Chapter 36: Confessions of an Idiot
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Susumu and Saena would be a thing.
"Saena? Saaaeeeena?" Todoh Susumu called out in a sing-song voice trying to get the attention of the woman in front of him as he took his seat. They had made plans to meet for dinner before separating for their respective sidebar meetings. When he walked into the dining hall he had stood and watched her from across the way. He chortled to himself as she checked her watch for the time, clearly annoyed to be kept waiting. From his vantage point, he could see the deep lines etching its way between her brows. She must have received a text since she picked up her phone. He saw her brow burrow deeper as her frown intensified. It's probably from Kyoko-chan.
Ever since Kyoko's visit, Saena had been slowly emerging out of her shell. It was thanks to Kyoko's courage that made him finally work up his guts to confess his feelings for her. He was elated that she didn't outright reject him so here they were taking things slow.
Susumu watched in amusement as the beauty in front of him took her time to look him in the eyes. She pursed her pink glossy lips and cocked a brow as she glanced at her watch. "You're late, Susumu-san. You know I hate wasting time."
"Oh I don't know, you seemed rather occupied," he said with a sly smile nodding his head towards the phone. "Care to share with me?"
The corner of her mouth twitched as she tried to keep from smiling. This man was so infuriating. Instead of joining her right away, he made her wait on purpose.
"It was a text from Kyoko. She's meeting that man tonight, probably as we speak." She said rubbing her temples. She thought she had put all this business behind her but here he was once again trying to disrupt her quiet life.
"Are you worried about her? It's okay to admit that you are. It comes with the territory of being her mother." Susumu said, looking at her with concern. He used his family resources to find out more about this man that shattered the heart. It was easy now that he had a name. Morimoto Tadashi had a clean record and a reputation for being a powerful businessman on top of being good looking. Of course, this was the kind of man that would be attracted to Saena.
"Will you try to see him? I won't hold it against you if you do? You should take a page from your daughter and find your closure."
"You're right. I won't look for him but if he comes looking for me I won't run away. It's time I let go of the past," she said, returning his intense gaze. She wondered what he saw in her. She was a broken and used woman that already had a child out of wedlock. What would he gain from a relationship with her? He was quite handsome and could have any woman with his looks and background. She wondered why in the almost twenty-odd years she had known him, he never settled down and married. Several people in the office had asked him the same question but his reply was always the same, I'm waiting for the right woman. Her heart fluttered as she recalled the memory. Had he been waiting for her all this time?
He smiled with a big toothy grin, "what is it?" He was curious to know why she looked like she just had an epiphany. She didn't respond but a warm smile played on her lips that made his heart skip a beat. "Knock it off, before I take you to my room and lock us in there for the remainder of this conference," he said matter-of-factly. He chuckled as her eyes widened and her face turned a charming shade of red.
Tadashi held the door open and beckoned them inside. "Hello, welcome. Thank you for coming. Please have a seat while I bring out the dishes. I hope everything is to your liking," he said gesturing to the dining room as he went into the kitchen.
The couple greeted him and took their seats at the dining table. Ren reached for her hand and held it while they waited for his return. He glanced around the place curiously. It wreaked money. It reminded him of his place before Kyoko moved in with him. Aside from the cool modern furniture, it was devoid of any personal items and lacked warmth. He thought about the transformation she made to their place. The fresh flowers he often bought her that she placed in vases, the photographs of them in frames, and her figurines that dotted some of the shelves made it feel like home. His favorite item had to be the flower ring he fixed for her and placed on her finger. Even though she was upset with him that day, she still preserved and encased it in a glass box. It's what he loved most about her. She appreciated the little things. It warmed his heart that she treasured such a small token.
He smiled to himself and stole a glance at his girlfriend. She was fairing better than he expected. The smell of food must have calmed her down. She needed him to focus right now. He stood from his seat and walked around the area looking for any clues that would give them some insight into their host. He imagined himself as a sleuth while shamelessly invading the man's personal space.
Kyoko hissed and whispered, "What are you doing Corn? Have you lost your mind? What if he catches us? He could be Yakuza for all we know!"
"Shhh!" He said, placing his index finger to his lips then pointing towards the door. "Be a lookout."
