Disclamer : This story was written after the release of the trailers revealing the name and appearance of Kamen Rider X-Geats. Knowing neither his Jingle nor his abilities, I'll pretend they're identical to Geats IX. And since the final episode of Kamen Rider Geats hasn't been released yet, this story will also take place in a world with a made-up ending to the series. Don't hold it against me if it's not 100% faithful to the series or the movie, please. ^^"
At 7 a.m., a young Caucasian-Asian man woke up, contemplating the prospects of the day ahead, beyond his usual routine. This usually consisted of accompanying his adoptive father to work, listening to the nurses talk about their personal lives, going home, watching popular movies and ending with sleep.
This routine prompted her adoptive father to express concern about her social relationship.
He advised him to participate in social activities and expand his social circle by venturing out to meet new people.
He did his routine mentioned earlier and waited for his adoptive father, Gorou Amamiya, a black-haired man wearing square-rimmed glasses, who stormed into the car.
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Why didn't you wake me, Ryuga? I've got an important day ahead of me and being late isn't an option." His frustrated father exclaimed.
"I tried, but you just got even more wrapped up in your blanket." Ryuga explained.
While he didn't mind missing a day's work, he understood the gravity of the situation and couldn't leave him to deal with it all alone. Despite his young age, his intelligence and skills proved useful in helping him with crucial procedures, such as surgery, although they kept this a secret from the rest of the town.
As they took to the road, the sounds of children's laughter filled the air, evoking a sense of envy in him. He liked the sound, maybe it took him back to his childhood, maybe something else.
"Don't forget, Ryuga, that we prioritize the well-being of our patients over their wealth or social status." His father reminded him.
Arriving at the hospital, Ryuga got out of the car and quickly put on his uniform.
"Hi, Gloria." He said to the receptionist.
"Hi, Ryuga." She replied with a warm smile.
Gloria was a kindly elder who had been part of the hospital since Ryuga's adoptive father's first days of employment. Needless to say, they shared a close bond.
Dressed in his well-pressed uniform, he awaited his father's arrival with little enthusiasm, knowing that he would soon have to help welcome their new patient. When he finally arrived, he looked anxious, asking if the patient had arrived yet.
"Not yet." Gloria replied. "His agent said there was a lot of traffic, so they'll be a little late."
An agent? Could it be a celebrity causing all this commotion? But that seemed unlikely, as they had no notable public figures living in this town.
"Traffic in this place? It's pretty unusual. It's not like we have a lot of people here." Amamiya remarked as he finished putting on his uniform.
While they attended to other patients, they had continued to wait for the arrival of the presumed celebrity. After about half an hour, a small car pulled up to the hospital and a pregnant woman got out, wearing a mask and hat to conceal her identity.
"She must be really popular if she feels the need to take such measures to hide her identity." Ryuga thought to himself.
Several nurses were waiting outside to escort her. As she approached, father and son exchanged glances, and she gave them a friendly wave. Ryuga reciprocated and turned to his father, who adjusted his glasses and headed for the examination room.
He followed suit, and when they entered the room, they were greeted by a visibly anxious man and a calm young woman who seemed oblivious to the situation. Amamiya sat down opposite her.
"How can I help you today?" he asked.
The man tried to speak but was stopped by the girl, who then removed her mask and hat, revealing something surprising. It was none other than Ai Hoshino, one of Japan's most renowned idols of the moment.
"I'd appreciate it if you could help me with this." she declared, pointing to her abdomen.
Ryuga was surprised by her remarkable composure in this situation. From what he understood, if an idol were to have a boyfriend, it would damage her career. In fact, it was widely believed in the industry that they become useless once pregnant, which could ultimately cost them their jobs.
Judging by her physical appearance, she must have been at least six months pregnant. What's more, her agent was present, leading Ryuga to believe that the agency was aware of her condition but kept it a secret.
He couldn't help wondering if they were prepared to suffer financial losses while he was away.
Amamiya, who was standing next to Ryuga, looked worried and asked.
"When you say 'help', do you mean you're looking for my help with the pregnancy process?"
They'd seen quite a few teenagers come into the hospital pregnant, and sadly, they'd all ended up disposing of their babies without hesitation. Ryuga and Amamiya were afraid that she would choose the same fate for her child.
"Yes, I'd like to give birth to a healthy baby." She replied enthusiastically, bringing a smile to Amamiya's face.
"Absolutely, we'd be delighted to offer our help." He replied with great enthusiasm.
The young woman turned to Ryuga and asked.
"Would you also like to give me a hand?"
All eyes suddenly focused on Ryuga as he replied.
"Of course, if it'll help you and the baby."
The young woman seemed satisfied with his answer and they continued to discuss the procedure.
Ryuga left the room to see if there was anything else he could do to help.
After an hour or so, he found himself outside with nothing to occupy him.
As he looked around the hospital grounds, he noticed a man wearing a hoodie whose eyes were filled with mischief as he observed the hospital.
Feeling Ryuga's gaze, he quickly turned and fled.
He had no desire to pursue him, as he knew he'd lose sight of him eventually.
Instead, he wandered off into the woods and I returned to the hospital a few minutes later.
"Did my father conclude his conversation with the celebrity?" He asked Gloria as we entered.
"No, but he asked me to tell you that he needed assistance with the patient during her procedure." She replied.
He nodded and headed for the room in which they were to hold their meetings.
He knocked twice on the door, and her agent cautiously opened it for him. Recognizing him, he invited him in before closing the door.
"Ryuga, would you please sit down and share your medical expertise with the young lady." Amamiya insisted.
He sat down, puzzled, and looked at her. She gestured to her agent.
"My agent doesn't think you'd be much help because you seem rather young." She said.
"I can't allow someone who is still a minor to participate in such a complex process." The man tells her directly.
"I completely understand your concerns. If I were in your shoes, I would also hesitate to entrust something so complex to a young person." Ryuga replied.
To win her trust, he delved into complex medical subjects and emphasized his experience of working in hospitals. This seemed to calm his apprehensions, and he could tell that even Amamiya was impressed by his knowledge.
"Very well, I suppose that will suffice. I hope you do an excellent job." Said the agent, giving him a thumbs-up before stepping outside to take a phone call.
"You seem well-informed on the subject." Said Ai with a smile on her face.
"I've read many medical books, but it's nothing extraordinary." Ryuga replied modestly.
He felt a stern look from his father standing next to him.
"Anyway, may I excuse myself for a moment? I could use some fresh air." She asked.
"It's all right. Ryuga can accompany you if you like." Amamiya offered.
Ryuga gave his adoptive father a surprised and slightly panicked look.
"Sure, he can come." Ai replied as if Ryuga were a child asking to visit a friend.
She ushered him out of the room and after receiving her agent's approval, they went outside and she put on her hat and mask.
"Where do you want to go, Ryuga?" She asked with a gentle smile.
"I'm not sure. Maybe we could walk around the hospital." Ryuga suggested.
She seemed pleased with the idea and nodded. They strolled along, the fresh air enveloping them. The young man realized he'd left his coat inside and was starting to feel cold.
"I have a sudden craving for kiwi strawberry juice. Do they sell it here?" She asked, breaking the silence.
"They do, but unfortunately, it's often out of stock." Replied Ryuga, knowing this fact from personal experience.
"That's a shame. I really enjoy the flavor, but I guess I'll have to wait for another time." She said as they took a short break from their walk.
As they stood there, Ryuga heard footsteps nearby, which alerted him.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Without speaking, he waited to determine where the noise was coming from.
After a moment, he heaved a sigh and motioned for Ai to keep walking.
"I thought I heard something, but it seems to be nothing." He explained in answer to her question.
He sensed someone nearby, and something inside him warned him that it was the man from earlier. He wasn't sure of his intentions, so he decided to keep an eye on him in case he was a threat. However, he didn't want to do anything unless he'd actually done something suspicious.
"Would you mind hanging out with me for a bit?" Hoshino asked, sounding a little embarrassed.
"Not at all. I sometimes walk around the hospital to clear my head." Ryuga replied.
In truth, it was just an excuse to skip work, but he didn't want her to know that.
"That's nice to hear! I like to take a break sometimes too, just to get away from all the problems in my life." She said sincerely.
He turned to look at her face, and her warm smile made her look like a girl with a perfect life. However, he couldn't help feeling a strange aura around her that made him think she was crying out for help.
As someone who didn't know much about idols, he could only imagine the constant pressure and stress she faced from fans, producers and stage performances.
They walked and talked for about half an hour, having casual conversations. Ai remarked that Ryuga wasn't very good at talking to people, and he admitted that he didn't have any friends. At least that he didn't have any anymore.
"What?! You must have at least one! I've never met anyone so lonely." She exclaimed, which hurt Ryuga more than he expected.
"I'm not the type to go up to people. And between that and my somewhat gaijin physique, makes most people tend to avoid me." Ryuga confessed.
"You're a bit hard to read, but I like that. It was fun to see how disappointed you looked when I said you were very lonely." she giggled, making Ryuga blush.
He shivered a little, hoping she'd take the hint and suggest they go back to the hospital. Unfortunately for Ryuga, she seemed happy to continue their conversation.
"Tell me more about yourself. I'm curious why you and your father have different surnames." She said.
