Strings Attached

by

dancingfingers

Disclaimer: I don't, under any circumstances, own Skip Beat! and its characters.

Chapter 14

February 4th, 2013

Yukihito slipped off his rubber gloves as he ended his call with the director. He snuck a glance at his wristwatch and noted with a slight joy that he still had two hours to spare before he had to go to the meeting. His mind already calculated the time he might spend on it and the work afterwards that he had to finish—someone to call, someone to meet, paperworks he had to complete, his upcoming wedding—and sighed heavily. He felt weary just thinking about it.

"Are you okay, Ya—Yukihito-san? You seem stressed... maybe we should end this meeting now?"

Yukihito looked up and shook his head with a smile. "No, Kyoko-chan. It's just work," he said assuringly. "I have time for you, don't worry."

The golden-eyed woman tilted her head to the side and stared at him in a long moment, then nodded. "If you say so, Yukihito-san." She sipped the warm green tea delicately in a seemingly relaxed manner, but the man caught the wariness in her eyes.

"Did something happen?" he asked, hands back on his meal; miso soup and grilled fish today, prepared by Kyoko herself as they had breakfast in her suite. Kyoko had agreed yesterday to meet and have an early breakfast since she must leave to Bandung at 10.

Kyoko paused at the question, one brow lifted in contemplation. She was looking down at her own meal, hiding the flash of anger in her eyes, then spoke, "Yukihito-san... I wish to see Kuon." Immediately,she added mentally. "Can you arrange a—"

"Of course," Yukihito nodded hastily. "He's free today. Would you want to see him, say, an hour after you arrive from Bandung? You might need rest. I'll make sure he will be available for you."

There was a pregnant pause as she chewed on her tofu absently. Yes, she might need rest, but this matter was urgent—and she wanted Kuon to know as soon as possible.

"Give me half an hour instead, please."

"Are you sure?" She nodded in affirmation. "Alright. I'll call you later to confirm the time and place."

Although he was curious, he wisely chose to not ask further. Kyoko tossed him a grateful smile and a murmured thank you before they went back to light conversation, which at a time Kyoko promised to help Kanae on the preparation of the wedding.

"Thank you," the grey-eyed man smiled. "She will be glad."

Kyoko shrugged. "I should have done it as her best friend, anyway! Hmm... Perhaps I should take my leave for a month or so after this and go back to Tokyo to help more." She pursed her lips, nodding. "Yes, maybe I should do that. I'll tell my assistant to arrange it."

His eyes widened. Kyoko offered herself to go back to Tokyo early? Well, Yukihito would not look the gift horse in the mouth and inclined his head in thanks at Kyoko.

"She will be overjoyed and embrace you to death, Kyoko-chan." He chuckled.

Kyoko giggled. The image of Kanae torn between smacking her best friend or crying or hugging her caused her to laugh louder. "She will."

As they continued their talks with jokes thrown here and there in between, Kyoko could not help but dread the moment she laid her eyes on her ex lover for the first time. Would he shut the door when he see her? Or would they have a civil conversation, which was unlikely after her abrupt decision to leave everything back at Japan five years ago?

Either way, she would talk to Kuon.

She could not stall it anymore... or their daughter's life would be more in danger.

The aforementioned man was currently standing in front of the mirror, pulling the white wife-beater on his upper body followed by a light blue sweatshirt. He then reached up a hand and mussed his blonde locks, letting his sideswept bangs covered his forest-green eyes. With a smirk, he put on a pair of glasses and a black cap to complete his outfit to the gym. Now, no one would recognize Kuon Hizuri the famous actor; they'd see him as one of those foreigners that seemed to love to roam around the capital.

He grabbed his duffle bag and whistled as he walked out of his room. Since he had nothing to do (not that he wanted to go out for the safe haven this hotel offered, keeping him away from the raging flood on the other side of Jakarta), he might as well do something with his time. Working out at the gym sounded promising to him, and so he had decided to do just that.

After locking the door with a swipe of his keycard, Kuon turned around and headed to the elevator. The gym was located at the fourth floor. The tall man waited patiently after punching the button gently, with a hint of eagerness on the tip of his fingers.