Kyoko covered her mouth to suppress her giggle. This had to be the naughtiest thing she had ever done in her life. She stood near the door of the kitchen listening to Tadashi clang away inside. She turned back to Ren and gave him a thumbs up.
Ren nodded and continued his search. On the other side of the room, he spied a suspicious beat-up old shoebox sitting on the desk. His long legs had him there in a second. Ren opened the box and found it full of folded up sheets of paper. He plucked one from closer to the front and unfolded it carefully. It was an old letter written in Japanese. "Dear Sae-chan, forgive me! I hope this letter finds you..." Ren jumped, startled by a crash from inside the kitchen. He quickly refolded the letter and replaced it exactly as he found it then returned to Kyoko's side.
He stopped Kyoko from going in and motioned for her to sit back down. He made his way towards the kitchen; he rather it be him and not her alone with the man until they got to the bottom of all of this. This would be the perfect opportunity to question the man's motives. Ren thought about the letter he discovered. Sae-chan had to be Kyoko's mother. He wondered if the pile inside were all addressed to her.
Tadashi was so nervous that he dropped the serving dish. Luckily, there wasn't any food on it. He couldn't believe they were here, she was here. He took it as a good sign that she showed up. It meant she was willing to hear him out. He would start by impressing her with his cooking. People were more amicable after a good meal so he heard somewhere. It had been so long since he cooked Japanese food for anyone else. It also didn't help that he'd been living in the States for almost eighteen years. His version of Japanese food could be compromised.
Tadashi glanced up in surprise when Ren knelt in front of him and helped pick up some of the shattered porcelain. Ren's heart nearly faltered at the man's expression which was so very much like his girlfriend's with those large golden eyes.
"Thank you, Tsuruga-kun. I tend to get clumsy when I'm nervous," Tadashi admitted with an awkward smile.
Ren steeled his heart. He couldn't be sympathetic to the man that was at the very core of all Kyoko's pain. "Morimoto-san, as you well know, Kyoko means the world to me. I came in to warn you that if you have ill intentions towards her, even if you are her father, you won't come out of this unscathed. She has gone through enough with her mother. She doesn't need another person coming into her life that would give her false hope," Ren warned the older man with a deadly glare as he let dark Kuon seep out.
Tadashi didn't flinch nor did he cower as Ren had expected. Ren would even say the man's nervous behavior seemed to have evaporated.
"I'm glad she has you by her side," Tadashi said warmly with a smile that scrunched up his eyes.
Ren looked at him oddly. Was he not intimidated by Kuon? Am I losing my edge?
Tadashi wasn't fazed by such behavior coming from such a young pup. One doesn't run a successful company by being timid.
"Thank you again, Tsuruga-kun. Can you please carry that tray out?" Tadashi asked, holding a tray and nodding to the other for Ren to take.
A bit baffled by the man, Ren did what he was asked and followed Tadashi out.
Kyoko's mouth watered as she watched Tadashi place the dishes on the table. There was rice, fish, miso soup, salad, seaweed, sliced beef, tempura, tonkatsu, udon, and other seasonal sides. There was too much food. She decided to think about the night as they progressed. For now, she had been able to get by just thinking about the food. Now that she could place the smells with the actual ingredients, she could concentrate on eating.
Tadashi settled into the seat across from her. "I went a bit overboard. I wasn't sure what you both liked to eat. I hope with time, I can learn your likes and dislikes. Go on and eat as much as you like. Please don't spare my feelings if it's not to your liking."
"Oh no, everything looks delicious," she replied as she ran her eyes over each dish. She smiled at Tadashi and clapped her hands. "Itadakimasu!" She exclaimed with a small bow and began eating. The first bite was impressive that she moaned with delight. The dishes were simple home-style cooking but he had Kyoto style flavorings to bring out the essence of each ingredient.
Satisfied with his daughter's response to the food, Tadashi began eating himself. Ren ate quietly while listening to them talk about food, ingredients, and preparation techniques. There was nothing awkward about the conversation. It was as if this wasn't their first time meeting. How did she manage that with such ease when he could barely face his parents again? He smiled softly as he watched his cute girlfriend discuss cooking with a passion. He glanced at the man speaking with her and prayed that he didn't hurt her. He could already see the hope burning in the depths of her amber eyes. He thought she was distracted by the conversation but the subtle tap on his plate with her chopsticks reminded him that she was still keeping her eye on him. He took another bite to appease her.
