CHAPTER 111

I do not own Skip Beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.

~~Magical Summer trip ~~

~~ part 16~~

~~A Long-Awaited Reunion~~

~~3rd~~

They hadn't dared to push their luck when their son had backtracked to go look for his friend and had chosen to give them some time, and waited for them. Also, they were just too overjoyed, right now. Kuu still couldn't believe it. Kuon was here! Kuon was here, their son was here, and he had made them the surprise of stopping by! And he was here! After all these years. They would do whatever he wanted but, please, let that moment last.

"I can't believe it, Kuu… After all this time…"Julie said by his side, and he could see the tears coming back at the rim of her beautiful eyes. Her pained yet oh-so-relieved face streaked by the marks of the last tears she had shed a couple of minutes ago. But this time, there was also joy, immense joy, in that pained smile. He hugged her. She was a mum that had been deprived of her son for so long. They both had been. He could not even describe the tingling feeling of relief and joy he felt at the moment.

"I know. I can't quite still believe it either…"

His own emotions were not far behind. They had known they would have to wait for as long as their son would need when they accepted not contacting him, and they had already been besides themselves when they had been able to talk to him by mail, and the occasional call, once more. He had told them he wasn't fully ready to say the truth. Yet this…

This was the happiest Kuu had felt in years. The most wonderful present he could have ever asked for. A moment with him.

When their son eventually came back, a few minutes later – lord was it awesome to be able to think that, their son was back, was here! – he was pulling someone by the hand.

"Kuu, it is a woman. It is a woman. He brought a woman here."Said Julie all of sudden and he had to smile at the tone instantly suspicious, joyful, and full of expectations and unsaid things in his wife's voice. "Kuu, who is she? Do you know who she is?"She asked eagerly. He was about to reply he didn't, when – sure enough – after a moment of wonder when he looked closely, and despite how much that person changed and how much she was currently trying to subdue her presence – , he recognized her.

Though he could barely believe how different she looked. Again. She had taken even more centimetres from the last time he had seen her, and her spur growth had already been massive. Her hair had lengthened impressively too. She was a fully grown young woman. The most comforting for him, however – besides the fact of what their son bringing her could possibly mean – , was that, there were a lot less ghosts in her eyes. Much less sorrow. She appeared surer of her steps and calmer. A lot more stable than the person he had met who had worried him to no end, with how much pain he had perceived in her eyes, years ago, on that balcony.

Despite how shy she was behaving in approaching them- which was quite funny too – , he could see a brief emotion couldn't erase the air of ease and maturity he now felt from her.

"I know her, yes."

Julie looked at him with a surprise that was immediately replaced by impatience, when he didn't say anything more.

Kuu grinned in her direction, before pointing with his chin at the two closing figures.

"I told you about her, remember."

Julie's eyes enlarged before her face loaded itself with joy and wonder.

"You don't mean – "

He chuckled and nodded.

"It's Kyoko."

His wife was looking between him and their approaching forms with so much excitement he thought she would jump on the spot.

"Do you think that – ?"

But she didn't finish her phrase because now, they were here. It didn't matter. Kuu could guess her question and its whatnot, and so much more of what she could be wondering. He didn't know any of the responses to all of that. But he sure hoped they would get a few soon. And he prayed some would have positive answers.

But whatever it would be, for once in so long, he felt hope fill his heart fully.

§§§

He was pulling her. Pulling her, pulling her as they walked back into the courtyard. Pulling her as they stepped on the smooth gravel path leading to his childhood house. And the closer they got, the closer his parents – discussing and waiting for them over there – became.

His huge fingers held her hand, warm and firm against hers, secured and preventing her to go anywhere, and she wanted to flee. She felt terrified, suddenly, of how much she shouldn't be there. Of how much she would be a bother for his parents. For Ren. Of how much she could be – would be– in the way.

I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't be here.

And the closer they got, the closer she came to see his parents' face -in this seemingly innocent wind breezing upon them – the more she wanted to disappear. To get invisible.

She wanted to hide, hide and run, and poof, be nowhere to be found. Leaving Ren to his long-awaited visit to his parents and stay away from the home, family and meeting she had no room setting foot into.

It was his family, his home, his parents. She had no place being here, she just wanted Ren to be happy with his parents again, for him to be able to talk and see them again. It was the only thing keeping her moving forward, as slowly as she was doing so. She didn't even know what having a family was. I should not be here. As if she could help. Her eyes kept looking for an escape route despite themselves. She had never felt so uncomfortable. Yet, Ren's hand kept her anchored and near him, and pushed her to walk the next step. He teased her and she did her best to joke and grimaced at him, knowing her behaviour was obvious.

She had never felt so small and so less brave. She wanted to hide, where could she hide? But the giant garden and yard left plenty of open space and nowhere to go where you could disappear. And this big hand of his holding her sweating palm kept her near him, rubbing circles on her knuckles.

And then, all of sudden, they were only metres away from them. Kyoko softly slid herself behind Ren's shape, unable to help her instinctive urge and movement as she half-hid behind his back. She tried to not make it too obvious and hoped to blend into the background. She imagined herself as a tree, and wished their greeting would be formality and that they would be too busy with their son to really notice her.

Unfortunately, Ren pulled her forward and in front of his parents, and letting go of her hand, he placed himself behind her back, preventing any retreat.

"I brought back my runaway friend."He said happily and she grimaced looking up and close to his parents, for the first time since they came inside the yard.

"H-hi," she hesitantly said, looking down humbly rather than properly looking at them, "I'm sorry, I just didn't want to bother all of you and thought you would prefer some intimacy and – "

But then she met the face of what she could only guess was Ren's mother and she stopped speaking.

The light magically shiny-white-blond locks cascaded down around the sophisticated face and drop-dead magnificent tall figure of a woman, that looked both fragile and scarily strong, and was sheathed in a high-class superbly cut dress. Soft but wary green eyes met Kyoko's gaze as the latter admired how otherworldly beautiful and gracious Ren's mother was. She looked so ethereal, she couldn't fathom her being around the age she might have, being a mother and all. She didn't have any wrinkle, any signs indicator of years passed. Only her eyes seemed to display a wisdom only acquired through time and experiences.

A musical voice came then as Juliana Hizuri said 'hi', and before she could help herself, Kyoko breathed out her thought.

"… Fairy Queen."

Ren's mother blinked, confused. On her side, Ren throttle could be heard as he laughed into his fist.

That made Kyoko snapped back from her daze, and ignoring the snorts by her side, she cleared her throat.

When Ren was done laughing, he introduced her to his parents.