He was surprised by her knowledge of his personal life. He and Amamiya had never called each other father and son, so he didn't know how she'd found out.
"He's my adoptive parent. He took me in when I was 15 after an... incident, but I didn't want to change my last name." He explained, remaining vague on the details.
"I see. It's really interesting. You must have a unique perspective on life because of that." She said with genuine interest.
"I suppose I do. But it's not like I've had any great experiences or anything." He said with a shrug.
They continued to talk as they strolled around the hospital grounds, and I began to open up to her more than to anyone else. Maybe it was because she was a stranger, or maybe it was because she seemed genuinely interested in him.
He found himself enjoying her company and how easy she was to talk to.
As they walked, he couldn't help noticing the guy from earlier. He was still lurking about, trying to stay hidden, but Ryuga could see him watching them.
He tried not to let him disturb him and continued their conversation, but he couldn't help feeling that something was wrong.
Finally, it was time for Ai to go back to her room, and he walked her home. As they said goodbye, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness that their conversation had to come to an end.
As he left the hospital, the silence of the night enveloped him. The fresh air caressed his face and the calm of the deserted streets brought him a sense of peace. The patients had retired to their rooms and the lights had been turned off. His father, a doctor, had not yet finished his shift, so it was his responsibility to return home alone.
Although the darkness of the woods didn't bother him, he noticed that the same guy who had approached him earlier was following him. But he paid him no attention and started putting on his headphones, drowning out the world with Marica's latest song.
He wasn't, or at least not anymore, the type to succumb to fear, and this night was no different from any other. He continued walking along the path, indifferent to the dark figure following him.
He heard a blood-curdling scream pierce the silent night. The man was charging at him, kitchen knife in hand. Quickly, he grabbed the man's hand holding the knife and twisted his wrist so hard it was broken, dropping the knife in the process. Then, with a single kick to the face, he knocked him out. He watched him fall to the ground, his eyes now closed.
He considered calling the police, but realized this would only be a temporary solution. This man had pursued him for an entire day, and he knew that simply handing him over to the authorities wouldn't be enough to ensure his safety.
But for now, it had to be done. And if he did it again, he'd have to use a more definitive method.
The police arrived about ten minutes after he'd called them, and he calmly explained the situation.
As they took the man into custody, Ryuga couldn't help but feel uneasy. There were still too many unknown variables at play, and he knew he had to exercise caution if he was to avoid further incidents.
After returning home, he decided to go to bed immediately. Preferring to be in shape for the days ahead. After all, he couldn't be sure when Ai would return to the hospital.
As he felt himself slipping into the arms of Morpheus, he glanced at a black wooden box in his room. He couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. This was only the beginning and he knew something was coming. But was he ready for it?
Two weeks later, as Ai reflected on her encounter with the dark-haired boy, she couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue and fascination. He was tall, handsome and seemed socially awkward in an endearing rather than off-putting way.
There was something about his unique face and compassionate eyes that drew her in, and she hadn't been able to resist talking to him.
Normally, she wouldn't approach someone for no reason, but with him, it was different. He aroused her curiosity in a way she couldn't quite explain. It wasn't just his personality that interested her, but rather the inexplicable aura he exuded.
When she awoke in her hospital bed this morning, she hadn't been able to shake off the mysterious encounter she'd had with that dark-haired boy last night. It was strange, and she couldn't quite explain the intrigue he aroused in her. Nevertheless, she was determined to ask him a few questions today.
Although she had lain awake most of the night worrying about her uncertain future, she had managed to pull herself together and prepare for the day ahead. She dressed and put on a little make-up, knowing that the doctor and Yakumo would be there for her daily check-up at 8am.
But as she tried to distract herself by scrolling through social networks, reading the hurtful comments about her as an artist was a hard pill to swallow.
"She's so fake. She's only interested in money."
"She's been dancing so badly lately."
"Her smile looks so forced. I'm sick of looking at her."
The words stung, and it was hard to bear the weight of such harsh criticism.
"Even after years of training, I'm still not good enough, am I?" She murmured to herself, her heart heavy with disappointment.
She'd often been told that the world is full of hatred towards others, that simply existing is reason enough for someone to despise you. But she found it hard to believe such an absurd idea.
Maybe there's something about me they don't like. She couldn't help thinking that she must have done something wrong to provoke such animosity towards her. But what could it be?
As she began her day with a yoga session, she couldn't help noticing Yakumo's absence, despite the doctor's visit in the morning. Curiosity getting the better of her, she asked where he was to one of the nurses, who replied with a polite smile, saying he must be elsewhere.
As much as she'd wanted to ask him a few questions, she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed that he wasn't there. When the session was over, she returned to her room, where she was reminded of her pregnancy. The doctor had informed her that she was eight months along and would give birth shortly. And to her delight, it turned out that she was going to have twins!
As she revelled in his excitement, she couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness. Yakumo's absence had made her realize how much she'd learned to appreciate his presence, despite their limited interactions. However, as she lay there, contemplating the mysteries of life, she knew that many things made her happy, including the imminent arrival of her precious babies.
She looked up at the white ceiling above her and let out a deep sigh. Even though she had everything people would kill for, she still felt empty inside.
Money, fame, talent and even two precious lives were growing inside her. She had it all, yet she felt like she had nothing.
It wasn't that she didn't appreciate what she had. It's just that she felt something was missing. And that something was love.
She'd always been surrounded by people, but she'd never really felt loved by anyone. Sometimes she wondered if it was because of her own shortcomings or because people only saw her as a commodity.
But even with these thoughts, she couldn't help wanting more. Wanting more love, more attention, and more... something else.
Maybe she was just greedy. Or maybe, just maybe, she was looking for something that didn't exist.
Either way, she knew she couldn't go on living like this. She had to find a way to fill this void inside her.
As Ryuga walked to the hospital after trying to interrogate his attacker himself. Of course, they had refused.
He wanted to know why this man had followed him and tried to attack him.
On his way out of the police station, he came across a young man with blond hair and blue eyes with the same kind of star as Ai's pupil, who looked at him with what Ryuga could only describe as jealousy. But jealousy for what?
The young man stopped as Ryuga continued on his way; he now had a hand in his pocket, holding something. He hesitated to take it out, but resigned himself and resumed his walk.
As he made his way towards the hospital, he couldn't help thinking about the conversation he would have with his father about his absence from work. He was undoubtedly concerned about Ai's pregnancy, having agreed to look after her during this crucial period.
Arriving at the hospital, he made his way to Ai's room, avoiding wearing his work clothes. He knocked twice and she answered with a cordial "Come in".
As he entered, he saw her playing Angry Birds on her phone. She sat up slowly, but he beckoned her to calm down, reminding her that her babies would soon be born.
After an initial period of awkward silence, he began to speak, only to encounter an unusual expression on her face, a childish pout. It was obvious that something was wrong, and he struggled to identify the cause.
He wondered if he'd done something to upset her, without being able to identify what it might be.
Finally, he realized that she must have been upset by his absence today. With a resigned sigh, he stood up.
"If my presence isn't welcome, I'll go and attend to other patients." he declared.
His hand rested on the door handle, waiting for her reply.
Ai stopped him before he could leave the room.
"Wait, don't go." She said softly.
He stopped and turned to face her.
"Is there anything you need?" He asked.
Ai lowered her eyes to her lap, her expression conflicted.
"I'm just... disappointed you didn't come sooner. I know you're busy, but I thought you'd have made an exception for me."
He studied her for a moment, observing her body language and the way she spoke. It was clear that Ai was feeling vulnerable and emotional, which was unusual for her.
"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." But I assure you your care is in good hands. I supervised your treatment from a distance and made sure everything went smoothly."
He was lying; it was his adoptive father who had supervised everything, but he wanted to reassure her.
Ai nodded slowly, her expression softening slightly.
"I know." She said. "I just wanted to see you."
He tilted his head slightly, studying her reaction. It was clear that Ai had become attached to him, which was unexpected. But he had to admit it made him happy. After all, he wasn't insensitive to the young idol's charm.
"I see." He said simply. "Well, I'm here now. Do you need anything?"
Ai hesitated a moment before speaking.
"Actually, do you mind staying here with me a little longer?" She asked softly. "It's just that... I don't know, I feel safer when you're here."
Normally, he wouldn't stay longer than necessary, but there was something about Ai's vulnerability that made him hesitate. Besides, it was unlikely that anyone would look for him at the hospital, so he had time to waste.
After a moment, he nodded.
"He nodded. No one will mind if I stay a little longer."
Ai's face lit up with a small smile, and he felt satisfied to have provoked such a reaction. He settled back in his seat and took out a book, ready to pass the time until it was time for him to leave.
As he read, he occasionally looked up at Ai, who was once again absorbed in her phone. She seemed to have forgotten his presence. Ryuga didn't know whether to be offended or not.
But as the minutes passed, he found himself more and more absorbed in the book he was reading. He was so focused on the words on the page that he hadn't even noticed when Ai put down her phone and turned to him.
"Ryuga." She said softly. "Thank you for staying with him."
He looked up, startled.
"You're welcome." He said with a friendly smile.
There was a moment of silence between them, and he could feel Ai's eyes on him. It was an uncomfortable sensation, and he shifted in his seat.
"Do you think... do you think I'll be a good mother?" Ai asked suddenly.
