CHAPTER 124

I do not own Skip Beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.

~~Magical Summer trip ~~

~~ part 30~~

Blooming of thorns

It was early in the morning when Kyoko went to pick up the presents on the fourth day of them staying at Ren's parents. Julie-san hadn't been able to come but she promised she would have returned by the time Kyoko would return the Hizuri home. She had jealously hidden the package containing her scheming plans in her bag when she had passed the threshold of the door. The woodcrafter artisan had done an outstanding work with every piece, both on her personal orders, and she and Julie-san shared one. They had come out even better than she could have imagined.

She went to put that package in her guest room, before going on a quest of finding the Hizuri family.

Splashes reaching her ears were the ones to alert her on the whereabouts of some of them, as well as distinct masculine voices and laughs.

Careful to set the remaining bundle from the artisan under her arm, she opened the glassed door breaching on the backyard and a whiff of hot air washed over her face, contrasting with the air conditioning of the house. She hadn't deserted the car for long, yet it already gave her such a shock of temperatures. Air con was also in the car Ren's parents lent, which might have played a part. But her impression weather was especially hot today remained. The morning was not even over.

She removed her slippers and stepped outside, grateful for the light white shirt she was wearing and its foldable sleeves, the sounds became louder.

She made a few steps on the terrace and pursued on the lawn, but she didn't have to go that far. Her eyes were quick to pick up on the two figures crawling in the third pool a few levels below. Her heart melt as she heard the mutual laughs of father and son.

She hesitated to walk to them upon first sight, but after hearing how much fun they were having, she chose against it. She didn't want to disrupt their moment together.

She settled on the grass – thankful for her jeans – , near the end of the first basin, grateful for the view her perched seat gave her, and wondering how Ren had managed to hide it from her yesterday without her noticing the other pools from here. She crooked her head, pondering it was a question of angles, if just being inside the pool, and her head at water level, were enough to camouflage the perspective. Or if it had just been because Ren had blocked her sight from seeing it.

She watched them for several minutes, choosing not to manifest herself unless they saw her, perfectly happy to just observe them and enjoy some sun. Minus the fact she ignored if she would hold for so long in a full sun, as they got closer to the noon hour.

The wetness of the pools carried by the wind brought her bits of coolness, and waffled to her scents, that clung, thanks to the humidity. Like the grass, already dry at this hour, and otherwise odourless unless you put your nose in it.

She thought half an hour might have passed at some point but she was unsure because she had closed her eyes against her bent leg, lulled by the warmth of the sun and the laughs echoing to her ears, when a glowing warm voice, close, spoke on her left, its feminine charm alighted in the soft whispered words.

'Pretty adorable, aren't they?'Julie said, fondly and Kyoko grinned, eyes still closed.

'Yes.'

She broke her lids then, and showed Ren's mother the package securely resting by her side, saying it was even better they had hoped for. In return, she thanked Kyoko again for going for both of them, and silence fell back, they both watched them, this time.

§§§

In the mind of Julie, she wondered how to broach what she hoped to talk about. It had been gnawing at her since yesterday evening, when they had shown Kyoko pictures of Kuon. She had tried to persuade herself. She had really, really tried. But she could not help herself. The doubt was scavenging her guts, begging, pleading with her with all its might, to reign free, to do as it pleased. To be expressed. She had to check.

Her gaze slipped away from her family to glide on the young woman sitting near her. Her graceful profile as her chin rested its tip on her knee, alighted by the glow of sunshine she let her face bathed into, as her arms embraced her lifted leg in a self-cuddle.

This young lady was quite mysterious for her. Kuu had told her aplenty about her performances – and she had seen some herself – and he tried to look for the shows and movies she appeared into, though he had himself confided it took him a while sometimes. As she was so skilled at morphing into someone else, he didn't recognize her each time, and had to peruse over every new release actors list for her name, or ask around. She had found hard to believe at first, but after seeing several of her roles, she had had to admit it was the truth. She was a fascinating actress.

But what was being hard figuring out the person behind. Lory had never given them details about her, or her life when he had told them she would be living in the US nearly six years ago. He had asked them to keep an eye on her, even from afar. But even from far, it had been so hard to do so.

At first, because the boss wanted them to give her space – though he had never told them why – , just keep an eye out in case of serious trouble. And then, because it got harder to keep track, and she kept people at distance. Even when she had met Kuu a few years back, for one evening, she had been charming and had changed a lot – based on Kuu's words – but she had been way more distant than when she had first met him. And he had failed to establish a tighter contact at the time. He had just shared the impression she had gone through more, yet again, and that now had not been the time.