"Dad, you already know her," – his dad nodded though he looked in amazement in her direction and Kyoko wondered if she had changed that much since the last time they had seen each other – "but mum, this is Kyoko."He continued. "Kyoko, this is my mother, Juliana Hizuri."

She bowed to both of them.

"Nice to meet you, Hizuri-san, "she said politely after her bow, before turning to Kuu, "Nice to meet you again Kuu-san."

Kuu grinned at her.

"I barely recognized you again, Kyoko-chan." She laughed a bit.

"It's the hair, isn't it?"

"That's part of it, indeed."Kuu joked, snorting.

Kyoko took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry to impose on you. I know you might have preferred to meet your son on your own and – "

Ren pinched her side.

"I was the one to ask you."

"Even so!" She snarled at him a bit, rubbing her right side.

"Well, I can't speak for Julie, but I personally don't mind," Kuu intervened. The openness and warmth of his expression showed no sign of guard or annoyance. She relaxed a little.

"You are the main reason I was able to come before revealing everything, anyway. So, it is only right."Ren added and she pivoted to him in a whirl.

"What are you sprouting?!"She whispered with alarm. She was not going to let him drop the result of all his efforts on her, as if she was the reason of it or whatever. His parents deserved to know how much it took for him to finally able to come here. And he should damn know it too.

"The truth," he replied in the same volume but the picture of happiness and gratefulness, plastered glowing on his face.

"What do you mean, Kuon?"Asked his mother and her son switched back to his parents.

"She has helped me through a lot," his words and his face had the rippling portrayal of a relief – long overdue – that happened in the past. The new lightness of a wound eventually recovering, present in his gaze. His smile to his parents held the reassurance any daughter, any son, wanted to be able to give to parents that had feared for their child. 'It's okay, now. It would be okay.'

The grace of his smile silenced them, and distracted from what he was saying, Kyoko felt joy flood her heart at the sight. Sometimes, she found herself quite close to forgetting, what him, being here, saying those words, meant. How much weight he must have lifted from his past to be able to stand here, and say those words to his parents. How many steps he must have taken to reach back his childhood doorstep. How much closer he was to his goals, to healing. If he could say this, if he could show them such a face.

She couldn't help but feel pride fill her, seeing him do this. She had always been sure he would. But knowing and seeing were different.

He deserved the world, and seeing him finally accomplishing part of what he had hoped to be able to do for so long was a view she wouldn't have exchanged for anything.

Then, she remembered he was trying to drop the reason for his achievements on her, and she scowled.

Damn man could not even see right if he were serious about this.

She had no other chance to protest against this deeply concerning exuberant vision of the events, however, since he pursued.

"For numerous things, I would still be blindly looking in the dark, if it were not for Kyoko," He told his parents under her shocked gasp.

"That is not true and you know it," she protested, "I barely said a few things. You did everything by yourself. He is sprouting nonsense, please, don't listen to him."

Two amused faces came into colour on Ren's parents, while the latter rolled his eyes at her, without even looking her direction.

"She helped me to forgive myself and let go, of a lot of things." He said and she groaned.

"You are exaggerating."

He shifted a perfectly arched brow in her direction.

"The beach time years ago?"

She squirmed a little.

"I just pointed a few things out." She mumbled out.

Ren shook his head, and once he was sure she was giving up protesting, turned his attention to his parents again.

"I asked her to come, because I wasn't so sure you would still be so accepting, and I needed some backup courage."He said in a sheepish admission and a slightly contrite smile.

Both his parents smiled at him with the fond indulgence only a loving mother and father could have, and on the side, Kyoko couldn't help the soft grin. They were truly…

An adorable family.

When she accepted to come, she wondered and even expected to feel jealous of the unconditional love she could see reflected in Kuu and Julie's eyes.

But there wasn't any in her heart.

There might have been that light twinge of nostalgia, a wave of the past she would have wished alternated, other. One where her mother could have loved her. One where she would have known her father.

But it was merely a nostalgic feeling of what could not be. There was no resentment or envy in her heart as she watched those three.

Happiness and affection towards them, able to finally reunite, were her main emotions. And to herself at least, she could confess it – whether they felt the same or not – , she thought of them as family.

She pertinently knew it would only be one-sided. And that the rare happenings of years ago were more about indulging a child than the real feelings of Kuu.

But it didn't change what she felt. She considered them as family, whether they felt the same or included her or not didn't matter.

She didn't know Julie-san yet, but her being Ren's mum, and how he had talked about her, were enough to know she was wonderful.

She laughed when Kuu attempted to give a flicking to his son forehead but Ren avoided it at last second, covering his head.

"You are truly silly, Son. In which language and how many times should we tell you that you can't do nothing that will make us stop loving you?"

"Come here," He said and before Ren could react, Kuu had grabbed him back with his arm around his neck to hug him, and his mother joined the party.

Kyoko giggled and let out a not-so-discreet 'told you', as they hugged again.

Kuu's eyes turned in her direction at this, and grinning, he grabbed her arm and paused, looking at her, deadly serious.

"We could never be bothered by one of our son's friends. Even less if he invited her to come and if she is the very reason our son is better."He said and she coloured a bit but started to protest.

"That is not tr – "

She let out a whoosh of surprise as he pulled her in, crushing her against him and Ren, while Julie-san held the other side of them with a giggle.

"And said friend must participate in hugging sessions. It's mandatory."Kuu added, making both Ren and Julie laugh.

Kyoko thought about saying something. But she just thought about it. She couldn't talk. She was too touched. They were so acceptant of her intruding on such an important moment. That and air couldn't pass through. So talking was not an option.

"Dad, you are crushing her pipes," Ren said, and since she had been doing her best holding it, she gasped in relief when they let her go.

"Oops" Kuu said as he patted her back.

"It's okay, "she said, waving away his concern, "crushing hugs is the Hizuri way, I already know that."

Kuu's eyes shot up before he grinned, looking at his son. She smiled to herself, she was kinda impatient to see their dynamic and how much of Ren teasing attitude came from his dad himself.

"Oh, really, now?"

Ren cleared his throat, and she secretly prayed it would help her to avoid some of his teasing while he would be teased by his dad.

His mum came closer to her then, and Kyoko couldn't help but to admire how shiny and how alike her hair was to Ren's in natural. Same for his eyes, so green and vibrant.

She saw her staring and gave her an inquisitive look.

"It's just – … Your hair and eyes look very similar to your son ones in natural." The overjoyed touched expression of Julie, at her words, rendered her even more beautiful as she nodded, too moved to reply. She truly was a fairy queen. But she could see the curiosity in her eyes. She had no time to ask, however.

