Thank you xCeceVolumex, WitchMagicCat, nutella4ever and perfect beauty for your reviews! I always look forward to hearing your feedback! And so hear it is, part/chapter 7 of Wedding Dress. It's one of the longest chapters, if not the longest, up there with the first chapter. I'm glad, I've already started the next chapter, so hopefully I can get that up soon. After this weekend, I can't promise updates being as frequent, but I guess time will tell.

Wedding Dress

Chapter 7: Her Tsuruga-san

In the years to follow, fans would often ask, "Where were you when you learned that Kyoko died?" Some would say watching the presentation on her and Tsuruga-san, others would say shopping, some would reply that they had heard it on the radio on their way home from work. It didn't matter where they were when they heard- they were all affected in the same way. It didn't seem possible. Yes, surely she had disappeared from the bright lights of showbiz, but she still appeared publicly on occasion. Now not only was Ren gone, but Kyoko too.

Kyoko's death wouldn't get the fame and publicity that Ren's did. She had died alone. Kanae would never forgive herself for that. Kyoko had died alone. By herself. No one had been there to comfort her in her final hours- no one had been able to say their final goodbyes.

But it was just like Kyoko to hide the truth from others- to hide things that she believed would be a burden to them. Why make her friends worry- why make her friends worry about someone as insignificant as her. Kyoko, the most unselfish individual that any of her acquaintances had ever met. Kyoko, unselfish to the end.

It was actually pure coincidence that they had discovered her body so soon. Maria Takarada had been in Kyoto on a modeling job (she had entered the entertainment/modeling industry during her teens) and had decided to stop by Kyoko's house as a surprise. The two had kept in contact over the years- Maria being one of the few people Kyoko had managed to maintain a solid relationship with following the death of her fiancé.

Kyoko lived in a modest sized house on the far end of the town, bordering the forest. She didn't leave the house much, and grew most of her own food in the garden behind her house. On occasion, she would go to Tokyo for an event at LME. In the years that followed the death of Ren, she had tried to keep up with her career as an actress, forever trying to reach the seemingly unattainable status of being world-renowned. As time went on, she realized that she could no longer put the effort into her roles that she believed the characters deserved. However, she had accumulated enough money to live comfortably in a small home in Kyoto, and with this knowledge, she did just that.

While Kyoko always kept the windows facing the street closed, the windows facing the forest were almost always open. The house had a back porch where Kyoko kept a few chairs, although it was more common for only hers to be filled. She didn't entertain guests very often. Even still, Kyoko did keep in contact with the President, Kuu and Julie, Maria, Kanae, and Yashiro.

It had been a while since Maria had visited Kyoko. Even though Kyoko had changed from the girl she had met so many years ago, she was still like an older sister to Maria, offering tips and overall enjoyable conversation. Maria smiled as she crossed the street and walked up the front path to Kyoko's door. The garden in front was well kept, and the flowers incited memories in Maria of her previous visit.

"You say you lived here as a little girl. Do you ever talk to any of your old friends?" Maria innocently asked.

Kyoko smiled at Maria with sad eyes, before replying, "You forget Maria, I was never a very popular girl. There were two people who played with me when I was little, one of them is dead, and the other… I'd rather not talk about him."

Feeling like she brought back bad memories, Maria quickly apologized. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make you sad!"

"While it is a sad memory, do not apologize. The one friend, who is no longer with us, was very special to me. I will always remember him."

"Were you able to see him before he died? Like, after you left Kyoto, did you ever see him again?"

Kyoko was silent for a while. When she replied, her voice was softer than before, "I had known him when I was very young. He left Kyoto a long time before I went to Tokyo. But I did meet him again." Kyoko smiled as she remembered Ren. Oh how she missed him, even now. A year, five, fifty years could pass, but she would never forget him. She, the girl who vowed to never love again, had found love in Ren Tsuruga, and no amount of time would ever convince her to give it up, to let it go.

"Was he surprised to see you in the entertainment industry?" Maria asked, curious to know if perhaps she had met this mysterious friend from Kyoko's past.

"You could say that. I'm not sure that he recognized me immediately… It took me a long time to realize it was him. I was actually quite shocked when he told me."

"What was his name? Do I know him?"

Kyoko looked out into the forest- it was so peaceful here. The sun was getting lower in the trees, and the cicadas were starting to hum in the distance. A soft breeze had picked up, and Kyoko shivered slightly before turning to look at Maria. She had grown into quite the young woman. Her features really were lovely- she would be very successful one day, even more than she was now. Maria Takarada had never needed to use her grandfather's influence to become a success. She was a master of coercion, and the men constantly vied for her attention. Kyoko couldn't help but smile at the memory of a little girl who called her big sis, and who was determined to marry Ren. Kyoko let out a sigh… it felt like no matter what she thought about, everything always led to Ren- reminders of him were everywhere…. It's not that she didn't want to remember him; it's just that it still hurt to remember him. She could never describe the feeling properly- something along the lines of part of her heart dying with Ren the day he took his last breath, something like part of her being buried with the man she loved, something… oh, Maria had asked her a question...trying to think of a way to avoid answering, Kyoko gave Maria a guilty look, and apologized, "I'm sorry Maria, what did you say? I fear that with each passing day I'm losing a bit of my sanity."

"It's fine! And you are perfectly sane, and don't you ever believe otherwise! Why, compared to Grandpa, I'd say you're the sanest person on earth!"