A soft jingle caused him to look up... and then met a woman with auburn hair and brown eyes, that were flashing with surprise before it receded into nothing. Kuon shrugged mentally; if the woman recognized him, he would just take it with a smile and polite greeting. However, it didn't seem that she was going to do anything, so he relaxed a bit.

That thought, however, was premature.

"Ano... You're Hizuri-san, right?" the woman tentatively asked.

Kuon bit back a sigh. He turned slightly and gave her a polite smile. "Yes."

To his bemusement, she merely smiled back absently while her gaze sharpened at him and scrutinized him as if he was a bug under the microscope. She stared briefly at his eyes, a smile growing behind her stare as she did so before she looked at the space between his brows.

"I'm sorry for being rude," the woman finally spoke again, "it's not everyday to see someone famous that's all. Oh, my name is Shiori. Yamada Shiori," she bowed slightly.

"Pleased to meet you, Yamada-san."

A chuckle escaped from the Japanese woman. "It's just—you truly look like someone I work for. Well, her eyes, anyway."

Kuon blinked. "Oh?"

Her eyes filled with amusement. "Mm. A pair of sparkling smaragdine eyes," she informed needlessly, smiling mysteriously at him.

The actor only grew more perplexed. First, she had mentioned of his similar features to someone she knew, then giving him that expression like that as though she was in a secret involving him. Or maybe, the woman indeed knew something about him and gave him a hint? But he didn't truly know someone with emerald green eyes... his mother, perhaps, but he had never seen her anywhere around Julie before. Besides, his mother was apparently in Tokyo helping out on organizing Kanae and Yukihito's wedding ceremony.

Suddenly, a memory of the other day flashed across his mind.

Kuon smirked inwardly. Ah—there's that kid, too. She also has green eyes. But—why would a full-grown up woman work for a child, anyway? She doesn't appear as someone who works as a nanny or babysitter to me.

"Are you going to the gym, Hizuri-san?" She pointed at the glowing number four.

Shaking himself of his thoughts, he looked up at the blinking number above the metal doors. "Yes."

The soft jingle alerted the two, then the woman bowed at him. "See you later, Hizuri-san." She swiftly turned around and left Kuon, who was blinking in bewilderment at her parting words.

"Later...?"

That later came as he wiped the sweat beading on his forehead. He had long ago let his hair disheveled and abandoned his sweatshirt in favor of allowing the breeze to cool his body. If he noticed the growing female audience around the corner, he chose to do nothing about it.

Until Yamada-san came, cutting through the crowd with practised manner, a familiar girl in her arms.

He slowed his jog, fingers absently reaching the buttons to stop the treadmill. He stepped down and rummaged through his duffle bag for a small towel, then wiped his face. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Shiori bent down and set the girl on her feet, who instantly stepped around her legs and hid.

"Yamada-san," he greeted politely. He leaned his body to the side and slightly forward to where the girl was hidden, eliciting a small squeak from her. Kuon fought the urge to pounce just to spite, err, tease her. The man didn't know where this urge come from since he had never been much around kids unless it was Maria or child actors in which they matured much faster than their peers. It probably caused by their amusing encounter the other day, or how she reminded him to Kyoko in her defiance glare. It had woken something within him; a need to be around her, to cherish this girl, and to protect her, much to his bafflement. It had only increased when he realized the veiled longing in her eyes. He recognized why, since he had once been in her position too.

Hmm.

Nevertheless, he enjoyed the way she peeked around her nanny's leg then squirmed under his well-practised blank gaze.

"Hizuri-san," she smiled pleasantly. She reached a hand around her and steered her charge to her front. The girl looked up at him before looking down at her feet, pouting. "This is Sachiko, my charge. It has come to my attention that you and her have been in... unexpected circumstances. Her mother has her promised that she's going to apologize once she, or in this case, I meet you."

She knelt, patting Sachiko's head in encouragement. It was apparent in the girl's expression that she felt guilty—albeit Kuon wasn't sure whether it was because she had called him Lion or had disappointed her mother—and then he bent to her eye-level, smiling.

"It's okay," Kuon chuckled at the surprise on her face. "I've never had someone giving me such a nickname before. Well, I prefer it than boy from my boss." He winked at Sachiko.