"Right?! Right?!"Kuu exclaimed. "My son and my wife are the precious wonders of the universe, the jewels, the kindness in this shrouded world. They are so beautiful, so talented, so smart, so incredibly humbles, and the most amazing – " Kuu continued to declaim to the sky how precious they were, but she looked away to watch the two most precious jewels in question, too curious to see what they thought while being in the presence of such a demonstration of heartfelt compliments.

She couldn't help a throttle to escape as she saw Ren groaning in his hand, embarrassed and Julie sighing while scratching her throat – , though affection shined in her eyes despite her awkwardness.

Kyoko continued to laugh, so happy to be the witness of this.

"So that's how the receiver of such a diatribe feels when thrown a pool of compliments right in front of them. Or, on them." She commented merrily, and Ren poked her side.

"It is stronger than him." He said with a smile, while Julie tried to stop him.

The most amusing though was to see how proud Kuu looked to have declared all of it aloud and rendered speechless the two main concerned.

"… So."Suddenly said Kuu, calming down and turning to his son, "What are your plans?"

Ren rubbed at his neck.

"I'd like to talk about it. About several things actually, but – "

And suddenly the fact they were still in the backyard, outside the house, came back to the forefront of everyone's mind. Both Kuu and Julie looked around like if a monster were going to sneak on them any moment, and Kyoko grinned. They were funny.

Then, they turned and apologized profusely, Ren's mum gripping his hands with tears in the eyes.

"We are sorry." They both said at the same time in a whisper. "We didn't think before speaking. We didn't think you would come – "
"It's okay. Mum, Dad. We are still inside the house. I'm pretty sure it's safe. And I was the one to barge in," Ren said, and seeing him act so patient and kind to his parents was too much to bear for her.

They were just so silly cute, all of them. She laughed in her corner before hiccupping in an attempt to stop it.

Ren eyed her suspiciously.

"I think Kyoko is mocking us."

Both his parents looked at her with interrogation, and she held back another snort.

She waved her hands up, shaking fervently her head from side to side.

"I'm not, I'm not. I was just thinking you were all very cute together."
The three of them looked respectively at each other and she pinched her lips. They truly weren't helping her behave.

"The three of us are cute?"Enquired both Kuu and Julie at the same time. She nodded sheepishly.

"Are we, because we are together or because we are inherently cute?"Asked Julie, eyes shining with a curiosity that wouldn't have been so problematic if her stare had not been bordered with the infamous puppy expression of his son. Kuu was sporting the same expression, and she cursed inwardly.

They all have it. They fucking all have it!

Boy, she was in troubles. Those doomed eyes.

"Now, I know from where you've got that illegal face," She commented dryly, and Ren just whistled innocently.

"I don't see what you mean."

"Sure, you don't."

"Kyoko-chan," Julie-san attracted her attention again, and the level of pitifully cute had nudged itself way higher as she spoke, "please answer me. It is crucial I know."

It took her a second to remember what the question was about, blinded by the looks facing her. Then chuckling a bit, she tilted her head and replied, "Definitely both, I'd say. You are all deadly in cuteness on your own but it is far worse all together."

Both men groaned, to be called 'cute' and they mumbled, while Julie-san beamed.

"You have a good eye," she commented merrily.

Kuu laughed.

"Come on. Let's continue inside."

He pushed his son on his back as he led them all to the door, and Ren grabbed her arm at last minute when he saw her a little behind, dragging her inside.

The entered a huge entrance hall, and a part of Kyoko could hardly contain her curiosity and wonder as to what to expect, and felt frustrated she couldn't see anything from where they stood yet. She was surprised, in a good way, when she discovered it had a Genkan, and a shoe shelf on the side, where slippers awaited to be used. Here in the States was not a place where she expected to see this kind of thing. Her own home, in San Francisco, had only an adapted space of it. She did have a shelf for the outside shoes and she still had the habit of removing them and having slippers. But considering she didn't have many guests and that nearly all of them were Americans, she hadn't imposed them to remove their shoes when they'd come by in the past. Granted, she didn't have the recess step most Japanese homes had either. It wasn't it would have been impossible to set up but it was trickier to install in the house she renovated than setting up from the start. So, it had remained on her to-do list, without her getting the time to really find the exact way to install it, so far.

But again, she knew Kuu was also part Japanese and she could guess he would have wanted to bring that part here.

They removed their shoes as Kuu presented them with slippers, and Julie-san waited near her.

"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded.

"You said the crushing hugs were a Hizuri thing. Has Kuon done that with you? Is that how you concluded this?"

Kyoko blinked, surprised by the question, and wondered where she was going with this, but replied anyway.

"I guess, yes. He is quite affectionate and I did wonder if it was coming from – "

"Us?"Julie ended for her with kind eyes, and she nodded, puzzled by her question on this.

His mother grinned happily.

"I see, I see."

By her side, Ren was barely breathing and she heard Kuu snort. She was clearly missing something.

"I don't think it is especially coming from us, though?"Julie pondered, a beautiful index tapping her lips. "Does it bother you, however?"

"Does what bothers me?"She asked, not sure she was following where his mother was getting at.

"That Kuon is affectionate with you?"

"Mum!"Ren protested and it made Kyoko smile to hear the tone of that. Embarrassed and outraged, like a teen. It was really too funny. She wanted to see more of those moments. She would never let him live those down if she could. Her mother winked at his son, and he shut up.

She still blinked at his mother's question, though, caught off guards by it and by the seriousness of Julie looked at her. Eventually, however, the truth came out of her lips before she could think if it were a right idea or not.

"No. Not at all."She responded and closed her mouth, before more could come out. Like, even if she couldn't say she was born with that education or have been used to affection during her life, she had gotten used to it. Or like, since it was him, she would never mind. Or rather, she was even rejoicing in it and waiting for those moments with impatience. Even knowing how much harder it made it for her to hide her feelings. So, instead, she closed her mouth.

Julie smiled happily.

"Good, good."

Kyoko noticed Kuu holding his sides and when she turned to Ren in hope he would explain it to her, he just dragged her out of the entrance hall in a hurry.

They took an angle, passing a corner wall and tumbled inside a room, and Kyoko gaped, taking it in, before cranking her head up and up to see it all.

"That's your living room?!"

She felt Ren tilted his head to her, a conspiring look showing.

"See, you managed to enter the castle just fine, they didn't throw you out," He whispered to her with a knowing grin. And he wasn't wrong.

"Shut up," She whispered back with a smile, nose wrinkled at him, and barely refraining from doing what she had in mind.

