so lucky that Juli and Kuu lived so closely." Yashiro commented as he and Ren conversed casually in the car on his way to his second appointment for the day.
Ren nodded in agreement.
Yashiro smiled. "I bet their really cute. Isabelle-san is quite pretty. I wonder if they look like her or her husband. They did say the twins were quite large, her husband must have been a big man." The last comment he said a little sadly. "I hope they look like her."
Ren nodded. "I suppose if they look like her late husband, it could be quite hard on her."
They were the most beautiful little creatures she'd ever laid eyes on, despite looking like their father. She knew everyone was worried about her, but she was not going to allow herself to make the same mistakes her own mother had made with her. They couldn't help that they looked almost identical to Kuon and frankly, she didn't care. They weren't him and they were all hers; although, they did eat quite a bit and she almost had to struggle to keep up with them. The hospital had supplemented her meals, because she was losing weight too quickly. Yes, they were definitely the grandsons of Kuu Hizuri.
~xoxo~
Kuu and Lory stood in the hall of the Nursery staring in through the large glass window looking at the healthy little boys that were laying in their bassinets and squirming. Kuu sighed. "She can't stay here. You know that. Right, Boss?"
Lory looked down at his hands on the metal railing and nodded. "He may be an insensitive ass, but he's not stupid. They look too much like him. He'll want answers that she isn't prepared to give right now and I don't want to her to have to deal with the aftermath or the career-ending scandal that would come with something like this."
Kuu nodded and sighed. "They'll blame her."
Lory nodded in agreement. "I'll draw up the paperwork to have her transferred over to LME International and get everything ready for her to continue there with her full portfolio. Can I count on you sponsoring them for citizenship?"
Kuu looked up at the ceiling and sighed again. "You can count on both of us, Boss. Just... just let Juli break the news to her. Okay? She can do it."
Lory nodded. "Well... I guess she'll be graduating the LoveME Section." He chuckled wryly and patted his friend on the back. "Thanks for helping out."
Kuu smiled and nodded. "Are you kidding. I would do it again and again if given the choice. I've got a wonderful daughter and two beautiful grandsons out of it. "
"What's this?" Kuu asked Juli about the official looking document on the kitchen table.
She smiled sweetly and kissed his cheek. "That my love, is proof that those darling little sprites, that are coming home in a few days, are 100% our grandsons."
Kuu sighed in relief. "Good, it will make what we have to do a lot easier."
She furrowed her brow. "What are you talking about?"
He groaned a little. "We have to convince Kyoko to come home with us. Home to California..."
Juli sighed in resignation and nodded. "I kind of figured that it would be something that needed to be done the first time I laid eyes on them in the nursery. They look too much like him. She won't be able to dye their hair until they're older and their eyes are almost identical to his. He'll know. If he doesn't figure it out now, he will when they're toddlers. Especially with all of the pictures we've shown him over the years. He'd have to be blind not to see it." Even if he's been too blind to see her. Juli thought wryly.
Kuu agreed. "So... would you like to do the honors of convincing her? I'll be your wingman."
She giggled. "What does the kidnapper have to say about all of this?"
Kuu pursed his lips in thought. "Well, he said he'd have all of the paperwork ready when she's ready to go. The doctor says she has to at least wait another couple of weeks before she can travel. Lory asked if we would be her sponsors. I said yes... Is that okay with you?" She nodded. "And he told me he would have her work portfolio, with full credit, transferred over to LME International."
Juli clapped excitedly. "So, we're really doing this? We get to kidnap our daughter and grandbabies?"
Kuu chuckled and nodded, then held up his index finger. "Only if she agrees."
Juli smirked. "She won't be able to resist when I'm finished with her."
"We can't officially adopt you, you're over 18, but we can give you our name Kyoko. We will always be your parents and we would really like for you to come back with us. We already spoke to Lory and he said that you would have full credit for everything you've done as Kyouko and as Isabelle. You'll be able to start out fresh without worrying about being found out. At least until you're ready. Please?..." Juli gave her the most heartrending sad puppy eyes that she had ever seen in her entire life and she prayed to the heavens that her sons never figured that one out.
Kyoko sighed in resignation. She closed her eyes to ponder the pros and cons of such an action and came to the conclusion that it would most likely be for the best. She nodded. "Okay, what do I need to do?"
Juli squealed and hugged her. "Perfect! You don't need to do anything, but sign the paperwork and Lory will submit it. Kuu and I will help you pack and everyone said they would help get everything ready for the move. The doctor said you can travel in a couple of weeks and you'll still be on maternity leave for a few more months, so you'll have plenty of time to get settled in." She told her with an infectious excitement.
Kyoko nodded and smiled warmly as Kuu and Juli wrapped her in a big hug. "Thank you so much." She sighed out. "You've done far too much for me. I don't deserve this."
Kuu gently flicked her forehead. "Stop that. If anyone deserves this, you do. Okay?"
Kyoko nodded and smiled softly, thinking of the wonderful people she now had in her life, permanently. Maybe things weren't as bad as they seemed.
To say she was shocked, would be a gross understatement. As she had been rolled out of the hospital by Juli, in her wheelchair, she had been met by Ruto, Kanae, Chiori, Lory, Maria, and Kuu and the limo that would carry her to her destination. To say they certainly didn't waste any time, would also be a gross understatement. They had already packed her things and cleared her house for the movers. She would be staying at the Takarada Estate for the next two weeks with Maria, Juli and Kuu, before leaving. Apparently Lory had something special planned for her welcome home and he had set up a nursery for the boys to use for their short time there.
"Well Hizuri-san," He smiled widely. "are you ready to graduate the LoveME Section with your companions?" They had already taken care of the legalities of her and the boys' name change.
The three girls gasped. "Really?"
Lory nodded to the girls. "Tonight we celebrate." He said dramatically. "Ten will help you prepare." He turned to Kyoko. "I'm sorry, but you will have to be Kyouko for this adventure. Your passport will require it when you step onto that plane." He told her with a little sadness in his tone.
She nodded. "I understand. It's okay Takarada-san... I won't need Isabelle anymore, I want to be me when I set foot in California." She kind of figured she would need to look like herself for the trip, so why not get used to it before she left? Besides, she was a little tired of hiding for so long and she wanted her boys to know their mother as she really was. She wasn't going to hide from them like Kuon had hidden from her for so long.
He nodded and patted her hand. "I'm very proud of you and your decision, Kyoko-chan. It's very brave of you. Will you be able to face him if needed?"
She sighed and nodded. "It doesn't hurt so much any more. I'll do what I need to do."
"Okay..." He nodded once again.