And now, she was here. She esteemed the actress already in every role she incarnated. But during those last couple of days, she got to be in her presence as a normal person. She thought she would finally understand, pierce the reason her husband could have adopted her, had she just asked about it, and the reason why her son was head over heels for her.

But if her time with them had given her glimpses … it was her compassion and care for her son had that made her grow fond of her instantly. As well as her capacity to make him eat. But more than that her ability to understand Kuon, as if it was second nature, and the kindness and patience she had shown when Kuon had told them about all those awful years he suffered because they weren't there. It was the way she was able to reach Kuon with her words and help him. She would never be grateful enough for what she had done for their son, and for them. It would never be enough.

And when they were together…

Lord, it was heartbreaking for her to imagine they were not together yet. She didn't understand how the young lady couldn't see Kuon's heart as he looked at her. It was as if he came alight when he was with her. No, it was as if he came alive again. There were no ruins left in his eyes when he was with her. The sun was bright and it shined in his gaze each time he was with her. Each time his eyes saw her. When they watched them, when they were together, when they were fully mindless of their presence, Julie could see their little boy, as he used to be … without the shadows and the pain. The joy and innocence blooming anew in the presence of Kyoko.

For that, and only that – already – … for the smile and carefreeness she brought back in his life, on his face, in him … she would be eternally grateful to the young woman.

There was only one shadow to the painting, her feelings.

But, outside of their dynamic, she was nearly too reserved, and the clouds hiding her from their understanding were nearly overwhelming. Most of what she observed was because of her interactions with Kuon. The depth of her stare had let her see she had suffered her share too, as well as tidbits Kuu had thought he might have guessed, and had succinctly recounted to her. But frugality remained.

Her eyes shined with warmth and affection when she looked at Kuon, but she didn't show enough to know if she saw their son only as friends or more. She thought she had seen some glimpses of something more profound, a few times, when she had appeared to glow in Kuon's presence too. But it vanished so fast, she was not even sure it had been there. And she seemed to be the glowing-with-life type of girl, so figuring out made it harder. It put to shame the experience she thought she had in understanding women, and frustrated Julie. She wanted so much to intervene, to help her son, knowing it could not be anyone else for him, and to help and make her see how wonderful he was. She had to do herself violence to stay put and quiet. Because she didn't want to cause harm to the relationship between her son and the young lady.

Another thing that bothered her was the way she spoke of herself, sometimes, of tried to hide herself in shadows, as if to disappear. As if she necessarily would be a bother. Always thinking she would be trouble.

It made Julie want to hug her as well as it brought the desire to shake her, and beat to a pulp whoever had damaged her so hard. She did not know her that well yet, and she could already see how incredible she could be. She wished the young woman could see it, though. Maybe she'd see how wonderful Kuon found her, then.

And now, she was faced with a choice.

She was set on not speaking a word, not pry in any way whatsoever during their stay. Even if it killed her when she saw Kuon so sad, at times.

Up until yesterday.

Up until yesterday, she would have stayed put all the way until their departure.

But yesterday, when she showed the albums to Kyoko… There had been … something. Nevermind the fact that Kyoko-chan appeared to react so strongly to the ten-year-old version of Kuon…

As if she freaking knew this younger version of him. Which didn't make sense. They had never met before. Again, let it be regardless of how much her mind was clattering with questions on this.

But.

But there had been something. The way she had looked then, her immobile posture as she leaned to the album … to reach closer. No. As if – … as if, she wanted to cuddle with the picture, as odd as it sounded. Her fingers grazing against the image, the way you would cradle a little songbird against your heart, fallen from its nest. Protected from the world, to lie pressed on her chest, like the precious flutter of life beating its rhythm.

For the first time since Julie had met her, it had felt like she was tickling behind the surface of the cool young woman, a fragment of flickering depth peeking at the detour of this page they stopped at. And then, Julie had seen cracking euphoria and melting distress fight for dominance, before the cover of a mask well rooted and well worn-out fell back into place.

… The gaze she had given the picture … before turning to Kuon to ask if she could have it. Something even Julie – not being acquainted with her for long – could guess was quite unusual, coming from her.

The emotions that had glowed in her stare at that sole moment … those had more. Those ran too deep to be innocent. And her whole acceptance of her son's words concerning how Kyoko saw him was put into question in that one instant. She just couldn't help it. She had a doubt.

A serious doubt.

Which was how she found herself faced with the choice of now. And the how, if she took the less than wise path.

'He is quite adorable, right?'Her voice carried the amusement and softness of her tone, hoping to bring forth lightness in her approach. She had made her choice.