When Kyoko finally shared with him the conversation she had with her mother, he loathed the man immensely. But sitting here after listening to the man speak with his beloved and discovering that letter, Ren's opinion of him was slowly changing. People could change for the better. After all, it was only recently he was hiding his true identity from her; however, this and that were two different things. He wasn't planning on going anywhere unlike this guy. His intentions were still a mystery.
After dinner and dessert, they settled in the living room with some tea that no one touched. Ren and Kyoko sat on the couch while Tadashi sat on the chair opposite them. They sat quietly and looked at him expectantly.
"Before you ask me anything, I want to reassure you that I want to stay in Japan and be a father to you. I can't make up for lost time but I very much would like to be in your future. If only I had the strength to look back, I would have known of your existence. I would have endured any hardship including your mother's wrath just to see you. I wanted you to know that."
Kyoko nodded and took a moment to find her voice. It was the moment of truth. Now that they didn't have the excuse of food she was suddenly very nervous. Growing up she never cared or dreamed about having a father. She had asked her mother about him once when she was a child. The kids at school had been teasing her that day. They made fun of her for not having a father. The reaction she received from her mother then was enough for her to never broach the topic again.
Seeing Kyoko's hesitation, Ren decided to speak first to ease the conversation. "Is Morimoto Tadashi even your real name?" He knew Lory had legit sources that confirmed his name but he wanted to act unsure and possibly catch him in a lie. Ren liked to think he was observant when it counted. Yashiro would beg to differ based on Ren's failure to read Kyoko. His girlfriend aside, he knew what kind of person they were upon meeting. He had to tread carefully here because technically this man was an actor. He could be putting on a front for them right now since he managed to successfully fool the woman closest to him for three months. Much like her passion for cooking, was acting also something Kyoko may have inherited from this man?
"Yes," Tadashi confirmed, looking at Kyoko. Ren's question made Tadashi aware that they knew the truth about what transpired between him and Saena.
Ren glanced down at Kyoko. She nodded and permitted him to continue as she wrapped her hand in his.
"How did you find out about Kyoko? Why are you making yourself known after all these years? Surely you're worried about the implications of your past crime?"
"I was watching the entertainment news channel one morning and they were recapping an awards ceremony. I knew instantly that you were at least Saena's daughter. You look so much like your mother when I knew her. Your vibrant golden eyes are what gave me hope that you were mine too," he replied softly.
"I needed to know as soon as I saw you on TV. I wasn't thinking rationally at the time. It was all that consumed me. I may not have gone about it the right way but I was hoping you would never find out. I blundered that too. I wanted to make sure before I confronted you. I'm so sorry. I went about it all wrong," Tadashi cried out. He fell to his knees and dropped into a dogeza. This action alone left Ren without any doubt that this man was of her blood.
Kyoko bent to Tadashi and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. She wanted to believe in him. "Please stand up," she urged. "I accept your apology but you'll have to face my landlords and properly apologize to them too."
Was that all it would take to get in her good grace? Tadashi saw that she was serious and nodded. He glanced at Ren when he heard the young man snort and then break into a coughing fit. Is he laughing at me?
Ren coughed to cover up his snicker as he thought about Tasiho's reaction to this man. He almost wished he could be there to see how it would play out.
Kyoko returned to her seat and patted Ren's back thinking he was choking. When he was finally breathing normally, she wrapped her arm around his and leaned into him. He gave her leg an encouraging squeeze. She looked up at him and was met with one of his heartwarming smiles. It was thanks to him that she learned that if a person apologizes sincerely there was no reason to hold a grudge
Tadashi settled back into his seat. He took a deep breath to regain his composure and continued. "For your other question, it seems you're aware of my betrayal. They didn't know my real identity. I had a hunch that a law firm of their magnitude would not let such a scandal be known. If a security breach of this proportion were to be made public, it would have crippled the firm. They would have lost all credibility and their reputation would have been tarnished. No, I believe the only person that would be looking for me would be your mother. If she wants to be a judge, jury, and executioner I'm willing to accept my fate. What I did to her is unforgivable."
The regret in his eyes was unmistakable. Suddenly he looked older as the guilt over the years registered on his face.