"Your face looks exactly like when you hissed at me cat-style that time," He said, and he looked way too damn pleased.

Fucking clairvoyant man.

That had been precisely what she had wanted to do. But since he had guessed, she wouldn't be giving him the pleasure. She pulled her tongue at him and turned away.

He laughed while she tried to swallow her awe away.

The living room – could it still be called that at this point? – was a little under 50 feet in length. She was positive on that because it looked nearly as long as the corridors of a training swimming pool where she went a couple of times here. It was gigantic. So very spacious you could have done gymnastics acrobatics in it.

A pointy angled smooth wood plafond elevated itself high above their heads. A magnificent crystal chandelier hanging from the highest point dangling in a thousands tiny lozenges crystals, and despite how voluminous the lamp looked up there, it felt tiny still, in the sheer amount of room it had around it. The long horizontal auburn planks glided down the inclined roofing and were planted with tiny led lamps on all the surface.

Mirroring the line direction, thick grey-brown oak covered the ground in lieu of parquet. Sturdy squared dark-brown beams made of wood supported that ceiling. She marvelled at the sheer amount of work and calculation it must have meant for such a ceiling, considering there were a few floors on top of this.

Walls were a mix of deep-seated stone sections and smooth camel tones. An actual chimney adorned one corner of the enormous room. Deep huge mahogany pillars, half-embedded in between portions of camel tones wall and stone inlay-ed walls gave off an even warmer atmosphere. Little low tables in the same polished mahogany tones went along long angled pristine white couches, and smaller armchairs that had just enough smoothness in the skin layer to equilibrate between cosiness and slick chic.

All the sitting couches were spread and laid out in the huge room artistically, even giving off an abundant feeling of space to circulate. Though the sheer size of the room was in cause for that, by a lot. Many lamps decorated the room everywhere, making it even more luminous, though little were lighted up right now- during day time – , and she was very curious to see how it would look at night. She could even see several lights nested in the stone walls and at the junction between the top of the walls and the beginning of the ceiling. It was glorious, class and warm. A curving oak stair led upstairs on the side. In a lighter colour of mahogany, more amber-brown than dark.

A plushy black carpet throned in front of the biggest sofa she had ever seen – you could be swimming in it and still have room on one single cushion – and the only one angled in a long L-shape.

Yet, none the less, nothing was as impressive – if that was possible- than the side-to-side stretched off window wall making the whole fourth side of the room and giving on the garden, and its impressive view. As unclear as it was from where she stood in the room – granted that it was so huge – , she could already see there were more than one level to the back garden, and many trees and bushes planted. The most outstanding part – however small it was peeking from here – was the shimmering water points set up and shining under ray lights. She couldn't see much more from here.

She thought she knew was impressive and magical would be like, how much attention and style some people put into the home – she liked to do it, to a small humble level herself – very humble, compared to this – , but she could never have envisioned this.

It looked like a mix of a reception hall, the most lavish mountain cabin and a huge chic chilling area. How those descriptions even managed to fit together without being too much, was beyond her. And if she had wanted to describe it to someone, you would easily mislead the idea it could only be stacked with things, too gaudy, and clashing. But the room, for as massive as it was, was pretty nude of furniture, besides the different seats, a low table and a shelf. She couldn't help but think it was the very reason the bright white of the sofas stood out that much more, and why it felt so harmonious and tranquil. The amount of space around was tremendous. She could have skated between every chair and couch without ever risking bumping into them or the path becoming too tight.

When she came back to herself, the three Hizuris were looking at her with amused grins.

"I guess you like it, then?"Kuu said, chuckling lightly.

Kyoko nodded, and eventually attempted to word her impression.

"It's … uh… Unbelievable." And failed miserably. There was just no word that could have done it justice.

Julie laughed.

"There is actually a good reason why this room is so enormous." She said with mischief, and Kyoko turned her eyes to her, dying to know.

"I'll go fetch us some snacks while Julie tell you this, we will need them," Kuu said, hurrying to the kitchen with a zeal Kyoko guessed could only be prompted by the rumble of his stomach. She pinched her lips to not laugh and return her attention to Julie that led her and Ren both, to one of the big sofas. She walked carefully, trying to not leave any mark and a little afraid to enter such a glorious space. She demurely sat on one of the couches once they reached them, and nearly fell into it. With how plushy and huge, it was. That cushion had nearly swallowed her up.

Ren laughed at her as he sat by her side, and Kyoko shot him a glare while she perched herself on the border of her own seat, to not fall backwards again.

Once settled, Julie resumed.

"We were still working on the house at the time, and Kuu was taking more and more action movies," she explained before pointing a finger at the ceiling way, way above. "He wanted to be able to work on his action scenes and acrobatics at home but some jumps necessitated a higher rooftop. And having an idea on how to settle while still having to work around furniture made it more realistic."

"And he didn't break any of the furniture doing that?"Kyoko asked.

Julie laughed, nodding. "Oh yes, it happened many times and he would apologize and buy new ones afterwards. Those are the seventh set we've got I think."

"Really?"Ren said. "I didn't know that."

Julie grinned fondly at his son.

"Most happened before you were born," she said, "Once you were there, your father calmed down on the jumps until you were older and went to a special gym."

"But Dad did show me some acrobatics and even helped me master several of them," Ren said.

His mother nodded.

"He did. But you were past six at the time and it wasn't the fanciest ones. And as you grew he showed you more, but he would show you in proper gym and cushioned areas, right?"

"At least that was he told me," she said, eyeing Kuu with a warning stare as the latter came back, and put down a big pile of snack on the table besides them.

"I did, I did. I didn't want to take any risk."

Kuu sat down near Julie and the food started to disappear by the hand of Julie while he continued.

"Time passed and you started spending more time on your own, and I never got the chance to try the riskier less safe-proof ones with you."Kuu told him and he had such a sad smile as he said this, Kyoko saw the exact moment guilt hit Ren, and he looked down.

"Sorry."

"Don't be silly, you don't need to apologize, Son."Hurried his father to stop him, and his dad's eyes turned pensive and sad, he turned his gaze away, "If anything, we are the ones that should apologize to you. We missed seeing the signs of your distress and made you suffer when we could have seen it if we had less busy and more attentive."

Ren shook his head.

"No dad, please. It wasn't your fault. It was never your fault."He frowned and looked down at his twisted hands, and Kyoko delicately entangled one of them and took it in hers, rubbing his knuckles softly. Ren looked at her for a second, searching for something, she thought, and he took a deep breath, nodding before turning back to his parents.