Eyes that still appeared a little too gold to be natural in Julie's opinion, shifted in her direction, drowsiness drawn from the sun apparent on her face.

'My son, that is.' She said, smiling like it was the most innocent chat in the world. 'You said so yourself, yesterday.'

The graciousness of her expression won Julie over, as she replied, and blew her away, hardening her resolve to be nosy. Not that she usually disliked it, but this was special, this was for her son, and she knew she was walking on eggshells.

Her tone was nearly too unarmed when Kyoko-chan responded her.

'He truly is.'

The breath that sipped in Julie's lungs was filled with anxious fortitude, and she held it, held it … held it. Crossed her arms and pray. Looked at her like an Eagle. Held it. Until.

'I could not help but wonder – '

And she looked at her and paused before continuing, even if the young lady had turned her gaze the way rumbles of loud splashes had come from.

'Would you perhaps – she cleared her throat – ' … have a thing – … for him'?

The feminine profile did not bulge as she heard her words, and Julie observed her closely as she blinked, once. Her nervousness over the tight silence, and over the risk ruining things for her son, uncharacteristically made more words tumbled out from her mouth.

'You know … it's just … as his mum, I couldn't help but be curious, and – …'

The quietness seemed to continue into beyond and more, and her urgency to make the void of response cease, made the next words came out drier than she wanted them to.

'I have to look out for my son … as you can imagine.'

Her eyes enlarged for a second as she heard, but she remained quiet while Julie finished.

'And I would not want you to – … misunderstand. Or him.' And be unable to see how precious you are to him, she thought. If she could just poke a bit, confirm what she thought she had seen, make Kyoko-chan see how special she was to her son… If only a little, she would find this a success. She could not bear not to have her son embrace the happiness he so deeply deserved, no, needed. Even more, she would dare to say … that they both needed.

If only she could have just a hint, a tiny, tiny hint that it did not run one way, only. A small speckle of truth. To confirm what she thought she had seen in the glow of yesterday's afternoon. But despite the vehement desire hidden behind the prodding of a deeply sincere mother, misreading and miscalculation of awkward hearts shook the world of comprehension, cracking the seeds of sleepwalking confidence. Stumble. Seizing of frost in its arms. Shatters.

If the silence that had filled the air before, had been foreseen, apprehended – somehow – , the howling calm following dreads and collapses, it roars.

It roars a sorrow.

In the mute sunny air, the thunder of the strained atmosphere makes itself at home and spread, it speaks louder than any murmur. Suffocating.

That half second of immobile strangulation is enough for Julie, however. Her mistake could be explained in as many words as it takes none to be felt.

The infinity of slowness with which Kyoko-chan pivoted her head towards her nearly made her heart rear to a halt, and her eyes clashed against hers.

She expected anger, outrage, or rightful condescending. She got none of that.

The boundless gentleness she fell into, as she met Kyoko-chan's gaze made her choke on her own saliva, and worse, a devastating smile she never anticipated was given to her. The lethality of it brought onto her by the generous kindness her expression gave. Not even one speck of wrath was present. There was just clear acceptation.

'I understand. I fully understand.'The young woman said, and she wanted to recoil at the honest softness of her voice. It would have been far better if it had been fake, a lie, a facade. The extensive fatality of the blow she had just inflicted her not yet dawning on Julie, even if her heart, beating with pain had already understood.

Julie could feel the horror taking hold of her face as she realized how much she still did not understand about Kyoko-chan. The layers of her soul's ramifications visible for one smidgen – one fleeting instant – but unreachable to her comprehension.

'You don't have to worry, Julie-san.' And if it was possible, her expression became even softer. But carried into her look, just her under her eye, hidden in the dimple produced, sadness winked, briefly. 'I know I'm not the appropriate partner for him.'

'That's not it, no – '

But the lady gave her a reassuring look so hurtful to Julie, she could not even stifle air in, before looking away and starring in the direction of where Kuu and Kuon were, eyes softening again.

'I'm pretty sure your son only sees me as a friend so, I'm not sure what could worry you, but – '

'No, Kyoko-chan, I – '

The young lady took one large breath in, paused lengthily, not ever quitting from observing in the pool direction, and expired.

'Rest assured, I swear I will never attempt anything.'

The shock muted Julie, as she looked at her, confused. It took one more poignant second for Kyoko-chan to return her stare in her direction, and she grinned at her as if everything was fine in the world, and stood, fluffing her backside off grass.

'Kyoko-chan, I'm sorry, that is – .'She managed, eventually.

But she shook her head at her, cutting her attempt once more.