"Why did you do it? Betray my mother, I mean?" Kyoko asked, finally speaking out. She held her breath in anticipation of his answer. She knew that whatever he said should be for her mother's ears only but she was curious.
"I was an idiot," he confessed. "I was a cocky junior partner that was focused on achieving success. I came up with this elaborate scheme to put us in favor of winning the case that your mother was involved in. What I failed to take into account was falling so hard for your mother."
Kyoko looked at him skeptically. There was no way anyone could hurt the person they claim to love like that.
"I know it's hard to believe. I wanted to back out so many times once I realized my feelings were compromised. Unfortunately, my plan took root in my Boss's mind at that time. I tried to convince him that Saena was a dead end but he had me followed and our relationship was discovered. I was told to stick to the original plan and all will be well or someone else would take my place through whatever means necessary. I couldn't risk it. I couldn't risk her."
Kyoko gasped. He tried to protect her mother. She found herself being easily swayed by his words. It was plausible.
"I tried to leave her subtle warnings a couple of times but the deadline I was given was fast approaching. My employer was getting impatient with my progress. I had dragged it out long enough and he was no longer taking my excuses. For her protection, I had to let her go." He quietly wrung his hands in his lap for several moments before continuing. "I was on a plane bound for America the next morning. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and the next thing I knew years had passed and nothing to show for it. To say I never looked back or attempted to contact her would be a lie. A shoebox of unsent letters and calls I never dared to make was evidence of my regret. I didn't deserve her so I closed off my heart and drowned myself in work.
A few quiet seconds ticked by as Tadashi stared off with a faraway look. He had taken the disks that night she was in the shower. He was baffled that she kept bringing them home. His warning went unheeded. She was an intelligent woman. She had to know the risk of carrying this information out of her company. He had an inkling at the back of his mind that she was testing him instead. Unfortunately, he knew and she probably did as well, that they would both lose that night.
"Morimoto-san...Morimoto-san..." Tadashi blinked and shook his head to bring himself back to the present. He focused back on the angelic face of his daughter and smiled.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Talking with you has stirred up some old memories."
Kyoko nodded with understanding. It was probably difficult for him to talk about that time. Here she was once again opening up old wounds.
"May I ask why you returned to Japan now after avoiding this country for so long. Why did you suddenly come back?"
"I'm not sure if you already know this but I am the COO of Rising Sun Industries for the branch in New York." Morimoto paused to look at them. They both nodded no longer hiding that they had information on him.
"Well my Japanese counterpart had fallen ill and his second in command was struggling with a project that we were already in too deep to back out of. They were plagued with cost overruns and schedule delays. I was asked, being a native to Japan, to stanch our hemorrhaging. At first, I tried to handle it remotely through video conference and what not but I still couldn't grasp the whole picture. So I came here temporarily to complete the project. It's practically finished now."
Kyoko tensed at his use of the word "temporarily." Was he leaving then? What was the purpose of all this?
Ren felt the change in Kyoko. He knew what she was thinking because he was thinking about it too.
He looked at Morimoto shrewdly, "So now that the project is over you'll be returning to New York?"
"Oh yes, the project recently wrapped up but there are a few loose ends that need to be tied up before I leave." Tadashi quickly continued as he saw the crestfallen look mar his daughter's beautiful face. "I plan on coming back. I have to return to the States to close up my projects and hand over others to my team. Perhaps Mya-chan, you met her already, would be willing to take over my position there. I can still help remotely but I don't want to be in an important position, maybe more like a consultant or a lowly worker bee in the Tokyo branch. I want to focus more on you, my family, rather than work. I don't know how long it would take me but I plan on relocating to Japan permanently. Is that okay with both of you? I planned to live here even if you didn't accept me right away. I know it's presumptuous of me but I was hoping with time and persistence, I could probably break you down," he chuckled at his bullheaded personality.
Kyoko nodded shyly. She wanted to get to know him more too. She had more questions about her mother but she didn't know how to return to the topic without hurting him.
Ren could feel her squirming beside him as she contemplated what to ask next. He had more questions of his own. The flow of conversation had gone this man's way all night. Who was to say he wasn't manipulating them with his sob story. He glanced nervously at Kyoko. He hoped she would understand why he needed to ask his questions. He wanted to shake him up.