"I didn't want you to know, Dad. At the time, I wanted to hide it all. Out of shame, sadness, or even pride."Ren started, and Kyoko could see how afraid he still was to disappoint his parents. She squeezed his hand harder. She felt his hand tremble a little in hers and she rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb.

"Even so, you were just a child, we should have …," Julie said but stopped, looking down, and her own amount of sadness and shame appeared on her face. Kyoko felt so deeply sorry for all of them. They are suffered so much, out of the hands of uncaring people and helpless circumstances, and they were all shaming themselves for things they might have been unable to change, no matter what they would or could have done. Even not having been there, she was sure his parents had done the best they could. Some things just couldn't be avoided. Still, it wasn't her place saying this, and she waited in silence so that Ren could find the words to tell to his parents.

"Yes, we should have."Kuu finished with an end tone that spoke volumes of what he felt.

She felt Ren's tense near her and continued to rub his hand, hoping to help him relax, to let him know she was there if anything went wrong.

"No. Dad, Mum, please. Just listen."He said again and he gripped at her hand as they nodded, readying himself. "One of the reasons of this visit – besides seeing you both" – he smiled warmly at them and they smiled back, besides the tension in the room – "was because I wanted to apologize to you." Seeing them ready to protest, he didn't waste a second into continuing, "And most of all, I wanted to finally tell you what I could never tell you. What happened – you know the big lines but – … what was happening all this time, in my head, and that I didn't dare to tell you… I wanted to tell you, so you would understand why things turned the way – well, turned so sour… At the time." He finished bitterly.

His parents 'eyes filled with comprehension and gratitude with where he was going with this, and despite the desire to speak Kyoko could see in their eyes, they remained respectfully silent as they looked as their son. Kyoko could see the inquietude, the curiosity but also a deep need to reconnect on their faces. A greediness to finally grasp what had escaped them years ago. To have the full discernment of why they hadn't been able to see, to help, to prevent even. It was so clear, so deeply anchored in their expressions. That need. And she suddenly wondered, just how far they had ignored, just how much he had hidden from them, to not trouble them.

Then he started to talk. Why was he shaking so much? She crossed her fingers more tightly around his hand.

"What brought me to – … needed to leave you, to – … leave everything behind…" He took a gulp of air. "I know you know some but – ." She had rarely seen him so rattled and unsure. Yet, she knew with certitude they wouldn't reject or blame him. But she still couldn't believe it. She had been – still was – unable to see how far he had condemned himself for what happened. How deeply it had consumed him. She should have seen, should have understood.

That despite his words on how she had helped him, some wounds still needed to heal. Were unable to. Had been unable to heal. Not without his parents. Because he needed to be sure of his parents' acceptance. One they could only give once they knew everything. She rubbed his hand. That was a feeling she understood in so many ways.

But it had needed him to be okay, mostly okay, first. But why? Why couldn't he have said it first, it would have helped anyway, right?

And then, she got it.

He had needed to be strong enough. To have healed from the deepest blows. So that, when the time would come, he would be able to handle their possible rejection if it happened.

When he wasn't living for himself, when he couldn't handle at all his past, who he was, what happened – when he was unable to see a world where he was allowed to be happy or to even desire it – , it wouldn't have been possible. A potential rejection from his parents would have crushed him as surely as a cockroach under a boot. She grimaced at her own thoughts. But now she got why he had wanted her here. He had truly thought there was a good chance his parents wouldn't want him back. Was still believing it, thinking that they might close the door to his nose once they would know everything.

She didn't understand, however. He might not have gotten into every detail when he had told her but there was nothing that she could imagine be that triggering to his parents.

"… But you don't know a third of it," Ren eventually let out and she returned to the present.

"I didn't want the both of you to know, so I didn't," He ruffled his hair frustratingly, "I thought it was best if you didn't know, that it would bother you."

His parents looked at him with nothing but worry and love, but she didn't think he could see it. Especially not now.

"I know you remember how it started. That I sometimes came back failing auditions or getting fired from roles I had just got."Ren said and he looked back at them, grimacing in remembrance and looking so apologetic to bring it back. As if he felt ashamed to talk of those sad times again and bother them with his past.

His parents nodded in silence, waiting.

He looked down before pronouncing the next words.

"And you know how it – … ended."

Kyoko came closer to him instinctively, and before realizing what she was doing, she wrapped an arm around his waist, and held him close. He breathed out then. And looking less tense, he looked back at his parents.

Waiting as they nodded very, very softly, he eventually let out the words that needed out.

And he talked and talked, letting out a flood of half-buried painful memories.

How he was bullied since very young for his origins, for his Japanese blood, for his Russian blood. How Cedric, amongst others, used his parents to make him give up on roles several times. How he used money and his relationships since he was ten to make others bully him, and prevent him to act.

The more he spoke, the paler his parents became but he didn't stop, too focused on getting the words out, and Kyoko kept her hold on him, so that all the remaining pain could finally be expelled. She saw him stop sometimes, hesitant to share some of the more unpleasant, gruesome details, and so, she whispered to him while keeping him closer.

"No word left unsaid, Ren, they need to know, and you need to let it out." He nodded reluctantly and continued.

He spoke on how the youngsters even managed to make adults – directors- to abuse their powers and fire him for bullshit reasons, sometimes directly hit him. How he started becoming frustrated and desperate in the tangle of power, manipulation and money cutting out most of his chances each time he tried to keep roles and act. How, for a long time, he didn't defend himself, didn't return the beatings or protect himself, despite knowing perfectly well how to. How he became angrier and angrier.

His father stopped him with a shaking hand, throat so clutched he had to attempt it twice before he could succeed in talking.

"What do you mean? What do you mean, you didn't defend yourself, Kuon?!"

Kuu looked so outraged and pale and sad and angry, he looked torn between imploding and passing out.

Ren looked away.

"I didn't. Not for a long time. Not until – "

"But why?!"Choked out his mother, and Kyoko could see Julie looked so nauseous Kyoko thought she might throw up.

"You just took the beatings and the bullying without a word to us?!"Exploded Kuu.

He nodded.

"I thought- he took some air in-, I didn't want to bring you troubles or shame, and you were busy. I didn't want to disappoint you by fighting. I thought it was better if I kept a low profile and let the storm pass… Than the both of you having to take care of my messes. Or those sorts of things. I also blamed myself for not being able to extricate myself from those situations on my own."

"You were allowed to defend yourself!"Shouted Julie as she stood up looking furious. "Defence isn't the same as fighting, you know that. How could you think it would bring us troubles or shame if you came to ask us for help?! We are your parents. And what that's bullshit about taking care of it by yourself. How old were you, Kuon?! You were a child. Of course, you needed help!"