The question made him raise an eyebrow.
"It's hard to say." he replied. "It's up to you to determine whether or not you're capable of being a good parent."
"I know." Ai sighed. "It's just... I'm scared, you know? I've never done anything like this before."
"It's natural to be scared when faced with something new and unknown." Ryuga agreed. "But I have no doubt you'll do what's necessary to ensure the children's safety and well-being."
Ai smiled slightly.
"Thank you." She said. "That means a lot to me."
He nodded again, and they fell into a comfortable silence once more. It was strange to be sitting here with Ai, but he couldn't deny that there was something soothing about her presence. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to relax, to forget the chaos around him and simply be in the moment.
1 month later, Ryuga arrived at the hospital, knowing how important this day was, he made sure he was prepared. He brought a bouquet of flowers and took his father's car to the hospital.
When he reached the top floor where Ai Hoshino lived, the nurses greeted him with warm smiles and informed him that she was waiting for him.
"How's Ai?" He asked.
"You arrived just in time. Ai's waiting for you." They replied, pointing to his room.
He expressed his gratitude and began to enter the room. As he approached, the sound of his footsteps echoed down the corridor. He couldn't help but wonder what the babies would be like, and how his adoptive father was faring after delivering his sixth baby that week.
As he entered the room, he saw a tired Ai holding two blond babies in her arms. He put down the flowers and stood beside her.
He approached Ai, asking her how she was feeling, but she didn't seem to hear him. Instead, she concentrated on admiring her newborns.
"They're so beautiful, aren't they?" She said, looking up at him with a smile.
He approached the babies, feeling a little out of his comfort zone. He'd never looked after babies and was afraid he wasn't very good at it, and his expression probably showed it.
He reached for their little hands and saw one of them, the boy, showing signs of simply wanting to cry at his touch.
"I doubted you wouldn't be good with babies. Your face says it all." Ai chuckled.
He showed a somewhat disappointed look as he remembered the same comment from one of the nurses.
He looked away to where the babies weren't crying because of him.
"Babies are just as beautiful as you are." he commented.
His whole body was shaking and he could see his whole face turning red.
"T-Thank you... I didn't expect that from you." She said, embarrassed.
He stood there for a moment, watching her smile and feeling the need to leave. He felt vulnerable and didn't know how to react. Then he asked her about her father, realizing he hadn't seen him all day.
"Where's my dad?" He asked, sounding slightly worried.
Ai's expression shifted from joy to concern.
"He wasn't there for the delivery. They told me he was out of labor and not responding to calls." She said, her voice trembling slightly.
He nodded, trying to hide his own concern. It wasn't like his father to miss a birth. It was a matter of life and death, and he always took it seriously.
He watched the nurse take the babies away, leaving Ai alone to rest. As she closed her eyes, he felt the need to leave. He didn't know what else to say or do.
But then he heard her voice, barely audible.
"Don't go." She said, her eyes still closed.
He hesitated for a moment before moving to the window, where he stood watching the rain outside.
The sound of the rain echoed through the room, drowning out any noise or conversation. He felt a sense of calm come over him as he watched the droplets slide down the glass.
But his thoughts were far from calm. They were chaotic and filled with worry for his father. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
As he turned to leave, he saw that Ai had opened her eyes and was looking at him.
"Stay." She repeated, her voice louder this time.
He nodded, not knowing what else to do. He couldn't leave her alone in this state. He returned to her side and sat down on the chair beside her bed.
For a moment, he sat in silence, listening to the sound of the rain.
He watched her sleeping soundly for a few moments after the nurse had left. The rain outside seemed to echo the darkness that persisted in his thoughts.
In the course of his interactions with Ai, they had become much closer. They chatted often and Ai found comfort in him; he didn't judge her for her choices, just as she didn't judge his.
As he sat there, lost in thought, he noticed a faint rustling coming from the bed where Ai lay. He turned to see her stirring, her eyes slowly opening.
"Hey, you're awake." He said, approaching her bedside.
"Ryuga." She said softly, a hint of a smile on her lips.
"How do you feel?" He asked.
"I'm fine." She replied, her eyes fixed on me. "Thanks for staying with me."
"It's nothing." He said, with a gentle smile. "Is there anything you need?"
"I'm fine for now, but thank you." She replied, her eyes turning to the window. "It's still raining outside."
"Yes." He said, following her gaze. "But it's a good thing you're inside and resting."
They sat in silence for a few moments, the only sound the gentle crackle of rain against the window. He could feel the weight of Ai's gaze on him, and he knew she wanted to say something.
"What is it?" He asked, returning his attention to her.
"Ryuga, I know you're not the most emotional person." She said, hesitantly. "But I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate you being there for me. It means a lot to me."
He looked at her, surprised by her words. No one in the hospital besides his adoptive father had thanked him for anything before. I didn't know how to respond, so I simply nodded.
"I know you don't show your emotions very easily." She said. "But I can tell you care about people in your own way."
He didn't answer, but appreciated her observation.
"Can I ask you something, Ai?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course." She replied, her eyes fixed on him.
"Why did you want me to help you?" He asked, his gaze fixed on hers.
She looked away for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts.
"I don't know." She said finally. "I just had the impression that you were someone I could trust."
Ryuga nodded, understanding her reasoning. But he was still wondering something...
"Why do you trust me?" He asked, unable to keep the question from escaping his lips.
"I don't know, Ryuga." She replied, a small smile on her lips. "But I do know that you're someone who will always be there when I need you."
He felt a strange sensation in his chest, something he couldn't quite identify. It was as if her words had struck a chord within him.
They sat in silence for a few moments longer, until the nurse entered the room to check on Ai's condition.
"Everything seems to be in order." She said, checking Ai's vital signs. "But I must ask you to rest a little longer. Your body needs time to recover."
Ai nodded and the nurse left the room, leaving them alone again.
"I should probably go." He said, rising from the chair beside her bed. "But I'll be back tomorrow to check on you."
"Thanks, Ryuga." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryuga walked briskly outside, feeling the raindrops crackle on his head, but he paid them no heed as he continued on his way. Instead of taking his father's car, he took a detour off the main street and into the woods.
Despite the inclement weather, he remained focused on the flashing police sirens in the distance. As he approached, he stopped at a safe distance where he wouldn't be noticed.
There, he witnessed his father's lifeless body with its head brutally cracked open, while the officers stood in disgust as the ambulance took him away. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The man he'd considered his father for the past few years was dead.
Deep down, he suspected it. Gorou Anemiya had been killed by the same person who had tried to attack him a few weeks earlier. He was sure that when he crossed paths with this person again, he would make him regret it.
When he noticed on a puddle of water that his eyes were beginning to glow crimson, he did his best to calm himself and sighed with relief when the gleam in his eyes disappeared.
As he pushed the image of his adoptive father's corpse from his mind, his mind was consumed by thoughts of what he should do next. He decided that he would take care of Ai and her children, despite the risks and potential consequences.
It was the right thing to do, he wouldn't abandon her once she left the hospital, and he'd help her take care of the lives her father was supposed to bring into the world. As for finding the killer, he knew their paths would cross again.
He took a deep breath and set off for home, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The rain continued to fall on him, but he paid it no heed as he moved forward.
For now, he had to remain vigilant and do what had to be done. And if that meant becoming a monster in the eyes of others, at least he'd be exposing just who he was.
Late at night, as she lay in her hospital bed, exhausted after giving birth to her babies, Ail couldn't stop thinking about their future. She had listened to the nurses who told everyone to go to sleep, but her mind was restless.
When one of her babies began to cry, she couldn't ignore her distress. Summoning the last of her strength, she got out of bed and headed for their crib. She wished she could have held them, but her body was too weak. Instead, she gently cradled them and whispered comforting words.
Looking at her babies, she couldn't help but think of their father. It had been seven months since she'd broken up with her ex-boyfriend, and she'd drifted away from him. But the thought of her children growing up without a father made her wonder how miserable their lives would be without a male figure in their lives.
Suddenly, an image of Ryuga flashed through her mind. She'd never thought of him as a potential father figure for her children before, but the thought of him being there for them brought her a sense of comfort. Ryuga was someone she could trust and rely on, and she knew he'd do anything to protect them.
But could she really ask him to take on such a responsibility? Would he want to?
As she pondered these questions, she knew she had to talk to him about it. Her children deserved the best life possible, and if that meant asking Ryuga to be part of it, then so be it.
She made a mental note to herself to tell him once she was out of hospital. For now, she concentrated on her babies, promising to give them the best possible life, whatever it took.
The next morning, Ai woke up at 8am, feeling more exhausted than usual. Her body was weak and she knew she'd rested longer than usual. She headed for the bathroom, but her attention was quickly diverted to a familiar figure crossing the hospital's main entrance. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight, but she couldn't bring herself to approach him. Instead, she watched him from a distance, noticing the somber expression on the receptionist's face as she spoke to him.
She couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong. Her instinct was to hide from him, but her concern grew with every passing moment. She heard the receptionist mention that he wasn't feeling well and didn't need to come in, to which he replied that he'd be fine. But then he mentioned "that man" as his voice began to break, leaving Ai with an uneasy feeling.
Questions raced through his mind. Who was the man mentioned, and why was Ryuga so affected by his absence? Her thoughts turned to the possibility of her father's death, and she felt a wave of nausea rise up inside her. She couldn't fathom the idea of Ryuga's father being gone. It simply didn't seem possible.
