Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat, and its characters, All Rights Reserved to Yoshiki Nakamura-Published 2002;
Warning: This is purely fiction, driven out from my favorite fandom/s. I do not own nor profit from its characters; the places familiar to the fandom and the ones from the 'real world.' If there are places unfamiliar; Therefore, I take credit together with the characters I personally made which would be addressed by the end notes.
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Part 1
History Repeats
"Dear! They finally landed!" The fashion icon burst in excitement at her husband who just finished preparing.
Noticing a young man slump and out-cold on their living room couch, "And who is this homeless guy?" peeling off the thin blanket on the guy's face.
Julie sighed at her husband's sarcastic remark and her son's irritated look, "Julianne, sweety... your dad is greeting you." She gently gave him a tap.
"Right, I forgot I'm home on weekends" Julianne mumbled, "Yeah... by the way, I'm Tim. Nice to meet you." his youngest son greeted and rolled his eyes, "I see you're leaving early."
"We're heading out to get your brother and Kyoko-chan, go clean - up" Kuu tossed the blanket back to him.
The boy in cargo shorts and plain hanger shirt shrugged, "No need, I'll be heading out with some friends." Kuu looked upset that his son is brushing off an important family moment.
Kuu is known to be a loving father, however after what happened to his eldest, he started to balance it and started to be stern and strict towards his other son to avoid what happened to Kuon. all he wants is to have Julienne grew to a normal environment and attend school like regular children. Julie rubbed Kuu's arm to calm him down and shook her head to let it go.
"I'm excited Kuon is coming home!" she said in glee, "And Kyoko-chan will be coming along!" she squealed, "Our family is finally complete!" Julie gave a sigh of happiness and Kuu feeling her relief made him smile and forgot about Julianne's attitude.
It wasn't long when they arrived to the airport and met their son and his future wife, "It's been long, I missed you sweety!" Juliena Hizuri held her son and future-daughter-in-law tightly as she had missed them for years, Kuu did the same but was delighted to see his adoptive daughter who took care of him while he was in Japan, on their way back they talked about things catching up for the years until.
"How is Julianne, why did he not come?" Kuon wondered and his father's smile turned upside-down.
"Apparently, his friends is more important that his brother who finally came home." Kuu explained, and Kuon does not blame his brother for being indifferent, he was not that brotherly nore gave Julianne any attention when he was little even if the boy wanted to be around him, "I cant handle Julienne being rebellious." Kuu sighed in defeat.
"He's at the age already, his rebellious is just a phrase, remember I was similar back then." Kuon tried to comfort his father.
"Kuon, is right... Don't worry Julienne-kun will be alright. Look, Kuon grew out from that phrase." Kyoko looking proud of her partner and kissed his nose making the older couple laugh.
"He used to be so sweet, caring and adorable. Now I don't know what happened and what I did wrong." Julie's eyes turned sad.
Upon arrival, Kyoko looked around the spacious and beautiful home, walls are decorated by paintings and framed family photos; Kuon's childhood pictures up to his adulthood adorning the pristine white walls, however there were more photos of Kuon than his baby brother. Taking notice of the frames over the grand piano, Kyoko gasped after her pictures with Kuon are displayed. "You are family now." Kuu hugged her tightly.
"Go and rest dearies, we know you are tired, We'll call you for lunch." smiled Julie and Kuu patted his son and gave him a tight hug thanking him for finally coming home.
Lunch and dinner passed and Julianne failed to show up and join them. Kuu is fuming learning that his son crashed at his friend's house and avoided his family.
The morning later, Julie decided to clean Julianne's room for a change and see what he has been up to. She feels guilty that she's not up to date with her youngest son's affairs unlike her eldest child. But one thing she knows that her boys are the same and his room is probably in a mess, "Mom-san, can I help you?" Kyoko offered with a smile wanting to bond with her.
However upon entering the room, she was stunned to see how clean and neat everything was. From the shelf; full of advanced books were organized, his computer and study desk in the corner, his guitar dusted, resting over the wall and till to his bed that has been neatly set and arranged. Her eyes turned sad after seeing the pictures over his pin board full of his friends and school schoolmates, there was none of her and Kuu. Julie even felt more disappointed after finding the presents she gave are still wrapped sealed and shoved in a corner. The only thing that was not arrange was the ukulele that was laid over his beanbag.
Taking notice at the full trash bin, finding crumpled and torn award certificates, broken trophies and damaged medals, there was even a ripped picture of Julienne in his uniform with a medal and holding the huge trophy and certificates, instead of smiling he was just frowning and glaring.