The emerald-green eyed girl giggled. "But you're not a boy," she agreed, letting her gaze roamed about his disheveled appearance. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. "You do look like a lion like that." She pointed at his hair, messy and jumbled out of the tie keeping it into his usual ponytail.

"Sachiko!" Shiori admonished, though her eyes twinkled with mirth.

Sachiko pouted. "But he does."

"Still—"

A laughter from Kuon's lips cut her off. His shoulders were shaking as he continued his laughing, amused by the girl's insistence. He was cut short, however, when a kick came from nowhere to his shin. He instinctively sidestepped before it hit him.

"Now, what was that for?" He drawled, a brow quirking.

The black-haired girl scowled. "You laugh."

"Is it not allowed?"

"You laugh at me!"

"I didn't."

She swung her leg again, to which Kuon reflexively dodged. She scowled again. "You did."

"I didn't."

"You did!"

"Nope."

"You so did!"

"How would you know..." he trailed off, a smirk appearing in the corner of his lips. "...cub?"

Sachiko froze at that. She knew what cub was, and was stunned at the implication it brought to her, regardless of his true intention. A cub was the young, or in her understanding, a baby to some animals such as bear, wolf, and lion.

Did he just call her cub? A baby? His baby?

Her lips began to tremble as tears pricked her eyes. Her heart, so long ago denied from a father's love, swelled from such a title, a nickname, and she started to cry from joy. No one, not even her beloved Uncle Sho or Grandpa Lory, called her a baby in a sweet teasing tone like he did.

Like a father in her dreams did.

A warm, much larger hand cupped her wet cheek and wiped her tears tenderly. She was aware that this man was confused and perhaps a bit scared that he had hurt her, but... it was way, way far from it. Her tears began anew at his tenderness, and she finally sobbed in a heartbreaking sound when he gathered her to his arms, one hand rubbing a soothing circle on her back while the other hand combing her hair. His scent, sweat and undertones of musk and citrus, blanketed her tiny form and fragile heart, soothing her nerves and calming her distress. She tightened her hold on this man, refusing to let go even when she quieted and Shiori attempted to take her from him.

I don't want to go, she wailed mentally, tightening her hold on his shirt.

"It's okay, Yamada-san," his deep voice rumbled from his chest, melting the girl with the feeling of safe. "It's mostly my fault, anyway, making her cry like this."

Sachiko wanted to say no, it wasn't, but she was currently enjoying the attention and her comfortable position. Shio-chan would explain, she was sure when there was a murmur from the auburn-head. Exhaustion started to nudge her consciousness away, and her eyelids drooped. "Don't go," she mumbled to his neck.

He hummed. "Alright. I'll be here when you wake up, Sachiko-chan."

"...'omise?"

He kissed the top of her head. "I promise."

"...'kay."

She let herself drifted off to sleep, and dreamed of a pair of warm, jovial forest green eyes and strong arms holding her securely on broad shoulders.

Shiori sipped the hot chocolate she'd made in Kuon's kitchenette—he had offered to bring the two into his room instead hers, because the actor was concerned that the mother wouldn't be pleased if she found a stranger holding her precious daughter, and also because Shiori inwardly agreed that this was not time yet for them to see each other in this circumstances—and heaved a sigh after she explained briefly of why Sachiko had reacted strongly to his nickname for her.

"How could a father abandon this child?" he finally voiced his curiosity.

She shook her head, smiling weakly at the irony. "He never abandons her, Hizuri-san. He doesn't know about Sachiko," she explained carefully, not willing to give anymore than that. Her brown eyes studied the way he swept his gaze over Sachiko, hands holding her in his lap. She wished she had a camera anywhere and anytime like Yashiro to capture this moment.

He gave her no response at that. Kuon tenderly brushed off Sachiko's bangs from her forehead and shifted her legs to be more comfortable in his lap. She curled, sighing contentedly.

"She's adorable. Smart, too, if she is able to wander around the hotel by herself without getting lost." Then his expression went flat, tapping the tip of the sleeping girl's nose gently. "Reckless, too. It is dangerous for a child to go alone."