She returned to her room unnoticed and carefully considered the possibilities.
What could Ryuga be feeling right now?
Had he come to work so as not to think about the death of one of the most important people in his life?
Ai's manager couldn't believe what he'd just heard on the radio. Gorou Amemiya, the doctor who assisted Ai during her pregnancy, had been murdered. His mind immediately raced with questions. Who delivered her babies if the doctor had died? Could it have been that kid? The one Ai had mentioned?
He couldn't ignore the twinge of guilt that hit him. How could he have missed the birth of Ai's children? He'd been so absorbed in work that he hadn't even realized the gravity of the situation until it was too late. Now that the doctor was dead, he couldn't help but feel a sense of panic.
But as he continued to drive to the hospital, his thoughts began to turn to Ryuga. He didn't know him well, but he found him strange. He felt he was hiding something. But now, with his father dead, he couldn't help wondering how he would react.
It was a sadistic thought, he was aware. How could he not care about the doctor's death and be rather curious about his son's reaction? But the truth was, he couldn't help being interested in how he would react to such a tragedy.
As he pulled up to the hospital, he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and sadness that pervaded him. He had promised himself he wouldn't let work consume him to the point of again missing important moments in the lives of his loved ones.
He hurried through the hospital corridors, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't believe he'd missed the birth of Ai's children.
As manager, it was his responsibility to be there for her, but he'd been swamped with work the day before. He cursed himself as he ran to the receptionist to ask for the room number.
Once he reached the door, he paused for a moment to compose himself. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and was greeted by a strange sight. Ai was holding one of her newborns, while Ryuga was holding the other.
He couldn't help but feel uneasy as he approached. Yakumo was infamous in the hospital for being rather cold, and he couldn't help wondering how he was dealing with the recent tragedy of his father's murder.
"Condolences on your loss, Yakumo." He said softly. "I can't imagine what you must be going through."
The latter looked at the agent with red eyes. Had he been crying recently? Was it his father he'd been crying over.
"Thank you." He answered weakly, before asking a surprising question. "Can I be hired as a bodyguard for Ai?"
The agent remained silent for a few seconds, surprised by this question. It wasn't the answer he'd been expecting. But Yakumo was always an enigma to him. There was something intriguing about him.
He turned to Ai for advice, and she simply smiled and nodded.
"It's okay... Ryuga is their father now, after all." She said.
"F-Father?!"
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Yakumo, the son of a murdered doctor, was asking to be Ai's bodyguard, and she approved without hesitation.
The agent stood there, watching Yakumo, trying to analyze his inexpressive face. It was a little unnerving, to say the least, even if you could tell his sadness from his red eyes. He wasn't sure what to say to her, especially after everything that had happened. His father's murder, the birth of Ai's babies, and now this sudden request.
But he couldn't just stand there and say nothing.
"Sure, you can have this job if that's what you want." Said the agent, trying to sound as reassuring as possible.
Yakumo's response was unexpected, to say the least.
"It's okay if you can't decide now. I asked this suddenly, so I don't expect you to have an answer right away." He said, smiling at the baby.
"No, that's okay. You can do this job if that's what you want." Said the agent, perplexed.
Ryuga's smile seemed to widen slightly at his answer. This surprised the agent, was it because Ryuga seemed to be opening up.
The agent turned to Ai, who was still holding one of the newborns in her arms.
"Are you sure about this, Ai?" He asked, curious to know if she had any reservations about Ryuga being her bodyguard.
She smiled at him, her eyes filled with warmth.
To which he nodded, still feeling a little uneasy about the whole situation. But he knew they had to move on, although he still didn't know if it would be beneficial in the long run.
Late at night, in a Tokyo cemetery, there was a gold statue of a man wearing a suit and tie and carrying an escapade.
On the statue's base was a plaque engraved with the words "Ace Ukiyo, the Star of stars among stars".
A hooded man in a hooded jacket approached the statue, clenching his fist as he contemplated it.
"I can't even afford the luxury of making him pay." Said the man through gritted teeth.
"What if I offered you a way to get back at him?" Said a distorted voice behind the man.
The man turned to see a person wearing a white toga hooded with a traditional red and white fox mask but with the color scheme reversed.
"Who are you?" the man asked.
"Someone who has more hatred for Ace Ukiyo than anyone in this world. And someone who knows all his secrets. So, will you join us?"
"Us?" asked the man as they were joined by several dozen people whose faces were hidden under their hoods.
The man smiled at this.
It's been 3 months since Ai's babies were born, and they've grown up enough to finally have distinct haircuts. Ai was looking after Aqua in the living room, while Ryuga had just come back from buying a few things. Seeing Ai in the bedroom with her son, he hesitated to approach.
"Hi there. I brought what you asked for for you and the kids." He said.
"Aw! Thanks a lot Ryuga. I owe you one." Said Ai happily before returning to her son to continue pampering him, but the sound of crying interrupted everyone. Ai's son Aqua looked really upset by this. He wanted his mother's attention for himself.
"Oh, Aqua's crying." She said.
"Ai, the one who's crying is Ruby." Ryuga chuckled. "Are you that bad with names?"
"E-eh well, it's the things of life, hehehe." Ai stammered, blushing. "Can you see what's going on?"
"Sure, I'll take care of it."
In the months that had passed, Ryuga had opened up more. If Ai hadn't been able to observe the change, she could almost believe it was someone different who looked like him.
Ryuga went to Ruby's crib to pick her up. Ruby was Ai Hoshino's second child, so she also needed care. And fortunately for Ai, Ryuga was taking care of her while Aqua is being looked after by Ai. But they tend to switch places every week. Ryuga treated her as if she really were his daughter, and Rudy even smiled at the grimaces Ryuga made to make her laugh.
"Awww! How cute!" Said Ai.
Then Ichigo, Ai's agent, arrived at the house with a woman.
"How come they do that? It seems they don't get tired of taking care of two babies." He said.
"I told you Ryuga was someone for the job, Monsieur Sato." Says Ai.
"J-je m'appelle Saito..." Says he with a vein in his forehead. "Anyway, I've got a plan to make sure Strawberry Productions doesn't end up in ruins because of your babies."
Ichigo brings over a chalkboard that Ai and Ryuga used to play with the babies, and describes the whole plan.
"Attention, from today Ai becomes an idol again! Therefore, I need Ryuga with you to take care of you at all times. So let's talk about your work. The first step will be for Ai to go to a musical show tonight with Ryuga so she won't be surrounded by questions."
"Okay!" Said Ai.
"I'll make sure they don't overstep Ai's personal space." Said the new bodyguard.
"Great... You see, obviously, you can't take care of the kids while you're together or working, so my wife will take care of them." Ichigo explained.
"Are you married? I thought I'd buy you a few drinks and go to some places, too bad." Ryuga joked, enjoying teasing Ai's agent.
"Hey, Ryuga, don't you think Sotaru's wife is very young?" Ai asked.
"It's Saito, Ai... Saito..." Said the young man.
"I'm here now. Don't talk like I'm not here." Said Ichigo.
"Uff, you complain about us, you can't even imagine with the company teste. They usually talk about you and how you prefer young girls." Ai retorted.
" ... I didn't know, I'll see what to do." Said Ichigo.
"Can I bring the kids to the studio?" Asked Ai.
"NO! What are you thinking?! If word gets out that a 16-year-old idol has children, everything will go to hell. Your life, Ryuga's, and my agency will be ruined. And don't take the kids shopping! Ryuga can pick them up if you want, but you can't. FOR YOUR LIFE, FOR YOUR CHILDREN, FOR YOUR PARTNER, DON'T RUIN IT!" Ichigo scolded.
Ruby clung to her "father" and Ai patted Aqua.
"It's annoying, don't you think, Ruby?" Ai asked.
"It's Aqua." Ryuga commented.
Ai began to laugh, Ryuga seeing that smile couldn't help but smile himself. The life he would lead from now on would be complicated, but to help Ai he would do everything he could. Ichigo erased the plan and Miyako grabbed Ruby so she wouldn't fall where she was. So when Ai was about to get up and get ready for the rehearsal. She stumbled and managed to regain her balance, having the baby in her arms, Aqua grabbed her mother's blouse and accidentally pulled it down, showing her bra. Ichigo looked away and Ryuga noticed the little accident and covered Ruby's eyes. Aqua lifted her mother's blouse, correcting the accident.
"Hahahaha! Oops, I almost showed you my breasts, Ryuga." Said Ai with a teasing smile.
"You'd better change, we can't be late, Ai." Says Ryuga, trying to hide his blushing face.
Once ready, they left and the Idols band did their thing and reporters came to ask Ai about her status and why she'd taken a long break from showbiz.
"How are you? Are you eating well?" A reporter asked.
"Yeah! Without my bodyguard, it would have been possible for me to get sick and not come back for a long time." Ai replied.
"Hehehe, and you know? While I was well fed, my babies..." Ai began.
"Babies?" Interrupted a reporter.
Ryuga could be seen from afar in total shock, while at home, Aqua was in front of the TV and just as shocked as her "father".
"Yes! My baby cats. Awww, you should have seen them, he ate their tuna in little bites, it was so cute." Ai corrected herself.