Ren cleared his throat bringing the attention back to him. "Are you aware of the damage your actions have caused to the woman you supposedly loved? I know you had your reasons but I can't accept you into Kyoko's life despite your good intentions. You have not been here to see the hardships Kyoko had to endure all alone because her mother could not bring herself to love her. Kyoko would forever be a reminder of her failure because she was your child. Like I said earlier, Kyoko is now in a good place. Don't do things half-heartedly. Ultimately, it's Kyoko's choice but I will be watching, waiting for you to slip up. So for her sake, I beseech you, please don't screw this up."
Tadashi looked thoroughly reprimanded. He knew of Saena's struggles through the years from what Sota had gathered. She had even tried to take her own life when she was pregnant. "I understand Tsuruga-kun. I can't change the past. After almost 18 years of living in the 'what ifs' I have concluded that I can only live for the future and show my daughter my sincerity from now on," he said looking at Kyoko.
Kyoko nodded looking at her father. She turned and smiled at Ren gratefully. He was so protective and always had her best interests at heart.
"Before I end my rant, Morimoto-san, there is something else I would like you to corroborate within Mogami-san's story. I don't mean to sound crass but depending on your answer I won't let you get any closer to Kyoko. Did you rape Mogami-san the night you drugged her? Her recount had all the warning signs."
Kyoko gasped. How could Ren come to such a conclusion from that part of her mother's story? All her mother remembered was a warm gentle hand stroking her head. Nothing sinister happened that night, right? She stared at her father.
All the color drained from Tadashi's face and he broke into a sweat. He thought he was going to be sick. He stood on shaky legs and excused himself to go to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face and stared at his reflection. Is that what Saena thought of him after that night? If she did think that way, why did she continue to see him afterward? What in the world was going through her mind then? He toweled his face and hands-off and went back to his guests. He made his way to the minibar and poured himself a stiff drink. He offered them something but they both declined. Gulping the contents of his drink, he felt the reassuring burn of the whiskey slide down his throat.
He placed his empty glass on the table and sat back down. He looked at Ren evenly. Well played young man. Ren had managed to do what so many in the past have attempted; make him lose his composure. Tadashi thought that it worked in his favor that he showed his daughter his true emotions though.
"I remember that night you speak of well, but no, I may be a coward but I would never do anything so despicable. Especially, when we were already lovers. She was always willing throughout our time together. She did cringe whenever I tried to kiss her in public though," he smiled softly, recalling the times he would kiss her while they were out. He remembered the warmth on her cheeks and the scolding that she would give him but not mean. She was so cute.
Tadashi hummed at the lack of reaction he received from having just divulged that Saena and he had intercourse before marriage. Of course, it wasn't secret knowledge, Kyoko was a testament to that. It's just that most Japanese would be embarrassed with such intimate talk. He narrowed his eyes at Ren. He noticed the way the young man gulped nervously. He turned his attention to Kyoko but she just stared at him doe-eyed and innocent. He concluded that they were already sleeping together. His beautiful Princess was already soiled and by this wolf in sheep's clothing. Did she know what kind of man she was dating? Tadashi decided that there would be time for that later. For now, he would keep his eye on this young man that held his daughter's innocent heart. He hoped they were at least being safer than he had since one of the condoms apparently failed. He didn't want her to have a surprise pregnancy at her age. If it did happen, he would be there for her.
"I did want her to get some rest. She was pushing herself too hard at work. Her sleeping and eating habits had turned for the worse. I was worried she would fall ill. I admit that night, I drugged the drink I prepared for her so she could get some decent sleep for once." He didn't miss the fact that the young couple stared at each other worried. Tadashi winced. Did they think he drugged their food?
"I promise there was nothing wrong with the food." Kyoko and Ren both smiled at him sheepishly having been caught thinking the worst. "I knew if I told her to take the pills outright she would have stubbornly refused. The lines on her forehead would have surely grown deeper with disappointment." He said touching the spot between his brows. "One thought that did cross my mind recently was that she also could have been exhausted because she was already carrying you in her womb. I read that it's a common symptom in pregnancy. I'm relieved that my selfishness didn't harm you in any way. To be honest, my motives weren't completely pure that night. I had searched for her work bag and found the data I needed. I couldn't believe she brought it home so carelessly. I tried to leave her an obvious clue that I had tampered with her stuff but she either didn't notice it or simply chose to ignore it. I left her another one but she never once confronted me so I just let her be. Then I received a call from my Boss telling me my time was up. That's the last time I saw Saena. The rest is history."