Placing it down, he eyes caugt envelopes neatly stacked over his study table, curious she checked where it was from, "Oxford University" it read. Investigating, she opened it and was shocked it was an acceptance letter from the institution. Frantic she started to to check all of the envelopes and it was all acceptance letters from famous Universities from abroad. Julie gasped shocked and took a seat on her son's bed. Kyoko concerned called for Kuon who came rushing with Kuu.
Kuu fumed on what his youngest's disrespect has done this time and was ready to punish him when, "Look..." Julie showed him the letters of Acceptance and Amission from a University from abroad. Kuu's eyes were wide and the same time upset that their son failed to inform and asked theie permission for such important matter.
Julie also showed him the ripped and broken awards. Kuu inspected it and he gave the same shocked look as his wife did, his hand started to tremble after looking at the same ripped picture.
"Get out." Came a deep offended and hurt tone from the person behind them. All heads turned to the person.
Julianne stood by the door frame with an angry look, his jaws were clinched and his hands were shaking, "I said get out." It was calm but the dark venom is sipping out.
"Get out." He repeated and Kuu with a stern and cold look was offended with his son's demeanor.
With a huff, "Why didn't you tell us about these?" Showing him the stacked envelopes.
Julianne snorted, "Why does it matter?" he spat.
Kuu took offense, "Because we are your 'Parents!' and we are supposed to be involved with your life!"
Julianne laughed, "What a load of bullshit. You decide to be one now? For all I know and care you were never involved in my life. None of ya'll were there even!"
Julie sobbed and held off Kuu after he gave Julianne a good straight square in his face face, Kuon then rushed to help his brother after tumbling backwards and had a bleeding nose and ripped lip. "You have no respect! I did not raise you to be like that!" Kuu trembling and was also surprised he lifted his hand against his own son.
"Raise me? Rich coming from the dude who was never there. While I was graduating both of you were busy at home watching your golden and favorite child on television receiving his fifth best actor's award. or when I was competing and won the Nationals you weren't there coz you prioritized your golden child's new drama episode... Oh! and don't get me started with your obsession of following Kuon's usual gossips while my school requested for your presence for my career counseling, NONRE! of y'all were there!" he barked and this stunned his parents, Kuon was frozen from guilt.
Julianne aggressively pulled his arm off his brother and stormed to his closet to grab his back-pack and the matching travel duffle bag.
"It's nice to see you too, Jules." Kuon c
Not bothering to wipe the blood off his nose and lip, Julianne pulled out his old model phone, "Liam, can you pick me up?" Shortly, the teen with a back-pack with his yesterday's clothes walked out holding the trash can with him. Kuu was about to stop him when Julie pulled him to stop and feared Kuu might her her already trauma stricken son again, he made a long walk to the driveway down to the street side walk and dumped the trash out by the bigger bin.
Suddenly their fidgeting housekeeper and Julianne's nanny stepped in and gave a sad look to Julie, "Ma'am can I tell you something?" She looked nervous.
"What is it Melanie?" Julie's calmly asked.
"Ma'am, I did not know it would take this long for Sasha to finally snap." Julie felt a little offended but still listened, "He has been having trouble with his feelings after Kuon left and both you and Signor Kuu's attention diverted. And Signor Kuu started to be cold and rough with him, I understand that you wanted best for him and decided to raise him strictly and I tried my best to explain it to him. He understood but I guess it was too much." Kuu took a seat because it was all because of him, he could not believe he hurt his son both physically and emotionally. Kuon hugged his father and tried to soothe him.
"Sasha has been trying to show you he is not Kuon and did his best in school, society and at home, making sure he's not giving you troubles but it seems he finally gave up. And the fact he was sent to a boarding school he told me that it feels like you were getting rid of him." Kuu realized that his son's distant behavior towards them is because of him. "And last few weeks, he had some championships that he has been trying to tell you but you were not around. I hope you did not mind if I was the one who came and be there for him." By now Julie's heart was ripped in pieces.
"When was it?" Kuu asked still shocked at what is currently happening, his fear is coming back since this is similar when Kuon had to leave suddenly. After she told the date, they realized it was the day Kuon had his award as best supporting actor – the couple had to disguise and join the president to attend their eldest son's awarding. Julie at the moment is hysterically crying because of guilt.
"Thank you Nanny Mel, thank you for being there for him." Kuon's tears started to fall and hugged the old woman.
"Ma'am, yesterday Sasha came home to take some of his things and let you know he is leaving, but he was upset with Signor and left to stay at his friend's instead and he is about to leave this Monday after his headmaster informed him that he will be enrolled earlier than intended, and I assume the head master was able to inform you too that he will be attending university in another country." with that said the family panicked knowing it would be today.