After a 10-minute break, the idols began their performance, singing and dancing. Everyone was fascinated, Ichigo smiled and Ryuga nodded to the rhythm of the song. And in one apartment, someone else was watching, the man who tried to kill Ryuga a few months ago.
Ai's performance was truly magical. Then, at Ai and Ryuga's house, Ruby woke up. Angry that her brother hadn't woken her earlier.
"Awwwwww~~! Mommy is SUPER CUT! PRAISE MY MOM!... Wait, why didn't you wake me up? I told you to!" Ruby reproached him.
"I tried, but I couldn't." Aqua defended herself.
"R-really?" Ruby asked.
Ruby and Aqua already knew each other, having first interacted 3 weeks ago, when Aqua found Ruby using her father's phone to "write" little words on social networks.
Another day passed and Ai rested. While Ryuga was with her to look after the children.
Ai had Aqua and Ryuga had Ruby. The "Father" and his daughter had a lot of fun, as he fed her the old "small plane" trick. And Ai tried to nurse her son, but he refused.
"Ohh... Come on, Aqua. Why don't you want me to breastfeed you?" Ai asked.
"Maybe he wants the bottle, I told you you won't get used to it." Said Ryuga as he grabbed Aqua's bottle and passed it to Ai, who passed it to his son and quickly took it.
"Wow, you know my kids better than I do..." She says in surprise.
"Hahaha, I don't think so, I'm just someone who pays attention to detail." Ryuga smiled.
Ruby cried, so it was time to breastfeed. Ryuga gave Ai his daughter, who agreed to be breastfed.
"Wow! You're right, if you're careful."
Ichigo suddenly appeared next to Miyako.
"Hey, I'm sorry, but Ai has to go to work, Ryuga come with us." He said.
"Ohhh... I wanted my day off." Complained Ai.
"If you hang in there, I'll buy you a hamburger." Said Ryuga.
"With cheese?!" Ai asked playfully.
"Cheese." Ryuga confirmed.
"Yippee!" She said playfully.
Ai stopped nursing Ruby and left her next to her brother, both going off with Ichigo and leaving Miyako with the babies.
When night came and the young parents returned, they spent the whole night watching movies and for obvious reasons fell asleep on the sofa. Ruby had her father as a bed and Ai as a pillow. Aqua watched this and threw a sheet over the three of them and climbed underneath to sleep next to Ai.
In the morning, Ryuga prepared breakfast for everyone. Ai was delighted with Ryuga's food, and Ruby and Aqua devoured it all. They left nothing for later. And they went to get the children to give them some attention. As the week progressed, Ai looked after Ruby and Ryuga looked after Aqua.
It didn't take long for Ryuga to become a good connoisseur of... By teaching him about the world of series and Dragon Ball, as any man does in his life, Ai played with Ruby in a more relaxed and super-cute way. They continued like this until it was time to go to work.
Ai and Ryuga changed quickly. Ai said goodbye to her children from the doorway while Miyako waited.
"Goodbye, my babies! Mommy and Daddy are off to work, byeee!" She said.
Ai ran towards Ryuga's red car as she said goodbye to the babies, but what she didn't know was that Ai was being stalked from afar. Ryuga realized this very late and saw only a "shadow" moving away, this seemed to bother him a little and Ai made him see reason.
"Ryuga? Are we leaving?" Said Ai.
"What? Uh, yes, we're going."
Ryuga started driving and headed for Ai's concert.
After Ryuga and Ai left for introductions, they didn't realize that the babies had arrived at the concert anyway thanks to Miyako. As today was Mother's Day, the babies wanted to go and see Ai in person.
Ai didn't smile very often like she had in the past, so in their opinion. If they went, they were going to make her smile like they couldn't. While Ai sang and did her pretty dances with a lost look... She hears something from the audience.
"Gugu! Gaga! Gugu! Gaga! Gugu! Gagaaaaaaa!"
"Wow! Those babies really seem to enjoy it, it's amazing how much they cheer for idols."
Ryuga seemed to notice a disturbance nearby, and for Ai's protection, approached to see... that there were the babies, Ryuga almost went into cardiac arrest seeing them here.
Ai didn't know what to say, but her mouth began to tremble a little as her cheeks came majestically to life, and a smile appeared on her face. A smile so beautiful that it surprised everyone present.
"My kids are so cute!" she thought.
Someone recorded what the babies did, and uploaded it to Twitter, the networks were full of babies cheering the idols. A colossal number of views. At home, Ai watched it all with Ryuga.
"Woah. If we had a channel, we'd become millionaires with that many views..." Ryuga said before pulling himself together. "No, we're not that kind of trash."
"They're so cute! Awww..." Said Ai.
"Yeah, but that doesn't explain why they were in public. Boss, why did your wife do that? It could have ended badly. Miss Miyako, don't do that again without prior warning or permission. Okay?" Ryuga said.
Miyako was now nervous.
" ... Ryuga is right, come my love ... WE MUST talk." Said Ichigo as he took Miyako away without saying anything else, leaving the "family" alone.
"Hey, Ai. Don't you want to go out for a while?" Porposed Ryuga.
"Go out for a while...?" Ai asked doubtfully. "I don't know. Hmm..."
"I'll take you out to eat wherever you like, it's Mother's Day, isn't it? And I'd like to give you a present." Ryuga said.
"Ohh... Have you seen the kids? Daddy wants to earn his place in bed. Hmm ~ Should I accept? Because I want my cheeseburgers with extra cheese. Héhéhéhé." Said Ai to her children.
"Ai will enjoy it..." Aqua thought.
"Goodbye daddy's wallet." Ruby thought.
"Just because it's your day. okay?" Ryuga nodded.
"Yes!" She exclaimed happily.
Ryuga went outside to talk to Miyako, telling her to take care of the babies while they both went out to buy something at a fast food restaurant. Ichigo told them to be extra careful. Ai was like a little girl with Ryuga jumping around until she got to the car. The journey to the hamburger joint was quite exciting.
Ryuga managed to order a menu for Ai without attracting too much attention. To achieve this feat, he had promised to reveal to her one day the contents of the black box he'd brought with most of his belongings when he moved in with her. Of course, he was going to do it as late as possible.
They managed to get out of there without attracting too much attention, so before Ryuga could give her her food, Ai was already sitting in the passenger seat.
"Land regained!" She said, raising her arms in victory.
"You're really not afraid of being seen with me in my car, are you?" Ryuga sighed.
"Afraid? Naan, don't worry, you're not that ugly. Hahaha." Ai joked.
"That's not what I meant, Ai... But okay. As long as I say I'm your bodyguard, which is true, we won't have a problem." Says Ryuga.
"Can I eat my hamburger?" Ai asked.
"You're not eating in the car!" Ryuga scolded.
He didn't want his car to get dirty... Well, he didn't want it cleaned, mostly.
"Oh..." Ai said disappointedly.
"Hey, don't make that face. We'll be home in no time." Ryuga said, ruffling his hair.
"Ah." She said, her smile returning quickly.
Ryuga drove home, Ai could be seen drooling as she looked at the bag of hamburgers, Ryuga did his best not to laugh at her.
A few years later, the babies weren't "babies" anymore. Now they'd grown up, but their memories hadn't changed, they were still themselves. Only now, it was more normal to see them "talking" and they could talk calmly.
In the living room, Ai was reading a book, when Ruby appeared super excited.
"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! When's Daddy coming? Uh, I want to see him now! He told me that if I listened to you for two days, he'd give me lots of candy." Said Ruby.
"Hahaha, you made a deal like that again? Wow... Don't worry, Ryuga's coming soon. He just has to run a few errands before he comes home." Ai explained.
"Awww~ Hug me then! Then I'll control myself, Mommy!" Said the little girl.
"Hehehe, okay, okay..." Said Ai before starting to hug her daughter, Aqua was watching her and seemed a little jealous.
"Awwwwww~ I'm over the moon...~" Ruby gloated.
"Where did you learn that complicated expression? Did you... ? " Idol asked, giving her daughter a suspicious look.
Both children looked surprised and alert as Ruby searched for an excuse.
"E-euh... C-IT'S DAD !" She said, yelling nervously.
"Ryuga taught you that?" She said surprised. "Wow, I didn't know he was good at teaching you to talk, that explains a lot..."
Her reaction seemed to reassure the children.
"The one they've been wishing for is here." Says Ryuga, finally coming home.
A super-excited Ruby goes over to him and hugs him, Ryuga almost falls over and she manages to climb up her stepfather's leg and climbs onto his shoulder.
"I listened to Mom!" She says proudly.
"Not bad, kid. I'll give you the candy when we've had lunch." He says.
"Yes!" Said the little girl, happily.
Aqua glanced through the door, watching this scene, he couldn't help but think of something that won his curiosity, and it was about his real "father" in this new life. He knew that a third party didn't look after children. And that Ryuga had accepted this enormous responsibility and that Ruby now loved him completely. So without worrying too much, Aqua approached her father-in-law and lightly tugged at part of his pants.
"Huh? Oh hi Aqua. I'm sorry, I didn't see you earlier, your sister seems to arrive first as always." Ryuga smiled.
" ... Can I ask you something? Something between us, 'Dad'." Aqua asked.