Kyoko's laugh was empty and forced, but her attempt was valiant. "How is the President?"

"He's a young man in an old man's body! He thinks he can do anything, but really he needs to stay home and rest. The doctor told him that he needs to retire, but he's so reluctant to hand over LME to just anybody. He wants me to have it, but I'm not ready to take over the company… and I have my career as a model to think about too. He said he always thought he would give it to Ren…" Maria paused, realizing her use of the forbidden name. It was an understood rule that they were never to speak Ren's name in Kyoko's presence. "Ah, I'm sorry! Let's talk about something else! Those trees look really nice! Is that a new flower pot? I think it's getting colder, do you thi-"

Kyoko cut in, "Maria, it's ok. You can say Ren's name. I don't know why everyone thinks I'm so delicate that I can't hear his name. Do you think I don't think his name?"

"I, well…"

"Either way, it's fine. Don't worry about me. Continue with your story, I'm interested to hear what the President had wanted…"

"Oh, yes, well since Ren was like a son to him he was sure that when Ren got tired of acting, or even if he still wanted to act, but not as much, he could take over LME. He had also considered Hizuri-san, but he always thought that Ren would have been a better pick."

"Hmm, is that so? Well, I'm sure the President will figure something out."

Maria nodded, and the two sat in silence for a while, watching as the sun finally disappeared beneath the horizon. Maria closed her eyes, and enjoyed the peaceful bliss of nature- how it contrasted so with the noise of the city. It wasn't until quite some time later that she realized that she had fallen asleep. Kyoko had brought out a blanket and covered Maria at some point.

Maria sat up and took a few minutes to let her eyes adjust to the darkness and wake up. When she felt she was ready, she picked up the blanket and opened up the door to the house. A light was on in Kyoko's bedroom and Maria quietly shut the door to the porch behind her as she walked down the hallway. Kyoko's back was to her, and so Maria silently stood in the doorway, observing the scene before her. She could tell by the shake of her shoulders that Kyoko was crying, but she couldn't quite see what Kyoko was holding in her hand.

"Kyo…ko" Maria's voiced cracked as she spoke out, breaking the silence.

Kyoko used her free hand to try and wipe the tears from her eyes, before realizing it was hopeless. She had been caught crying, there was no use trying to hide it now. Maria had appeared beside her and had sat next to her, offering her arms for a hug. Kyoko accepted the hug and Maria did her best to comfort her. Looking down, Maria noticed the object in Kyoko's hand- a picture of her and Ren.

It was another one of those rare moments in time, caught forever by the flash of a camera. Ren had been in one of his playful moods, and was carrying Kyoko around on his shoulders. She was messing with his hair, which by the time the picture had been taken was sticking every which way. He was looking up at her, and she was looking down at him with a playful grin on her face. He didn't seem to care that she had messed his hair up, and she looked like queen of the world sitting on top of his shoulders.

It was a while before Kyoko had sat up and thanked Maria, but she was very apologetic when she did.

"I'm so sorry Maria, I don't know what came over me. I'm usually much more composed. I think it must just be this time of year… it reminds me of him."

"You don't need to apologize! I'm glad that I could be here for you."

Maria knocked on the door to Kyoko's home and waited for her to answer the door. One minute…two minutes… five minutes went by, and no response came.

"That's strange… maybe I should have called first," Maria thought. "Maybe I should just check out back first, before I go."

Walking around the side of the house, Maria saw Kyoko in her chair on the porch.

"Kyoko!" she called out. "Kyoko, it's Maria!"

There was no response.

Maria made her way up onto the porch, thinking that perhaps Kyoko had fallen asleep.

"Kyoko," Maria spoke out again as she got closer. She nudged Kyoko's arm, and was shocked when it fell limply to the side. The panic filled Maria, and she felt Kyoko's ice cold hands. "Kyoko! Kyoko, you need to wake up now! Oh God. No. Please tell me this is some kind of sick, cruel joke. Kyoko!"

Silence.

Maria sat there holding that cold, limp hand for what she felt was an eternity. Kyoko, dead. It just wasn't possible. Why did the world have to take everyone she loved away from her? First her mother, then Ren, and now Kyoko! When the shock finally faded, and the tears began to fall, Maria went inside and found a blanket. She returned to the porch, and went to Kyoko. She looked so small and frail in the large chair.

"Kyoko, you're so cold! I don't know how you could be so silly as to forget a blanket." Maria chastised through her tears. "Here, let me cover you and warm you up. What would your Tsuruga-san think of you sitting out here in the cold?" Maria hiccupped as her crying started to become uncontrollable. "Your Tsuruga-san would give you that look- you know which one I'm talking about, right? Well maybe he wouldn't, he probably would have gotten you a blanket hours ago." Maria tried to smile, but she began sobbing. "Tell him I said hello, tell Ren that we all miss him, tell your love that we're sorry we didn't take care of you the way you deserved to be…" Maria didn't know why she kept talking, but she couldn't stop. "I bet you're excited to see him again, Kyoko. You two will finally be reunited! I just wish… I just wish that you two could be here now."

Sometime later Maria finally calmed down enough to call her grandfather and tell him the news. She called her manager next, and told him that she would be staying the night with Kyoko- deliberately forgetting to tell her that she was dead.

So I was on the verge of tears while writing a lot of this. When I re-read it, it made me even more sad. I hope that despite how depressing this story is, that you still will continue to read. Sometimes it's nice to read a sad story...

-Tohru12