"I know."Ren said, looking down and mostly agreeing to everything she just said. She just looked that much enraged he didn't deny anything or tried to say anything in defence.

Silence reigned from Kuu's side as he looked down on his hands. Until.

"How long? How long did it last, Kuon?"Kuu very carefully spelled, still not looking up at any of them. And if Kyoko had not been so worried about how Ren was taking his parents' reaction, and his emotional well-being right now, she would have laughed at how much he un-characteristically was fidgeting under the explosion of emotion and rage his parents were displaying.

Ren cleared his throat, unable to not hear the furore in his dad's voice- they were all hearing it – , she was sure.

"It lasted mostly until the time I left but – "

"Kuon…"

Now, that was a scolding in one word.

Ren sighed.

"Things changed after I reached fourteen."

Kuu's hands were shaking.

"And when did it start?"

Ren lifted pacifying hands, and Kyoko pinched her lips. He was totally stalling. She understood his parents, though, it had been going on for a long time. He hadn't told her that either.

"Since when?" His dad asked.

Ren's shoulders slacked in defeat and he replied.

"It started when I was around eight years old."

The whole jaw of Kuu locked up but he didn't utter a sound.

"Fuck."

Julie-san started swearing in what she assumed was Russian, pacing the floor with her heels clacking on the ground, and making both men in the room grimace several times, no doubt understanding the cuss words she was saying. Yes, even without knowing what she was letting out, Kyoko was sure of it. It was no polite speech.

She turned in a ball of fury, all of sudden.

"I want their names, Kuon. All of their names! All their fucking names!"

Ren lifted his hands again, trying, and, Kyoko thought, in vain, to calm his parents down.

"It was years ago, Mum. And they were kids or teens at most. They might be completely different from whom they were at the times."

His mum cursed more.

"Are you fucking defending them right now?!"

"What about the parents, the adults and directors you spoke about?" So-very-softly enquired Kuu, still not looking up. "They certainly weren't kids at the time." And his last sentence had a dark promise in the intonation he finished it.

Kyoko saw him smile at his parents then, patiently, fondly even.

"Dad, mum, if I'm telling you all this, it's not for you to go on a revenge crusade. It is not necessary."

The knuckles of Kuu whitened so much Kyoko thought the blood wouldn't be circulating anymore and they would turn blue. But it was the look in his eyes, a cold dark glim that was the scarier of the two.

"Damn right, we will!" said Julie, pulling out her phone before looking at her son, clearly expecting him to give her a shit-list, so she could give the people who hurt her son hell and infinity plus.

Kyoko grinned wildly, she was liking Ren's mum more and more. In her opinion too, the people who hurt and bullied her Ren should pay. And knowing people had been capable to hurt him when he was a child drove her into a fit of rage. When she had met him as Corn, he had already lost most of his innocence. He was so hurt at the time, and those people were responsible for that. They had brought him to despair and to hate himself when he was barely ten years old.

"The names, Kuon. I swear I will roll them into dirt and stamp on them so much they can't never stand back straight again. Or see the light."

"Mum, you can't do that! And I can't give you any names knowing this."

"You will give them to me." Julie said, her eyes shining so bright with maniacal fury Kyoko saw a little fear appear on Ren's face. "I'll make it so they can't even set foot into the business, anymore. No spotlight for the scums!"

Kyoko laughed.

"I approve."

Ren turned to her, shocked.

"Kyoko!"

"You can't seriously think to encourage them?"He asked, and he was looking at her as if she had just turned a strange leaf or something.

She shrugged his infamous move back at him, making his eyes twitch in annoyance but the corner of his lip quirked at the mimicking.

"Now I know why it can be so annoying."He commented on the side and she smirked before he returned to former matters. On the sidelines, both the parents smiled a little for a second.

"But you can't be serious." Ren said again.

Very deliberately, she lifted and dropped her shoulders before replying as she crossed her arms with an unconcerned expression.

"They hurt you, in my opinion, they deserved it." She smiled at Julie, and his mother returned it with a nod.

Ren gaped at her, speechless for a while before scrambling to push words out, looking at her to help him out, and she felt tempted to reach a hand. But resisted.

"And it is quadruple pain because they hurt you when you shouldn't have to defend yourself and were a child. So, it is even worse."

"Do you have any idea what they could do if they decided to act on their urges? With their power and influence. Please." He said with a groan as he dropped his face into his hands.

Julie scoffed.

"We are not monsters, they are."

He looked up and his face softened at her, seeing her vexed and all, yet still appearing furious and sad.

"You are not. The mere fact you are trying to do this if the proof. But please don't."Ren pleaded with her and when he saw her struggle and pain, he added. "It is just not right."

His mother frowned, displeased.

"They hurt you. How is that right?"

"Agreed."Kyoko said and Ren gave her a stern stare, and she smiled before continuing. "But no matter how much I would love it if you did what you had in mind, Julie-san, Ren is right. It isn't right."
She grumbled unhappily and that's when Kuu lifted his hand and looked up. He looked like he had taken ten years, his eyes were sad and cold. And still furious.

"They are right, we cannot, Julie. No matter how much I want to bury them, now that I know what I know."

Kyoko felt a chill ran down her back as she watched Kuu expression, absolutely certain he meant his words and weren't joking. If he had been able to, he would have made anyone that hurt his son disappear. It looked unfathomable for Kyoko. Yet, she guessed that was what it was like to have a parent that loved you more than anything in the world, and she couldn't help but smile. To be proud and relieved Ren had the chance to have such parents. To protect him. As little as they had been able to, considering what happened. She was still happy they loved him so much.

"But I will still ask for the names you remember, Kuon."His dad said and he turned to Kuon with a dead set expression that suffered no compromise. It was a scary look. One she wasn't sure she had even seen on the doting man's face. Not when looking at his son. The joy and love had seeped out his eyes and icy pupils screamed premeditate calculating murder in them.

"… Dad…"He said, and Kyoko thought the hesitation both came from his earlier concerns and the look his father was sporting.

"We won't and cannot avenge ourselves as we would wish for, I know, Son."

Kyoko saw Ren let out a breath of relief at those words until his dad continued.

"But I have no intention to ever work or engage, not ever again, with people that would be responsible for the misery you lived when you were young."He stated firmly.

Ren looked ready to protest again but Kuu stopped him.

"That's as much as I can concede. I won't ruin them. I will even give the benefice of the doubt for the ones being kids at the time. Cedric put asides. But that's it." – he continued – "It doesn't mean I want them to be part of our lives or help them rise in the business by acting with them or have the least relationships with them."

