Hey guys, next chapter up now! Sorry about last week... I've gotten busier, but really, I'm just lazy. Sorry about that, please forgive me!! Anyway, read the disclaimer.
Disclaimer: This story must not be read by anyone not studying four unit maths or advanced ancient Greek. The author does not take responsibly for anything other than wasted time incurred while perusing this story, including lightning strikes, drowning, asphyxiation, volcanic eruption, tsunamis, earthquakes or other acts of God. Not mine. --- (That was the important part.) Freshest if eaten before date on carton.
Batteries not included.
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN!!
Kyoko remained standing awkwardly in the doorway for about one second, before she was flying across the room with the excited, admiring grin on her face that said that she'd just morphed into her version of Kuon Hizuri, who was in actuality, her much esteemed sempai. But she didn't know that.
"Dad!" Kyoko exclaimed, hugging him. Julie looked a little surprised but then she smiled. She had, of course, been informed that while her husband was in Japan he had gained another 'son'. She laughed when she heard about it; fancy telling a young girl to play your long lost son! Now as she looked at Kyoko, who was talking animatedly in pretty good English, she could see how this girl had somehow managed to make her real child, Ren, fall in love with her. She practically radiated a sweet sort of innocence, evidence of a golden heart. Now, Julie coughed to remind the other two that she was in the room. Kuu nudged Kyoko, who snapped out of her character to bow somewhat confusedly at Julie. Julie smiled at her.
"Kyoko-chan, this is my wife, Julie." Kuu said, putting an arm around her.
"Nice to meet you, Kyoko-chan." Julie said. Kyoko beamed at her, already loving the beautiful woman, although whether she'd let her adoptive mother into Ren's kitchen was debateable. They chatted for a little while about easy topics, like the flight over from America, the weather, what Kyoko was working on at the moment. They were seated in Ren's living room, in front of the TV, and Kyoko was so glad to see Kuu that she hadn't yet asked why he'd come. And brought Julie too. She was reminded that she was still wearing her boots indoors, having forgotten to take them off at the door.
"Excuse me, I need to get my slippers from my room." Kyoko said apologetically, "Just give me one minute."
She walked down the corridor, feeling completely at home and turned into the room that had become 'hers'. She didn't see the look that Kuu and Julie passed to each other from behind her back. After changing her shoes and her clothes to more comfortable ones, she returned to the living room and sat down in time to look up with the others when a key scraped in the door and it swung open.
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"Kyoko, I'm back." Ren called as he slipped his keys into his pocket. Stupid Yashiro; that man had started teasing him the moment Kyoko left the car. Wiping his feet on the doormat, he raised his head to meet the eyes of three different people; his over enthusiastic father, his beloved mother whom he hadn't seen in four years and the love of his life, all sitting together in his living room. Why were they there? Unsurprisingly, he froze.
"Hi Ren!" Kyoko said happily, totally unaware of his problems, "This is Tou-san and Julie-san. They're here because...Um…? " She said, looking questioningly at the older couple as she realised she didn't actually know.
Now they had a problem. Kuu had somewhat realised that Kyoko had no idea who he was, that is, Ren's father, as she'd just introduced them. Yet for some reason, she seemed to be living here; she had her own key. He'd had to get one off the President. Were they together? At least Ren had got around to dropping the suffix; that's something. Now he just had to come up with some reason for being here, as he didn't want to blow his real son's cover. Ren, on the other hand, was unmoving in the doorway, mind reeling. Had his dad told Kyoko who he was? Why was she still smiling at him? What the hell did he do now?
It was now that Kuu's more extensive experience in acting asserted itself. He reacted just a couple of seconds after Kyoko's introduction. Standing up and smiling his media smile, Kuu approached to his son with his hand outstretched.
"Hi, I'm Kuu Hizuri. You must be Ren Tsuruga." Kuu said in Japanese. Ren took his cue and moved from his place at the door, moving forward to shake Kuu's hand, seemingly unperturbed although he sent his father a worried look.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you, Hizuri-san." He said, glancing at Kyoko. She smiled at him, and a little part of his worry fell away.
Unable to contain herself, Julie stood up and walked over to her son.
"Hello, Ren-san, I'm Julie." She spoke in English, and instead of shaking hands she reached up to hug him. If anyone called her out on it, she could just say she picked it up in America. Ren blushed a little, but Kyoko didn't seem to mind. "We over here on business, and we thought we'd drop in on my son." No doubt Kyoko thought the woman meant her, but Ren knew it was aimed at him.
Kyoko beamed her, apparently relieved that Julie seemed to acknowledge her, which she did. A rumble of her stomach seemed to remind her that she hadn't eaten yet, and she turned and asked Kuu and Julie whether they'd like to stay for dinner. Julie immediately agreed, not wanting to leave after seeing her son for the first time in so long. He'd grown so tall. Well, he'd always been tall. And his hair was black; he'd dyed it blonde again for the video message that he sent them. She already knew that, as she'd watched all the movies he'd ever made; after the first year or so, Lory would ring and tell them, and send them things.