Kuu's eyes were just shocked that they failed to know such important information. "Thank you, Mel!" Kuu hugged her, "Thank you for letting us know." Kuu is currently having a hard time taking it all in. "Please take-out his thrown things from the bin and clean it. We'll look for him!" said Kuu in fearful panic scrambling looking for his keys, wallet and everything he needs, afraid that his son would fly to whatever country it is without a word and leaving them in hatred.
"Signor, I think you need to call all his friends to ask about him." with that said the family rushed to call whoever knows and drive where he is, sadly there was no luck finding him.
Suddenly a message came in from one of his friends, "He's at the airport" Julianne's best friend secretly message Julie. With haste they reached the airport in top speed without running into ny red lights. Arriving they found Julianne with his duffel bag and back pack, sitting with his four best friends, their son in tears giving his closest the tightest hug he can give, his face finally showing the dark gray bruise on his left cheek after Kuu's forced punch. Julie run up to him and hugged the boy who's trying to gently push her away, he wasn't yelling, but rather growling in anger, "LET GO!" he kept repeating.
"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be with your good son? Leave. I know you don't even want me so I'm doing you a favor." With that said, Kuu's heart sank and leaving him speechless,
Kuu wanted to apologize but was frozen after seeing Julianne's battered face up-close, "Im horrible and I did that." he thought. Kuon and Kyoko were stunned on their spot, Julie being comforted by the four best friends as she cried. With his flight being called he stood and left he never even turned to see them, his friends gave his parents a sad look, glared in disappointment in Kuu, shaking their heads that they were unable to convince him to stay.
"While we try to battle to take you home, we didn't know we're losing one who has been there for us, and trying to please both. I know I was harsh but all I wanted is to have him stay in line and avoid being in trouble with the law." said Kuu with a sigh in defeat, "And there I was hurting him. I feel so awful and sick to my stomach that I gave him a traumatic parting present." Kui reflected.
"We can't blame him…" said Kuon. "It's my fault that you had to be strict towards him." Kuon blaming himself and Kyoko hugged him in support.
"It's like history repeats itself, but this time I made things worse." Kuu stated and just sat on the floor shocked at what is going on, Julie cried harder as she watches from the widow the plane her son is currently on board.
Heading back home in defeat, being followed by Julianne's best friends they gave his mother plenty of pictures to keep, she took notice of her son's sad smiles. Julie drowned herself on making albums for him and realized she doesn't have much from his childhood because they were longing for Kuon at that time.
The nanny also gave them her resignation, "But why?" Julie looked troubled, the old woman shook her head with a sad smile.
"I only remained because of Sasha, ma'am. To tell you the truth, he told me I am the only one that is with him and it breaks my heart to leave him." This time Melanie was crying and gave Julie a tight hug. "I loved that child the day I started to work for you and Signor." She admitted.
"Thank you for loving him for us." Julie this time joined her in tears, "This is yours." And Julie gave her a tiny gold bracelet that her son used to wear as an infant and a picture of her baby Julianne.
"I will treasure this." Melanie shortly left with her luggage, their family cook, housekeepers and even gardeners that was with them for years were all devastated after knowing what happened, the boy grew on them and he was known as the sweetest and loving kid around, they all loved the sweet Julianne. The couple knew that their staff are a bit upset with them but could not blame them because of the past.
"She was more of a mother than I towards Julienne." Julie admitted and Kuu hugged her.
The medals, trophies and the crumpled certificates, and framed awards were fixed and placed on a wall with their son's photo to show his achievements which they overlooked. The boys, Julianne's best friends would keep the couple in company every weekends and do their best to have that traditional routine lunch and dinner with them and tell stories about their son. Kuu later knew that the tuition and allowance they send for Julianne were untouched as the young man was quite the reliable independent child. His education was already paid in full through his scholarships he managed to process by himself, his allowance and all his necessities came from his fairly normal part-time work. The boys also shared how he wears cheap unbranded clothes and still look good in them despite having Julie the designer- fashion godess as his mother.
For months, Kuu got to know deeply his youngest better after his best friends made plenty of visits, they shared many memories of Julianne to his parents. The couple knows that their son loved music but was not aware that he was a great singer and plays his guitar really well, and the fact he has won the Academy's talent show for three consecutive years. Julie would often find her husband hugging the old acoustic guitar he got for the boy in his eleventh birthday and would chant apologies to it.
House helpers would also see the couple often in their young master's room everyday. Kuu failed to realize that his youngest was already matured and understanding in his own way, but he made things worse by being an asshole of a father to him. "I could have at least told him I loved him." Julie's tears streamed from her cheek while holding her husband's hand, "I'm the worst."
TBC