His son's shoulders dropped as he nodded, resigned, and Kuu turned to Julie.

"Is that okay with you, honey?"

She still looked pissed but she nodded.

"Since it can't be helped."She said and nodded. And Kyoko saw as both of them bottled up their pain, furore and agony in a second to lick those new wounds later, to return to the present as Julie sat back down in front of them and Kuu took her hand. Kyoko empathized with them. She couldn't say she would ever understand what being a mother was like but she could grasp how hard it was to hear a close one had been brutalized when they were young. And that, it could potentially have been avoided if they had known.

A minute passed and Ren spoke again.

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I'm able to see why it would have been better if I had spoken now but at the time I just didn't know how." He said contritely. "And I was too afraid to give you troubles or disappoint you."

Kuu shook his head, twice, like he had heard something tearing at his insides.

"Please, don't apologize, Son. Just don't."He looked at Ren. "You had done nothing wrong. And we get why you acted the way you did. You should never have felt it was better that way. And we should have paid more attention. It's not your fault."

It was Ren's turn to shake his head, wildly so.

"No, dad, no. I was desperately trying to hide everything from you. You couldn't have seen it."

His dad disagreed and Kyoko could see it but Ren continued, and it distracted his parents from obvious self-loathing thoughts. She wanted to sigh. They were truly family.

"And it isn't all. It is not the only reason I didn't want you to know."

Ren looked to the side, which happened to be in her direction, and she smiled encouragingly.

"You might have heard of this or you might have not," he began, "but many times – … Many times, the directors asked me to act and play a role like- he sipped air in-… Like you would have."

He turned to look into his father's eyes, apologetic and sad and afraid, and Kyoko hugged his hand again.

"They wanted you. They wanted me to act as you. They wanted the level of play you had. Or in the same fashion." He turned his head away then, and Kyoko was nearly certain it was because it would have been too painful to look at his dad right now. "They didn't want me to try on my own. And if I couldn't do what they wanted – he paused, struggling with words again – … By lack of experience or just because you and I are different people and different actors, I was often fired. They wanted Kuu Hizuri from me and if they couldn't get it, they often didn't want me. I was – … Suffocating."

Kyoko saw the moment it hit Kuu and the pain it inflicted, as the deep frown filled his face and marred it with sadness.

"And that, is something I didn't want you to know," Ren whispered. "Because I didn't want to burden you with that and that I knew it would hurt you to know. And would have never told you if I wasn't coming with honesty in mind more than anything."

When he eventually looked up, faced to a silence that was lasting, it was to witness, what Kyoko had been seeing, the instant following the one Kuu had understood. His mother was openly crying and his father was not far behind. In fact, the sorrow on his face was deeper than if he had shed tears.

"… I'm sorry, Son. I'm sorry."He looked up and stared at Ren. "I'm sorry, Kuon, I'm sorry…" He closed his eyes as he spoke, and Kyoko truly wanted to give a hug to the man. "I mean, when you decided to follow acting in Japan as Ren Tsuruga, I understood you needed a fresh start and that you had been struggling to make your own ground here. But I had no idea how bad it had been. I thought the main source was, had been – …"

He stopped, not wanting to dig into that can of worms, she thought but Ren nodded.

"I know. And it has a big part of it. But it was also the last blow." He took another breath and spoke again.

He told them how, with time passing he became more desperate, struggling even more, angrier. How bitterness filled him, resentment for the ones bullying him. And he felt like giving up several times, not ever really getting a real chance. He explained that was in those conditions he met Rick. That he helped him tough himself up, and have more of a backbone, that he told him he needed to defend himself. Yet, it never stopped the harassment.

"And one day, I just… Broke a fuse."Ren explained, words barely above a murmur. "I had bottled up and bottled up, so much anger and despair, that, when I finally lost it, I didn't defend, I started to fight for fight itself, to fight them, to hit them. And to take pleasure in it." He told them and looked up with shame in the eyes, before rubbing his face, looking tired and shredded apart by the conversation.

"I was just so – … Done. So far gone."He let out. "I wanted to fight them all. To make them pay for the years of suffering. And it got worse and worse. They didn't stop, they wouldn't ever stop. And at some point, I stopped hoping they would. They eventually brought weapons when they saw I could in fact defend myself, and – ."

His hands shook as he reached that point and Kyoko rubbed his back.

"I stopped caring about acting in those moments, about getting out of those unharmed, and I got angrier. So much angrier. So angry that eventually one night, I lost sight of just giving a few punches back and started beating them to a pulp, and could have – "

He shuddered.

"No, you wouldn't have," Kyoko whispered and his gaze anchored itself in her own for a second, some warmth getting back in his, he let loose his shoulders again. His parents saw this but didn't interrupt them.

"Rick tried to bring back some sense into me, several times before that night too, with Tina. But I was just so far gone and – … He went after me as I followed Cedric, and – "

He closed his eyes, surely relieving his worst memory and she rubbed his back.

"You know the rest," He said at last and Kyoko thought he was done when suddenly his voice returned with volume in the loaded huge room. "Mostly. I don't think you were informed I was a direct witness of it but I saw … I saw it happen."He whispered near the end.

"… And Tina – … Tina was there. Sh-she – he cleared his throat – , she had him in her arms when he – … Left. She told me I was a murderer…" There was a wisp of air that escaped his mum's side but Kyoko couldn't bring herself to look. Ren was staring at the movement of her hand, rubbing circles on his own while he spoke. "… That it was my fault. That I should die instead of Rick." There was a rough gasp from his parents' side this time, and she thought they would lose it before Ren could finish. Come on. Hold it in. It was already hard enough without having to repeat it later.

He closed his eyes then, and his voice finally returned with a little strength when he talked again.

"Losing him was – … He stopped. There was no word and they all knew it. "But the reason I – …" He tried once more. He pulled at his hair, clearly discontented with his ability to explain. Kyoko rubbed his back again, speaking this would never be easy, he just had to accept that.

"Afterwards… I truly believed I was…" – he closed his eyes and she knew exactly what he was about to say and why he didn't want to look at his parents –"… That it was… That the full responsibility was mine. That I was … – he sighed – … a murderer."

Silence hung in the vibrant living room, darkened by the gloomy atmosphere the discussion had shaded over the brightness of the room. In echo, as if the world was responding to their mood, heavy clouds came to cast more shadows on Ren's face and hid the sun.