"Something private, eh? I'm so glad you trust me, Aqua... Ai, Aqua and I are going into the bedroom, we're going to play with the toys!" Said the young step-parent.
"Sure, go ahead!" Said Ai from another room.
"Oh! Can I play, Daddy? COME ON SAY YES!" Ruby asked.
"Sorry, Ruby. You can't, it's a uh... secret game, you know?" Ryuga said.
Aqua said nothing and went with her "dad" into the bedroom. Aqua closed the door and Ryuga sat up in bed, smiling.
"I know who you are Ryuga... You're not my real father, I've been told that "stepfather" is when your son isn't biological, so I'm not your real son... I'd like to meet my real father, Ryuga ... Please. I... really want to meet him." Aqua confessed.
" ... Do you know? I was hoping you'd say something more childish, like you broke something, oh you got in trouble. I didn't expect that from you. Listen, Aqua. Someone else may be your father, but I'm the one who raised you. I'm sorry you have to find out, it fills me with pride to see how smart you are despite your age. I don't know who your father is, but I assure you that when I do, I'll tell you. He and your mother broke up, so don't tell him. But if you tell him I'll be angry. Okay?" Ryuga asked with a smile.
"I expected that answer, because when I took him in, he was distant and cold to everyone. But he's become a compassionate person and a good father... I don't really know what to say. Maybe... being his son isn't as bad as it seems." Aqua thought.
Well, after that fall, things changed a bit. Idol Ai managed to get one job or another to support her children, Ryuga gave Ai some of his money for the babies, and in one of these, they went to a movie location. Ai would make a small appearance in a film and Ryuga would carry her as he normally would but...
"This is exciting! We'll get to see Mom and Dad work!" Ruby said.
"Kids, you may have convinced me to bring you, but I want you to behave and not call Ai, 'Mommy'. Otherwise they'll get into trouble, nothing will happen with me, you can call me as usual. And I'll explain to them that you're the children of a close relative and that you think of me as your father." Ryuga said.
"Yes, Daddy Ryuga!" Ruby exclaimed happily.
Arriving at the location, Ai properly introduces herself to the film's director.
"I'm Ai from Strawberry Productions, it's a pleasure to work with you." Said Ai.
The director seemed to look at Ai as he approached her with arms crossed.
"I... did I do something wrong?" She asked
"That guy's scary." Ruby whispered to her brother.
"Yes, he looks like a squashed cat." Aqua said to her sister.
"And those kids? Who are they from?" Asked the director.
"I-they're from my cousin, he asked me to look after them because they're organizing my grandfather's party. Hehehehe." Ryuga laughed nervously.
"How can a bodyguard bring crying children to a film location?"
"Isn't it 'bring your nephews to work' day?!" Said Ryuga, quickly coming up with an excuse.
" ... Mmm. Okay. Make sure they don't mess up my takes, or it'll cost you dearly and I'll remove Ai from the set."
"Y-yes sir." Ryuga nodded nervously, worried about Ai if it all went wrong.
The director left and they sighed deeply in peace, almost discovered.
"I'm off, Ryuga. Wish me luck!" Said Ai as she left to play her part in the film, leaving the family behind.
The children were hugged and kissed by people dying with tenderness at the sight of them, while Ryuga had a double job. Well, he had to be mindful of Ai's safety and also make sure the kids didn't cry and make a scene.
It was really heavy, without Miyako to share the attention it was really tiring. Ai finished her lines, of which there were quite a few, and Ryuga was already longing to close his eyes and fall asleep.
At the end of the day, they went home, the channel-exclusive movie came out and the kids managed to convince Ryuga to watch it all together.
"Here's the scene!" Said Ruby as she held up a bowl of popcorn.
"Mm... I hope everything went well." Said Aqua.
"Hi! Long time no see."
"That's true, it's good to see you here."
…
…
The Cameo se Ai was so short that it didn't last a minute, children seeing it were quite disappointed. So, with the scene cut, Ai no longer appeared in the film.
"C-THAT'S IT?!" Ruby said.
"THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE!" Said Aqua.
Ruby and Aqua approached their sleeping father and grabbed his shirt.
"Daddy! Do something! They disrespected mommy!" Ruby shouted.
"Do something Ryuga!" Aqua shouted back.
"Mmm... Leave Daddy alone, kids. He's super tired, I can't rest today..." Said Ai.
Ryuga was already on his seventh dream, so he hadn't even felt his shirt being pulled. Aqua disappeared from the scene and Ruby had better leave the room. She didn't think the film was worth seeing, so she left the adults alone. Ai took a deep breath and looked at Ryuga. A thought that had been running through her head for years couldn't be avoided.
Had she made the right decision? She had asked Ryuga to look after her and her babies, but she hadn't asked him if he really wanted to. Ryuga was always there to help her look after the babies and make sure she didn't want for anything, it was as if Ryuga really was her husband and the father of her children. She could only smile. She knew that "to love" was to lie.
She was afraid of falling in love with Ryuga and lying to him. That her life would be a lie with him. She hadn't said "I love you" to her children in years, nor told Ryuga she loved him. Ai got up from the sofa and walked over to Ryuga to wake him up and make him go to their separate room. And had to stop. Ryuga did so much now by taking care of everyone tirelessly, she couldn't take that away from him.
Then Ai had an idea.
She went quickly to her room and grabbed a sheet. She took advantage of the fact that the sofa was big enough for them to sleep together. She was curious about this, so Ai, blushing a little, went over and slept next to Ryuga. With the same smile as the first time her children came to one of her concerts... It's a real smile. The children returned and looked at their parents, stopping dead in their tracks.
"Wow. That's the first time I've seen them sleep together." Aqua said.
"Awwwwww... They're so cute! I always knew Dad was the best choice for Mom!" Said Ruby in a loud voice.
"Shut up, you'll wake them up."
"Oops!... Now what?"
"What's not obvious? It's bedtime, Mom gave us permission to spend their bedtime just to see this movie." Aqua replied.
"Ok, let's go to sleep then... I'll sleep in your bed!"
"Noooo!"
Ai's children ran to their room, and Ai and Ryuga slept peacefully.
Somewhere in a small town, Ryuga was with the children of a "distant" relative. According to the call he received and Aqua's words after a "beautiful awakening". This director wanted Aqua in a film, in exchange for giving Ai roles. Ryuga would only take part to look after the children. Ai was in her little house, very sleepy considering it was Sunday morning.
Ruby, for her part, would be asleep with Ai. But she had insisted on coming to see her brother's shoot. Besides, she wanted to share some quality time with her father. The director looked in Ryuga's direction as he arrived with the children and approached them.
"Hello, I'm glad you've accepted my proposal." He said.
"It took me by surprise, he didn't even warn me of anything. But the parents accepted it, Monsieur... uh?" Ryuga said.
"Oh, that's right. I didn't introduce myself when we met. My name is Taishi Gotanda, Ryuga." Introduced the director.
"With pleasure, Mr. Taishi." Said Ryuga.
"Well... I'm still taking the early baby, it's time for him to read a few lines. Would you like to join us? Sure, if the girl doesn't cause any trouble. You know, with filming, half a mistake, and we have to redo the whole take." Taichi explained.
"Don't worry, Ruby's a well-behaved girl. She doesn't throw tantrums, I raised her that way when her parents didn't have time for them."
"Seriously? Wow, you're a part-time dad too... My respects, now let's go." Said a surprised Taichi, before leading them into a private room to finish Aqua's preparations.
Ryuga had a script in his hands and was reading some of Aqua's lines to see if the child could read them.
"Well, I don't see any swear words or anything out of place. You can read it serenely." He said.
"I don't understand, what does this have to do with me saying bad words, Ryuga? It's normal." Said Aqua.
"Aquamarine Hoshino." Said Ryuga earnestly.
"Shit! He said my full name..." Aqua thought, nervously swallowing her saliva. "Y-yes?"
"Tell me, how do you expect people to remember you? Like a kid with a big mouth who swears for the rest of his life? Oh, would you rather be remembered as a great person with a big heart? Words don't matter. You, as your mother's son, need to be educated. Do you really want your mother to hear you say those words? I may have said them, or I'll say them there, but I'll never say rude things for money." Ryuga explained.
" ... Y-yes... I understand..." Aqua said, lowering her eyes. "Shit, now I feel bad for always saying 'Shit' in my head..." he thought.
"Hahahaha! I'm scolding you!" Ruby giggled.
"And you, young lady." Said foster father.
"O-YES BOSS?!" She said nervously.
"Don't bother your brother with his lines, okay?" Ryuga smiled.
"Y-YES!" The little girl nodded.
"Let's go, Ruby. I'll buy you something to eat." He said.
"Yeah!" She exclaimed happily.
"Hahaha, wait for me here. I'm going to find Mr. Taishi to tell him I accept your brother's lines."
Ryuga left the stage, Ruby for her part said goodbye to her father with a mischievous smile, and Aqua decided to turn her attention to the script. Ruby quickly became bored. And Ryuga had left 2 minutes ago. Because of her boredom, she started playing with the unused outfits in the private room. Then, out of nowhere, a girl appeared. Apparently, she was almost the same age as Ruby and Aqua.
"You!" exclaimed the red-haired girl in white clothes with a script in her hand.
The two brothers had no idea who she was referring to. The red-haired girl approaches Aqua.