The female bodyguard couldn't give any excuse at that. It had been reckless of her. She remembered that she was in her day-off that day and visited some place after Kyoko had practically kicked her out of the hotel. Ichirou-san had yet to come back to Jakarta, Honda-san was with Kyoko-san, Tanaka-san was doing... something, while the last member was in his secret assignation somewhere. I should have a talk with Tanaka-san. "Indeed," she eventually offered a response.

The silence that followed was a comfortable silence, and neither adults wanted to break it. Shiori sipped her drink, looking out of the window. The rain had turned into a light drizzle, and she hoped that Kyoko could come home safely later. Meanwhile, Kuon was staring down at the bundle in his lap; black hair felt like silk in his calloused hand, cherubic face that was smiling in her sleep, tiny fingers clutching on his shirt... He was a bit surprised when a pair of green eyes, and since he was so close to her, rimming with gold staring back at him.

"You're awake."

She blushed and buried her face to his stomach. "I'm sorry," she muttered to his shirt.

He chuckled. "It's okay, cub."

She looked up at that, tugging at the stubborn blonde strands escaping from the low ponytail. "Cub?" she asked in a small voice; uncertain.

"Is it okay to call you that?" Kuon shot back softly.

She nibbled her lower lip. "Yeah," she replied after a minute of silence.

The smile he gave her was warm and gentle. "Then it does not matter why. I just want to call you that." He stared upwards. "My father used to call me little sprite when I was your age—hmm, sometimes he still do it for his own amusement," he confided, smiling fondly.

Sachiko perked up. "Little sprite? Why?" she asked curiously.

He gazed at her, chuckling. "We love to play outdoors, out in the nature. Forest, mountains, waterfall, hills, lake, even cliffs—but I always prefer to be around a body of water. It calms me and energizes me at the same time. I also have a knack on fishing—it seems that I always get the most out of the three of us: my father, my mother, and I. Dad then called me a water sprite when he discovered that his son was able to swim after once or twice of practicing with him."

Her eyes looked at him in awe. "Can you teach me?"

"Swim?" She nodded vigorously. "Of course, cub."

Sachiko beamed. "Thank you...um..." she blushed when she realized she still didn't know his name.

He grinned. "Kuon. Hizuri Kuon."

The girl furrowed her brows in thought. The name sounded familiar to her, but she couldn't pinpoint where she heard that before. She shrugged and then shifted her body in a sitting position. Sachiko gasped when Kuon's hands helped her and settled her comfortably in his lap. As she looked up, she caught Shiori's pensive gaze at them, then she smiled in greeting at Sachiko.

"Are you okay, Sacchan?"

"Yeah." She hesitated before continuing, "Can we stay longer, please?"

The one who answered her was Kuon. "Sure, cub." He ruffled her hair playfully. "You can have lunch here, I've called room service for us."

Pink tinted her cheeks again, now in pleasure. She buried her face into his chest and sighed. Was this how it felt like when you're with your father? This warm... safe... loved? She wouldn't know, but she was certain of it. She also hoped that he saw her like a daughter too, because he had said to her that his father also gave him a special nickname, just like he did her.

A smile started to grow in her heart at that thought.

Tou-san, she called him in her mind as his face replaced the faceless man in her dreams. She repeated it again and again in her mind like a broken record, caressing the name like a prayer in her tongue, and barely kept her tears at bay from the overwhelming happiness.

As if he heard her silent call, Kuon carefully combed her hair with his fingers then kissed the top of her head softly.

Her life, at the moment, was perfect.

Now, if only Kaa-san were here, too, she mused absently as she let Kuon carrying her to the kitchenette to eat lunch. I will be the happiest girl in the world!

AN. Hey, it's been a long time since I last updated. I was having difficulty in this chapter because of this particular scene of Kuon-Sachiko bonding. I can not count how many times I rewrite it. I originally intend to make the scene light and fun, but it just can't go anywhere. I then tried different approach, and somehow it becomes something touching. Figures. I hope I can write Kuon/Kyoko scene (probably next chapter) with less difficulty... Bah, what a wishful thinking.

If you notice some mistakes, please excuse them. I haven't send this to my beta yet because I want to post it ASAP before the end of the month. I'll edit it as soon as I am able to.

Thank you for reading!

-dee