Chapter 9: Back to Normal
"…Subscription networks for films and shows have bloomed in popularity over the last two years." Koga pointed out, flipping her pen side to side in thought. "Investing would have positive outcomes, especially with the company being the current number one best seller for technology related stuff. We're a couple weeks shy of the new Gen phone reveal and designs for the newest EX TV have just been green lighted. Reaching out to some of these companies for a possible collaboration would be a good idea."
Koga sat back in her chair, nibbling on the end of the pen. Tatsumi crossed his arms, reading over the paperwork she'd put together over the last few days. She'd dived head first back into her work for Graude Foundation, a company she'd be inheriting within the near future.
It left the older man impressed at her determination. Koga was a bright young women not too dissimilar to her mother. Koga had been practically raised to one day inherit the company because Saori was busy with Sanctuary and while Koga had been in training to become a Saint, her main focus would be the company after Koga revealed to be less than thrilled at the idea of becoming a Saint.
Saori wasn't disappointed at Koga's decision, knowing what would likely happen in the future—what had happened—so if Koga wished to semi-retirement then it was fine. She'd hold no ill-will towards her daughter.
"I'm sure the board will agree with you." Tatsumi nodded. "I know Akio has been eager to hear back since you and your mother dropped off the face of the Earth."
Koga grimaced slightly. Akio was the Chairman of Foundation Graude. He'd been a big part of helping Koga understand the company because while Saori was technically the CEO, she'd been forced to take a back seat as her health hadn't been the best. Akio and Koga would often have face to face calls where he taught her about the running's of the company.
Koga had met the other board members but only briefly and never in person; only Akio whenever he'd been able to make the trip. They were all patient with her, knowing that it would take time before she'd be able to take the role on full-time.
"You'll likely be expected to be at the Gen X reveal." Tatsumi added. Koga groaned and slumped back into her chair with a rub of her forehead.
Going to the show would mean she'd have to dress up and talk to people.
Tatsumi chuckled, Koga was only a seventeen year old after all. Normal people her age are still in school.
"Okay." Koga exhaled heavily as she sat up. "If everything's all good, I'll write it up and send it over to him with a bit of an explanation."
Akio knew all about who Saori really was, he'd understand the reason she'd disappeared suddenly.
"You know the press will be all over you." Tatsumi hummed, linking his fingers. "You'll be one of the youngest CEO in the world if you take the mantle up this year and you haven't been in the public eye apart from when you were younger with Saori. They'll look at you with an air of mystery."
Koga blinked, huh, she'd not really thought about it like that. "Still, I'm not to bothered by the press, I know how to handle them."
How to handle the press had been part of her 'business lessons,' but she'd not really had a chance to put them to use yet. Koga shook her head of that thought and instead continued with: "I'll talk with Akio about it all, he's one of the head organisers for it, all I'm aware of is that it's being held in America."
o-o-o-o-o
"Koga, darling!" Koga was greeted as soon as she'd stepped through the café door, the women that had called the redhead's name placed the two plates she'd been holding down and hurried over with a wide smile.
"Laura!" Koga grinned, wrapping her arms around the English women. She absolutely loved Laura's hugs, the older women was well known for them.
Laura pulled back first, fussing over the teen. "Where have you been? Tatsumi said you and your mother had a bit of an emergence."
Koga laughed sheepishly, waving her off. "Some distant family problems is all."
"Well as long as you're okay." Laura hummed.
"Need any help?" Koga asked, glancing around the semi-busy café.
"Put your bag round back." Laura winked.
Koga did so, laughing as she went around back to grab an apron.
The next three hours had Koga rotating from the kitchen and severing people at the register.
Laura had become a friend to Saori not long after the Goddess in disguise had moved to the island. Saori often travelled back and forth with Tatsumi to get groceries, and she had stumbled across the café one afternoon.
It had become an almost routine to visit once every two weeks, both to catch up with Laura and her husband but also eat there because of how delicious the food was. It had quickly become Koga's favourite food joint to visit.
Koga had befriended Laura's son who was a year older then herself. They'd switch between helping out in the café and playing games upstairs in the apartment. Sora had been Koga's first ever friend and she greatly cherished the friendship. It was a weekday however, so that meant Sora was at school and it left Koga eager to help out in the café.
Once the doors to the café had been closed for the day, and tables had been cleaned, Laura, her husband Reo, and Koga immigrated upstairs.
"We hadn't been able to have a proper conversation since you arrived." Rao chimed in once they'd sat down on the settees. "It's been almost half a year without a word and you suddenly turned up again?"
Koga rubbed the back of her head. "Like I said earlier, some distant family problems popped up and we ended up travelling to Greece to help out. It was sudden, and we'd not really thought about informing anyone par Shaina and Tatsumi, both of which stayed behind."
Laura hummed. "Well I'm glad everything seems alright at the moment, did your mother come back with you? I was surprised not to see her with you today."
Koga shook her head. "Nah, mum's still in Athens, will be for the foreseeable future. She'd had to take over some stuff. I came back to focus on my work without any disturbances."