As Kyoko bustled happily out of the room, an awkward silence fell upon the family members. Julie sat down next to Kuu as Ren stood there awkwardly; not knowing whether or not he should sit down in his own house. He finally opted for sitting, and ended up sitting there awkwardly. They could hear Kyoko banging around in the kitchen, and Ren felt sure that in half an hour or so, there would be enough food even for Kuu Hizuri, the bottomless pit. He had no idea how he was such a light eater while his father ate so much.
Julie finally broke the silence by quietly saying, "We missed you, Kuon."
Ren looked up at his mother. She was smiling happily at him, grateful to see him after so long, but underlying her joy was also regret. She wouldn't be staying. Ren smiled softly at her. He'd always loved his mother even after he left her. It was good to see her again, even though she'd dyed her hair. The new colour, a reddish brown, suited her. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes before Kuu finally had to ask a question that had been nagging at him.
"Kuon, are you and Kyoko…?"
Ren looked up, "Are we…? Oh. Oh." He said, getting it "Don't worry, she's just here for the time being. We had a little stalker problem so she's been living here temporarily."
Kuu looked shocked; he loved Kyoko. "What?! Is she ok?"
"Fine, fine, no problem. We got the person a while ago, she just never got around to moving back out." Ren said.
"Oh." Kuu sat back, draping an arm around Julie, "Well, that's good."
Julie smiled, "I think I'll need to get to know my future daughter-in-law."
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Kyoko's food was, as always, wonderful. She was very pleased with herself for making such a large amount of food for Kuu with the ingredients that she had. Julie, as it turned out, had a normal appetite. Even Ren ate quite a bit, and she felt very happy. They ate at the dining table that she and Ren barely used; with only two people, the table was really too big. The meal was a lively one, with Kuu joking around like he always did and Ren smiling naturally for once. As it turned out, her adoptive mother had quite a sense of dry humour. If she could've chosen a mother, she'd choose someone like Julie; kind and beautiful.
After dinner, Kuu and Ren decided to go sit and watch the cricket on Ren's widescreen TV. They both got up from the table in the exact same way, which made Kyoko laugh. They glanced at her, and the similarity between their actions was again, quite striking. She smiled at them.
"I just realised how similar you two look. It's pretty funny." She laughed, watching as their expressions took on the same wary look as they glanced at each other. "It's okay, it's not a bad thing."
They shugged and went to sit down on the couch, watching the cricket and commenting on various shots every now and then. Kyoko stayed at the table, talking with Julie as the other woman drank a glass of the campaign Ren had opened earlier. She asked about how Kyoko met Ren, and her previous life. It was difficult, at first, to talk about something as irritating and painful as how she'd met Shotarou, that stupid evil egotistical cockroach, but she did it without too many demons leaking out. Ren must have felt the change of atmosphere, as he glanced back and sent her a meaningful look at Julie as her demons started appearing. Kyoko reined them in with sheer force of will; she'd hate to scare such a gentle lady.
It was getting late when Kyoko look up at the clock. The game had finished a short while ago, and her own conversation had moved on from her past. Julie and she had been discussing the acting of some of Japan's most famous old movies. Now, the clock told them that it was much later than what she'd thought.
"Oh dear." Kyoko said, "Julie-san, it's already 12:15."
Even the older woman seemed a little shocked. "Already? Kuu!" she called, "Kuu, it's past midnight!"
"Really? Wow, time flies." Kuu said, standing up from his position on the couch. "By the way, Australia won that one."
Julie nodded, and stood up from the table. "Well, it's been great meeting you, Kyoko, but I think Kuu and I had better go now."
Kyoko also smiled hopefully, "I hope we can catch up later."
Ren also stood up, smiling his gentlemanly smile. "If you haven't made arrangements for accommodation yet, you'd be welcome to take my room for tonight."
Julie glanced at her husband, silently asking him to agree. Kuu hesitated, thinking it was a little odd to offer a room to people you supposedly just met. Kyoko had already started noticing the similarity between them. It was hard not to miss when they stood together.
"It would be no trouble." Ren said smoothly but firmly, "I can sleep out here, and Kyoko's got her own room."
"Thank you." Kuu accepted. "We'd love to."
So Kyoko got some sheets and arranged them on the couch, while Ren got some other things for their guests. Kuu and Julie had brought overnight bags with them; their other possessions at the Presidents house. Palace was probably more accurate. Kyoko herself was very happy that the two had agreed to stay over; it was just like the gentlemanly Ren to offer a room to them, seeing as it was so late. She said her goodnights, saving Ren for last, before she lay down to sleep. For some reason, though, she couldn't fall asleep. Probably because it was so humid. She decided to get up and have a drink of water, and walked into the still lit kitchen in her pyjamas.
There was Ren and Julie, hugging. Julie reached up and kissed him on the cheek. They broke away awkwardly as they realised she was there. Kyoko stared in shock, different emotions flicking across her small face. Surprise, distress, hurt. She just stood there like a limp rag doll. Ren put his hands out imploringly, taking a tentative step towards her.
"Kyoko, it's not what it looks like."
She just stared at him, blankly, before saying "Excuse me," in a perfectly calm voice, turning around and walking out of the room.
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Okay, that was mean. But now, it's interesting, right? Although I feel sorry for Ren; he's just not seen his parents in ages.
Please review, I've had a really crappy week… Damn school…