"I'm Kana Arima. And I'm part of the film."
"Mmm... Wait...You're not...?..." Ruby says before remembering how she heard about Kana. "Oh! I remember. You're the dolt who licks dabs.
"NO! I'M THE PRODIGY WHO CRIES ON DEMAND!" Says Kana, very offended at not being recognized. "The world is impressed by my talent! They're very surprised that I'm able to do this."
"Little brother, that girl pisses me off." Ruby whispered.
"What did Ryuga say about those little words?!" Aqua whispered.
"You." Said Kana, pointing at Aqua. "I know you've been recruited. Neither you nor the singer are in the first script. My mom said the director insisted. Well, that's not fair. She was in his last TV movie, but we barely saw her. They probably cut her scenes because she sucked. Her talents stop at shoe-shining."
Kana's criticism of their mother began to irritate the twins, but they restrained themselves.
Kana looked out of the room and saw Ryuga arrive, and she mistook him for a production assistant and coldly asked him to bring her bag. Ryuga said he wasn't part of the staff and was only accompanying another actor. She apologized to him, wished him good morning with a tender smile and left. Ryuga finally returned to the little blonde heads.
"OK, I'm talking, I'm talking and haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !" He said before shouting, frightened as he looked at the Hoshino twins.
"I want to kill her..." Ruby thought.
"SHE DESERVES TO DIE... SHE'S SAVED JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A GIRL..." Aqua thought.
"T-the children?..." Ryuga said, bringing
"Er... ? Ryuga!" Said she before realizing the presence of their adoptive father.
What?" said Ryuga. Oh. Hello, Ryuga. I'll start reading the lines right away." Aqua said.
A little later, Aqua managed to memorize her lines and with Kana, they took action. While Ryuga held Ruby in his arms, carrying her.
"My brother's going to stress with THAT by his side..." Ruby commented, casting a thousand curses on Kana in her head.
"What are you saying? ... Wait..." Ryuga said before grinning like a fool. "Aqua loves her?!"
"What? N... " Ruby said, trying to refute her father's deduction.
"Wow, Ruby. Thanks for telling me. I'm going to teach your brother how to approach a girl. The girl's cute, when she grows up she'll be a good partner, I need to teach your brother how to flirt so that when they're 15 or 16, they'll be dating." He says.
Ruby is shocked. The last thing he wants for his new life is for THIS girl to be part of his life. And counting on Ryuga when he suggests things he's capable of achieving. Ruby fears that her lineage will align with Kana's.
"God, I don't ask you for anything except for my mother to pamper me but... KANA MUST NOT BE PART OF THE FAMILY! PLEASE !" Ruby prayed, clasping her hands together.
Ryuga looked proudly at Aqua as he stood next to Kana acting together. Kana gave a normal performance for everyone and good for the director. But... Aqua... OH AQUA! He was just talking as usual, but in Taishi's eyes. Aqua was frightening in herself. The actress was scared to death, Kana turned around. And Aqua... He smiled devilishly as he spoke his lines.
"Aqua's not acting, has he become nervous?" Ryuga thought.
"How boring, we didn't even go and eat something." Ruby thought.
"It was fantastic, thanks for bringing it." Congratulated the director.
"It's nothing, his parents wanted him to be... more active? Yeah! More active!" Ryuga laughed nervously.
Taishi's pants were suddenly pulled down, when he looked down he could see it was Kana.
"Is something wrong, Kana?" He asked.
"Yes... We need to redo the scene. There's a problem." She said.
"What are you talking about? It was good, we were lucky to get it right in one take. We don't have time anyway. There's no problem." Taishi replied.
"IF THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM!"
Everyone fell silent, Kana was really starting to cry. Ryuga watched this and it made his heart ache, so he pushed Ruby aside and walked over to Kana.
"Daddy?" Ruby whispered, confused.
Ryuga walks over to Kana and crouches down to her level.
"Hey, hey, hey. What's going on here? Why is there trouble?" He asked.
"I-it was my performance!"
Like an instinct, Kana inadvertently grabbed Ryuga's arm. Oh maybe it was shame because she was crying for real.
Someone went to Kana to take her away and calm her down a bit, but Ryuga waved them away. As Ryuga took Kana in his arms and wiped away her tears, the bodyguard looked at the girl with a smile.
"Hey, take it easy, kid. We're not all perfect. And we don't need to prove it. You're Kana Arima, aren't you? You're a little actress who makes a difference by crying on demand, you've got experience. Don't cry, okay. You'll get better. Can I buy you something? It would be nice if you'd calm down a bit so as not to upset the old director." Says Ryuga, laughing a little at Taishi's frown.
Little by little, Kana began to calm down, and together with a woman and another guy, they took Kana to another place to calm her down. Ruby was speechless and Aqua approached her.
"He left us for that kid who offended Ai?" Aqua said.
" ... If I kill her, will I go to jail...? I WON'T LET HER OFFEND MAMA AI AND TAKE TO PA... I WANT TO SAY UNCLE RYUGA!" growled Ruby, like an old dog.
"If I remember correctly, Ai and Ryuga took turns looking after us. Why are you more jealous of Ryuga? ... Oh, that's true. When it comes to love and cuddles, Ruby has more. I don't mind, I share Ryuga's tastes." Aqua thought before sighing. "Let's go now, Ruby."
Aqua managed to pick up a super-angry Ruby.
In the distance, Ryuga held Kana with one arm and gave her a strawberry sundae with the other. Kana, in tears, ate it, and those with Ryuga tried to calm her down with him. At the end of the day, Kana left without really thanking him.
That night, Kana searched for Ryuga's name to find out more about him. But she found nothing. All she knew about him was what she learned at the filming location. That he was Aqua's uncle. That child who stole her day.
" ... Aqua... I won't forget. Next time, I won't lose." She said.
A full week had passed since that conversation, Ryuga seemingly not keeping his promise. But when Saturday came and Ruby was training alone with a sad face around 3am. After several attempts, she fell on her face. She couldn't do it, she felt like crying right there...
But.
Something.
Happened.
"Hey, why didn't you ask me?" Ai smiled as she entered the room. "Can I help you?"
"M-mom? What are you doing here?" Ruby asked, sobbing a little.
"Didn't Dad tell you?" Ai asked as she helped Ruby to her feet. "I'm going to help you dance. I'm sorry I didn't take the time to start earlier, I was very busy. Shall we begin?"
"Y-yes, Mom..." Ruby replied, wiping away her tears. "B-but... Could we dance to one of your songs? Please..."
"Okay, I have to rehearse our old songs for the next concert. Hahaha." Ai laughed.
Mother and daughter laughed together and Ruby turned on the music. Thanks to Ruby's incredible memory, she knew how her mother's movements should be performed. Ai, for her part, explained that she shouldn't lift one leg too much and leave the other on the ground so as not to fall.
"Sorry, Mom. It's just that I always fall, I'm sorry." Ruby said.
"Oh, Ruby. The more you're afraid of falling, the more you'll fall. You mustn't lose hope, don't be afraid." Said Ai, helping her daughter to her feet. "Mommy's with you, okay? And I won't let you hurt yourself by falling. I won't allow that."
"Thanks Mom!"
They were, in such a deep mother-daughter. Ruby was falling. But Ai was ready to catch her and give her a push to keep dancing. It was magical, and they were smiling with happiness. And they were only there for a few hours. By 5 a.m., Ruby had managed to dance like a professional with her mother. What they didn't know was that Aqua and Ryuga were watching them from the doorway. Ryuga smiled fondly at this moment of happiness and Aqua seemed to be thinking of something.
In a subway station at 7 a.m., Ai was dressed modestly so as not to be recognizable to the naked eye; she was alone.
Well, she left without telling anyone, taking advantage of the fact that everyone was asleep. She was in a phone booth talking to someone.
"Yes. Hello... " She said into the phone. "Why did I call you? I just wanted to tell you that our children have grown up a lot. Do you want to meet them? ... No, I'm not asking you to come back... I've met someone... Yes, he looks after the children as if they were his own. He takes really good care of them... Who is he? I can't tell you... Is there another reason why I called you? Easy, just listen to our kids talk about their real father. It amazes me how smart they are. My current partner says that when the time comes, he'll tell her everything... Our address? Yes, of course, you'll see. We now live in..."
At 8 p.m., Ryuga, Ai, Ichigo, Miyako and the children were in an apartment. Ai had Ruby and a drunken Ichigo had Aqua.
"WOUHOUUUUUU! Let's celebrate that we've won so many jobs! Hahaha!" Said Ichigo.
"Don't boil so much! Can't you see the example you're setting for the kids? Have some respect, Ai and Ryuga are barely 20." Miyako reproached.
"Hahaha! Come on, Ryuga!" Said Ichigo.
"Me? I can't, sir. I'm cooking dinner."
"That's bullshit, drink with us, forget that pig. Hahaha! LONG LIVE MY AGENCY WE'RE GOING TO THE TOKYO DOME!" Says he, raising his beer.
"Is it that important?" Ryuga asked.
"He's always wanted a band he looks after to go on stage at the dome one day, and as Ai has done, he's in a super good mood. For you, I suppose it would be like your salary going up even more." Miyako explained.
"Wow, I'm happy for him..." Ryuga said, inwardly wondering why his salary was used as an example.