Sora came through the door at that moment, dropping his bag by the shoe rack. "Hey mum, dad…. Koga?"
Koga laughed, jumping to her feet and rushing over as Sora grinned. Sora wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her into the air, laughing all the while. "Koga!"
"Sora!"
The duo giggled like children, the adults watched on fondly.
"How are you?"
"Great, you?"
"Perfect now you're here." Sora winked which got Koga laughing again.
o-o-o-o-o
"Here you go, sweethearts." Laura smiled, handing the teens a cup of hot coco each before they climbed up onto the roof balcony to watch the stars.
"Thanks, Laura."
"Yeah, thanks mum."
"No problem, just remember to bring them down, okay?"
"Will do!" Sora chimed and followed after Koga, who'd already climbed onto the balcony and perched in a deck chair.
Koga sighed heavily, body relaxing. She'd missed this so much, missed the calm evenings just watching the stars with Sora. With the small fire pit already lit and giving off warmth, they only needed the marshmallows and it would be complete.
"So—" Sora began, falling into the other deck chair. "Anything exciting happen to you while away?"
Koga laughed breathlessly, hiding a grimace. "A lot happened! Dad was there, and I got to meet some of his childhood friends."
Sora's brows when up. "That's great, I know Seiya's visits had been getting sparse the last few years with his job."
Koga nodded, their cover story for Seiya was that he went abroad for work and so hardly had the chance to spend it on the island. Of course part of that was true; when she'd turned thirteen there had been a growing number of Martians sightings which led to him having to go and follow the leads all across the world.
"I made some more friends!" Koga hummed with a grin, and added in a joking tone: "I even managed to make a female friend."
Sora gasped dramatically. "No, impossible."
They snickered.
Sora sobered first, and after taking a sip of his hot chocolate asked: "Any boys I should be ready to interrogate?" Koga choked on her drink, feeling her cheeks burn. Sora grinned. "There this! What's his name? I demand to know as you brother!"
"His name's Eden." Koga sighed, her cheeks flushing at the thought of her boyfriend. Sora chuckled softly, he'd never seen Koga act like this before.
"Well I hope to meet him in the near future." The Japanese boy hinted.
Koga laughed. "We're talking mostly over the phone but we're hoping for a visit eventually."
o-o-o-o-o
Four days later…
Having spent the last few days crashing at the Akiyama household, Koga finally crossed the small body of water back to the island to focus on her work again.
She'd heard back from Akio and they'd exchanged several emails since, both about the Gen X launch event and the collaboration. He'd agreed on her idea to reach out to the subscription networks. There was still more to finalize in regards to the launch but it was going to be held in San Francisco. She'd also confirmed that she'd be going to the event, which left Akio dancing in excitement.
Koga also thought about offering Eden a plane ticket to come meet her in San Francisco, then fly back to Japan with her. Mostly because she didn't want to explore the American city by herself—companionship was always a good thing too!
She'd have to ask.
o-o-o-o-o
Koga knew she was dreaming, she didn't know why exactly but she just knew she was. She sighed and blinked her eyes open to see a dark grey room, full of furniture that replicated a living room. She pushed herself to her feet but stopped at the shuffling.
"Hello again, little one."
Koga spun around. "What the fuck!?"
Abzu promptly went flying from a painful punch to the face. They hit the white carpet with a groan. "That wasn't very nice!"
"To fuck with nice!" Koga choked out, heart beating erratically. "What—how—you!"
"Surprise, bitch!" Abzu stood, grinning widely which revealed their fangs. "I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me."
…
…
"Did you just reference-"
"I so totally did."
Koga hissed, shoving that aside. "Why are you here?"
Abzu hummed and fell back onto the settee. "It's complicated."
"Well simplify it."
Abzu snickered but growing serious. "Basically you destroyed my physical body, yes? And so my soul latched onto the nearest possible thing to save itself. Because you had hosted my soul for the last sixteen years, you were considered the best suitable place." Koga opened her mouth but Abzu continued. "—Let me finish, Little One. I can't take control of you, even if I was at my full capability. This time our… connection is different—I'll only be allowed control if you consent, understand?"
Koga pursed her lips, not certain on what to say.
"Look." Abzu sat up and forward. "Normally I'd of just stayed quiet for the rest of your life and let my soul just die off but you're not just any person. You have two separate Cosmos attributes which are Light and Dark, if you learn how to use your birth attribute alongside the Light, then you'll be even stronger, rival a God even."
"And why would I want to learn that?"
Abzu raised a brow. "You have the Seer gift, that stemmed from me, Little One. Had you never been my Host, you'd of never awoken it. But you've been having dreams, correct?"
Koga visibly stiffened. "So—"
"Yeah." Abzu nodded. "It'll be a year a most, because you don't physically look any older, two at max if you wanna push it, but you want to be able to help people yes?"
Koga sighed, scrunching her eyes closed tightly, unsure if she was really going to agree to this. "Okay… okay, I'll do it."