Several seconds ticked by but no one spoke. The silence was broken when Kyoko stifled a yawn. Hearing his voice was soothing given the touchy subject. She wondered what it would have been like to have him read fairy tales to her at bedtime. Would her life have been different? Would she have never met Corn? No, she felt it in her heart that the red strings of fate would have pulled them together. They would have probably met and fallen in love under different circumstances.
Tadashi chuckled. "I seem to have taken up a lot of your night. I'm sure in your professions you have had a rather long day so I won't keep you any longer."
"I'm sorry!" Kyoko said, bolting to her feet and bowing repeatedly. "It's just... I found your voice pleasant," she admitted.
"I'm glad. I appreciate you coming. If it's not too much trouble, here is my number. If either of you has more questions or even would like to have dinner or lunch again, please don't hesitate to call. If you take too long, I will seek you out again," he said with a smile giving them his card.
"Thank you for tonight and your honesty Morimoto-san, I do have a lot to think about. One thing I know for sure is that you should see my mother. She deserves to hear your side," Kyoko suggested. She knew her mother had accepted the result of her past. The problem was she put the blame heavily on herself. She held herself responsible for putting love first instead of focusing on her career at that time.
All Tadashi could do was give her a curt nod. He knew he needed to see Saena and apologize. He wouldn't hope for her forgiveness since he didn't deserve it.
As the couple headed for the door Tadashi stopped them. "Just a moment Kyoko-chan." Kyoko stopped to turn to him. She watched him grab a bag from the floor near his desk and a leather folder.
"This is yours. I'm sorry again for causing so much trouble." He said, handing the bag to her. She looked inside and saw that it was the rest of her stolen stuff. Her cheeks blushed as she saw that there were also some of her undergarments in there.
"And this is for you from me. No strings attached," he said with a smile. "I would have done it even if you refused to see me."
She opened the folder to preview its contents. It looked like bank statements and receipts from her high school and the LME acting school. "What have you done, Morimoto-san?" she asked incredulously.
"First of all please stop calling me so formally. One day I would love to hear you call me 'Daddy' but until then please refer to me at least as Tadashi, with no honorific. That my dear is my first step to taking responsibility for you as my daughter. You no longer have to worry about tuition fees. Please work towards being an actress and finish school without any financial burden." Kyoko protested but he held his hand up to stop her. "Let me do this for you. I am not trying to buy my way into your heart. As your father, I shall provide for my daughter. I have also opened a bank account in your name. Be a frivolous teenager, go shopping, hang out with friends, or whatever the kids get into these days besides drugs. By the way, I know you've moved out of the Darumaya. Do you have a proper place to live, with high security? I want my daughter protected."
Ren wrapped his arms around her shoulders possessively. "She's living with me now Tadashi-sa..Tadashi...Tadashi-san. Our building has a state of the art security system." Ren kicked himself mentally. Why didn't he think of paying off her bills? He knew she would never have accepted his money. She was too independent. As it was, he had to negotiate just to keep her from paying him rent.
Tadashi sized up Ren. Why was this guy so unusually tall for a Japanese? Tadashi was taller than the average Japanese man but he looked short in comparison. "That's good to know, Tsuruga-kun. I leave her in your care."
AN: Holy heck, I couldn't find a good stopping point and I just kept going on and on. Longest chapter to date and you can thank yours truly for once again accidentally deleting her damn chapter last night when she tried to copy it over into FF; hence, why it's late. This time I was using my Ipad *cue aggravated sigh* I will eventually learn. The Saena bit wasn't included in the first round so I think fate had a helping hand in it. For some reason, I had a bout of inspiration this morning while working out and listening to Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" song. If you haven't heard it that song is heart-wrenching. Even my workout playlist is depressing…XD.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I didn't bore you with the details. Thank you for continuing to show interest and big thanks to those that left me reviews. I appreciate the feedback and looking forward to reading what you have to say about this chapter.
Until next time, Ja ne! ^_^