Kyoko herself could barely think about looking towards his parents, afraid of their reaction despite her common sense, in spite of her deep faith in his parents' love for him, and what her heart was telling her. Yet, it was stronger than her, she had to know. Had to peek. But when she looked at them, she was sad to say she felt such a relief seeing two suffering people. They stood, frozen, forbidden, eyes crushed with lids shuddering with the weight of their sorrow, their face contorted to each word spoken. A wrinkle added for every grimace they made in reaction to their son's pain. Unleashed, tears marked rivers on their cheeks, and falling, they covered their hands.

"… And without Kyoko's words, I still would." He said, breaching out the chill immobility coating them, after the quietness had stretched to such an unbearable weight the mere sound of their four breaths appeared deafening.

He took a deep inspiration and let out it, before saying his last part. "I blamed myself more than anything in the world. I loathed myself." He looked at his parents, and Kyoko saw he forced himself to pursue, nearly rushing, even after seeing their faces, "I couldn't stand being me anymore, I couldn't stand being Kuon anymore. The Kuon that had become controlled by anger, by hate and resentment and nothing else. I would have drowned fully, without Lory. So when he came, I took this opportunity as the only way into salvation. I thought if I became someone else, someone that wasn't me, and lost myself into work, maybe, just maybe, I should be able to live. And for a long, long time, I thought I didn't deserve to be happy – in my worst moments – I sometimes still do. And for so long, I just considered it was the price I had to pay, since I had robbed Rick of his own life."

He stopped, then. And looked at his parents with a mix of fear and bravery, affection and acceptation. Readying himself for the acceptance or rejection, whatever it would be.

"That is why I couldn't stay anymore. Not when the whole people I resented so much worked in the area I had so much passion for. Not when just looking at myself was unbearable, so let alone looking at you – my parents that I loved so much – knowing what I had done. That is why, the only solution was leaving."

What word could one say after such a speech? What word could describe how sorrowful, touched, and desolated his parents ' hearts felt after hearing so much pain endured and explained? Easy, none. And nothing came. For a long time, they remained still, kinda shocked.

Kyoko saw the resignation coming back into Ren's eyes as time continued to seed away, and worried, she clutched his fingers.

"Give them a little more time. It is a lot to process." She whispered to him. And she truly believed in that. They were too overwhelmed. Too much information, painful information to assimilate. Too much emotion.

And then, all of sudden, as if time had returned to its course, they moved. Sluggishly at first, then rushing. They tackled their son into their arms, as they collapsed into the couch Ren had been occupying, quite literally ejecting her from her position near him to crush him in a bear-hug. Her backside bounced on the carpet as she fell off the sofa and she thanked the fluffy surface for its existence and for cushioning her drop. She allowed herself to let out a deep expiration of relief at the sight, glad she hadn't been wrong after all, and laughed internally as her butt sat on the floor. As she observed them fondly and quietly from the ground, she took note of Ren's shock. Unmoving and shaken, it seemed he was still assimilating his parents weren't shunning him. And she saw the exact moment it dawned on him, as he finally wrapped them both in his arms, crushing them as his own small rivers ran down his face.

The lifting solace was so poignant in his expression she teared up, basking in the joy of being a witness of this, and in her happiness for him. She rubbed her cheek quietly as she crossed her arms around her knees, looking at them. Her smile wouldn't leave her face.

Eventually, they pulled back a little, laughing at their three wet faces, and Kyoko was perfectly content being ignored as his mum started scolding him for thinking this way, ever, and as Ren apologized quietly. They hugged again. But this time, they were smiling. They looked dishevelled-ly adorable.

Now would be a good time, I think.

She discreetly dragged her purse to her, glad she had thought to retrieve it and to take what was inside before exiting the car. Silently opening it, she took the little device out, glad she had invested in a qualitative one under the advices of Kayla. Otherwise, she would never have been able to do that what she was about to do.

Thank you Kayla for your knowledge in this.

Because the cheap versions would have busted her. The cheap versions were not silent.

She brought it to her face and grinning widely, pressed a couple of times, unknown to the main subjects of her device. Several squares came out but not a sound broke through, and she spread them behind her back to dry. She put her Polaroid in her small backpack again.

The pictures dried and the blackness faded on the little glossy squares as the sun shined through the big windows and the clouds were washed away by a gusty wind. On the four pictures, you could see Julie hugging his son, Kuu hugging him, both of them holding him, and Ren hugging them. On all, they were sporting teary but happy smiles, and were looking at each other.

She thought she understood why Ren had kept his distance from them. On a close look like this, as they were hugging, it was evident they were family. The resemblance was unmistakeable. The noble expressions, the lean muscular and bones structures, the jaw shapes, the green eyes. The natural kindness in it.

She held back a snort as she stared at them more closely. A plan formed as she decided she would do this as often as she could while she was here. Despite their smiles, they all had red and puffy eyes on the pictures. You could clearly see how much emotion they were coming back from. This wouldn't do. Not that it was wrong in any way to show that emotion, and the reason she had done it and thought of this, was precisely because she thought they would all want to remember this. She had truly believed in his parents to accept him after all.

But since this little scheme of hers was apparently working, carefree truly happy pictures were in order. Mandatory even.

Well, she reflected, if she stayed. She still didn't want to impose. She wasn't sure Ren would let her leave by now, however. So, she would keep her plan intact for now.

She wrapped the pictures in a handkerchief and back in her backpack's pocket, crossing her arms around her legs once again, just before they noticed her again, still sitting on the carpet.

She waved at them with the top of her fingers, not uncrossing her arms, and smiled. They all looked at her with the same expression screaming, 'what are you doing there?', with a big question mark on their puzzled faces. And she wanted to laugh.

"Don't mind me." She said innocently, but Ren looked at her suspiciously while his parents face took one of contrition.

"What are you doing on the floor?"Ren asked, looking a little embarrassed and self-conscious all of sudden. She tilted her head.

"Enjoying the plushness of this marvellous carpet," she said.

END OF CHAPTER.

PS: Hello everyone. Yes, i'm back with a new chapter. And lord, what a chapter. This was one hell of an emotional and i truly hope you will love it but it was damn hard to get all the tones and atmospheres right. It will also most probably be a rollercoaster for you.

And you can't expect more right from where it is coming. Not sure you will be able to breathe easily until further notice. Be ready. It will be fun, it will be tearful, it will be joyful, it will be touching, it will be angsty. But it is coming.

I hope it doesn't feel too rushed. I did my best making the emotions believable while taking into account the time passed, the ones already healing, the ones opening faced with the truth. So i truly hope i did justice to such an important moment.

I wish you a good beginning of October and Fall, and i hope i will be able to come back with a new chapter soon.

Kisses to you all, Love,

Mimagfan,

AUTHOT OUT.