Ryuga finished dinner and served the meat to everyone, it was a delicious dinner that everyone shared. Now there was nothing to do but laugh, drink and watch Ai's movies. The Hoshino siblings fell asleep and the adults, well. They drank and talked until dawn. When it was 4 a.m., Ryuga warned that they were leaving. Miyako wished them good luck on their way home.
Climbing into the car, they left the brothers behind and Ai went with Ryuga to the front.
"Thanks for everything, Ryuga." Ai smiled.
"Did you drink too much or something? You don't have to thank me for anything. I really like you. You gave me a real sense of purpose after my adoptive father died," said Ryuga. Says Ryuga. "There's something I'd like you to know, but I want to wait for the right moment to tell you. So, thank you for including me in your life. In your family. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Ai blushed a little at this statement.
"Ryuga, can I tell you something?" She asked.
"What is it?"
" ... I think I... love you." The idol confessed.
"You... love me?... Wow, Ai... Wow, how did this happen? I'm just your bodyguard and we tell each other this. But I think I know the right words, Ai."
"Which ones, Ryuga?... I want to know." Says Ai.
"Ai Hoshino, I love you too."
They looked at each other smiling, their faces reddening. They moved closer to kiss. A kiss that brought them closer together, it was only the need for air that caused them to part. Neither of them said anything, and Ryuga started the car. And they drive home with an awkward smile.
In the early evening at the Hoshino house, Aqua was with Ruby, who seemed overexcited.
"Aren't you bored, Ruby? That's the seventh time you've jumped on the sofa." Aqua said.
"Hehehehe, I can't help it! Dad's joining us today to hone my steps and show us the dance he knows! Would you like to join us?" She says.
"Meh, I won't even. Honestly, Ryuga surprises me by wanting to dance come with you with you.
"Ohhh ~ Don't be jealous, Aqua. Hahaha." Ruby joked.
"Hey, I'm not jealous, the one who's really jealous around here is Ryuga. Remember that moment in your room?"
"Oh yeah, I remember. Dad got jealous with a boy who tried to invite me to his house for cake." She said, blushing. "But I won't avoid thinking he was cute."
"Do you like this boy?" Aqua asked, looking at her sister in surprise.
"N-NO!" She exclaimed.
"Oh, I know what to tell Dad." Aqua smiled.
"Don't!" Ruby exclaimed.
Then the doorbell rang.
"It's Daddy! I'll get the door! Ruby said.
"I'll get it, don't worry." Ai exclaimed from a distance.
Ai ran happily to the door, but stopped when she saw a hooded boy with a bouquet of white flowers. Ai froze as a handkerchief was placed over his mouth...
For his part, Ryuga was with Ichigo and had just revealed what is surely his greatest secret.
"Wow... If that and your relationship with Ai got out. I'm sure the whole country would be turned upside down." Says Ichigo.
"Yeah... that's why I'm going to keep it to a minimum. And considering the efforts you've made to conceal Ai's pregnancy, I know I can trust you to keep it a secret." Ryuga said.
"All right." Ichigo sighed, earning a smile of gratitude from Ryuga. "Otherwise regarding your job, you'll have to be even closer to her at live concerts and rehearsals. Agreed."
Ryuga nodded as his phone rang, and when he looked to see who was calling, he saw that it was "Ruby". He answered with a smile but.
"PAPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! HELP US, PLEASE! COME QUICKLY !"
The call was cut off, Ryuga's heart froze, Ichigo heard him as Ryuga's voice was loud. Ichigo told Ryuga to go quickly and he did the same. Ryuga had never run so fast with worry. He got to the car and drove without a care in the world.
He arrived at the Hoshino family house, almost running over the car, and saw that the door was open. Looking inside, he found... Nothing?!
Ryuga was more worried now. He began to look around the house. Everything was destroyed, Ryuga felt the worst for himself.
WHERE WERE AI AND THE CHILDREN?!
WHERE WERE THEY?!
Ryuga heard something ringing in his room, and when he went in he heard it was from his box...
He opened it and took out a black and silver telephone that looked like a cross between a telephone from the year 2000 and a smartphone.
He picked up the incoming call and a man's voice was heard.
"I sent you where to find me. I hope you're ready to die. It would be a shame if anything happened to your little family." Said the man on the phone before hanging up.
Ryuga said nothing, just looked at the GPS position sent to him. He took two more items from the box and left the house, without locking it first. Ichigo arrived and was worried.
"What happened, Ryuga?" he asked.
"They've been kidnapped. The kidnapper sent me a rendezvous point. I'll send it to you and contact the police and pray they get there before I do."
"Why?" Ichigo asked.
In reply Ryuga turned and Ichigo felt as if he could see the 9-tailed fox demon himself in his eyes.
"Because there's little chance of the person who kidnapped them getting away with it if I get there first."
After that, he continued on his way and Ichigo entered the house to see the damage before calling the police.
A little later, in an unsanitary building, Ai, Aqua and Ruby had just woken up and were huddling together. Doing their best to endure the panic. Ai held her children tightly, forcing them to look at her as she told them everything would be all right.
"Shut up!" shouted the man who had kidnapped them, accompanied by four people wearing black suits with strange belts and black helmets with dark red eyes. "Everything's not going to be okay for you, you liar!"
"Mommy, I'm scared..." Ruby sobbed.
"I told you to shut up! When that brat's father arrives, I'll kill him like I killed that doctor you went to see, and then it'll be your turn, Ai! You'll suffer like we suffer for your lies." Said the man as those with him seemed to exchange glances as Ruby's eyes widened.
"So he's the one who killed me..." he thought.
Ai was about to speak to the man when footsteps echoed from the room's entrance.
All eyes turned in the direction of the noise. The echo made the footsteps seem sinister, as if an unstoppable threat were approaching them.
Then, finally, a man wearing a black jumpsuit similar to the one holding the Hoshinos hostage entered.
But this suit also had imposing black armor with a cyan-blue motif, its helmet resembled a negative version of a traditional fox mask with violet eyes, and a hood formed by 9 pieces of tissue representing the tails of the fox demon hung from its endowment. At his waist was a belt that appeared to represent a negative version of said demon.
The four people in the suit recoiled in fear at the sight of the newcomer, while the Hoshino tightened their grip.
"X-Geats..." Said one of the people in the suit with fear.
"Do you think he's their leader?" Aqua asked her mother and sister without getting an answer.
"Why are you afraid of him? Remember what your boss said! You're under my command as long as Ryuga isn't dead! Then kill him!" shouted the man, offering Aqua an answer.
The quartet sat back and prepared to attack their adversary. But X-Geats flew past them so fast that he was invisible to the naked eye until he arrived in front of the Hoshino family, while the men's cominations disappeared, revealing a variety of people who seemed to have come from the four corners of the city.
"Without this, you're no longer Kamen Rider..." Said Geats, holding up the black objects at the center of the men's belts.
His voice was very recognizable to the Hoshino family.
"Ryuga/Papa..."
The latter ended up squeezing the four objects so tightly that they cracked and the men disappeared.
Retired!
X-Geats then approached the man responsible for kidnapping the family. And with a move as swift as it was powerful, he broke the man's leg so hard that a bone protruded from it.
The man screamed in pain, but was then slammed against a wall.
"You'd better not be lying to me..." Said X-Geats as he removed the items from the belt with his free hand, making his armor disappear to reveal a furious Ryuga. "Who gave you our address?"
The man was scared to death. Ryuga was supposed to die when he got here, killed by those he'd just eliminated. But instead, he stood in a position of strength over him.
"Ryuga!" Ai said, drawing his attention. "He... he killed Doctor Amamiya."
This revelation angered Ryuga even more, and he began to hold the man by the neck and squeeze.
"You tried to kill me... You killed my adoptive father... and now you're trying to take my family away from me... you'd better answer my question before I crush your windpipe..." Ryuga mocked one last time as his anger surprised the Hoshino family, especially Aqua.
"Hikaru... Kamiki..." The man finally replied, trying to put on as much air as possible.
His answer left Ai shocked as the children tried to figure out who he was talking about.
Sensing that he was telling the truth, Ryuga released the man, but it was unfortunately for him that the police arrived on the scene.
The family was evacuated and, with Ichigo's help, the case was solved with the kidnapping of Ai and two innocent children whose heroic uncle ran to save them.
The kidnapper was arrested and, thanks to the family's testimony, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Hikaru Kamiki. But he had simply disappeared.
The family returned home, but on Ichigo's advice, they were forced to move out in the following days.
Late that night, as the children slept, Ai lay on the sofa in Ryuga's arms.
"I can't believe he did that..." She said, looking down at her lap.
"He's their father, isn't he?" Ryuga asked, to which Ai nodded silently.
"I had told him where we live so he could see the children one day..." Ai said before starting to cry. "And because of that, the children were put in danger... It's my fault."
"No, it's not." Ryuga replied, tightening his grip. "That bastard wanted to hurt you. And he managed to get that bastard some Guard Rider."
"Guard Rider?"
"They're Desire Grand Prix employees who, back in the day, made sure the participants followed the rules." Ryuga explained.
"The Desire Grand Prix? What are you talking about?" Ai asked.
"I'll explain everything. But first, I need to tell you something." Ryuga said.
"My real name. My birth name is..."
"Ryuga… Ukiyo…"