'You don't have to apologize for anything, it is only natural you'd worry. Rare are the women immune to your son, after all, and I'm not blinder than the others.'

You are the blindest of them all.

'That is – '

'You really don't have to be concerned about me,' She added, making distress settle inside Julie as she finally realized Kyoko-chan thought she was concerned she would be interested in Kuon, as in, she would disapprove of that, of her being with her son. 'We both want the best for him, after all.' Kyoko said, eventually.

Why is she saying it like 'the best' would not be her?

She was so perturbed trying to understand the way this woman thought, her mind barely registered when Kyoko-chan waved the package in front of her.

'Shouldn't we go to offer this now, Julie-san?'She enquired. 'I know both of you and Kuu-san are working in the afternoon, and Ren has something he is scheming, so we don't have that much time. Especially if there is lunch afterwards.'

Julie's stomach rumbled at the thought of lunch but she made one last attempt as she took Kyoko-chan's hand to hoist her up.

'I apologize if I butted in, but I'm afraid you misunderstood, I didn't mean to – '

But Kyoko-chan chuckled, waving the hand not holding the package in

'It is only normal you would worry about who is surrounding your son.'
'That is not – ' Started Julie before interrupting herself, and feeling desperate to communicate correctly, she tempted another approach.

'You are a wonderful young woman, and Kuon is very lucky to have you in his life.'
She smiled in response.

'Thank you.' She said simply as they walked down the lawn.

She added nothing, yet it was not needed, as if the young woman had just assimilated the former words as truth, and was saying 'I know it doesn't change your words of earlier', and worse, she was positive her words of gratitude just now had been automatic. She hadn't believed one crumble of her compliment, merrily thought Julie was being polite to soften the blow of earlier. She was positive she didn't believe them. She would have bet her feminine instinct on it.

What have I done?

But the desolation she felt was disputed between how disturbed she was at Kyoko-chan attitude. It had been as if the girl had expected this. Like it was the most natural and normal thing. She hadn't seemed shocked. The only other emotion she had been able to get from her was sprinkles of sadness, but she ignored to which part she was supposed to attribute it. Was it because she had considered Julie was refusing her as a potential partner for her son? But she had seemed so okay with it. Like she should have been prepared for her questions concerning her relationship with Kuon. She hadn't appeared to be lying saying it was only natural Julie would be concerned.

Then…

What had been this dejection and melancholy she had seen for one instant?

And then it hit her. She remembered Kuu sharing tiny, tiny bits of the second son he had met when he went to Japan, and she was just seventeen. How troubled of a past she had. How little of parental figures she had. How used she was, not to be accepted by adults.

Did she feel rejected by me as a mother's figure?

Her face blanched at the prospect.

Damn it all. Reading her emotions was as hard as for Kuon. And here she thought having spent so much time with young women would suffice to help her understand this young lady. They really were made for each other. It was driving her nuts.

The girl was so adorable, she wanted her as a daughter-in-law, for goodness' sake. More, she was only starting to understand how sweet of a person she was. There was no way she was letting a bridge carve between them.

Yet.

Yet, what was the best now?

She had done what she had sworn not do and tried to poke. She would not act for herself, or even for her son's sake, again, without measuring the risks carefully, this time. What if she made it worse? What if she had already made it worse? The equilibrium of her and her son's friendship seemed fragile. And she feared she had failed to unconvinced her she did not want her as a partner for Kuon. It would all be mutt, obviously, if the girl only felt friendship for her son, anyway.

And in the end, she had been unsuccessful in getting an answer whether the young woman did or did not have feelings for her son.

She feared stepping in and trying to further their talk would make her shut down, and if she did have feelings for her son, and it was brought to light to him, she was pretty sure whether she thought his mother agreed would not matter much in making things change. Kuon could be pretty convincing and if he were sure of her feelings, Julie's certitude he would not give up under anything was without limit.

She sighed at herself, in the end, her worst worry was the prospect the young woman might be thinking Julie had just rejected her. But then, how? How was she to tell her otherwise, without broaching the touchy aspect of her relationship with Kuon?

Because yes, she had decided to lay low on that, thinking against prodding again. But letting the girl think she had been rejecting her one way or another was beyond her capacity. She would have to find an occasion before she left. She felt double glad she was staying one day more than planned, maybe she would have the chance then.

They reached the bottom pool just as Julie was hardening her determination to find a chance to mend that part of the misunderstanding.

They looked at the empty pool, barely calming down from the forms that must have been moving not so long ago, wondering where they had gone.

They returned, freshly showered and dressed, it was evident, two minutes later and just before they could start peel the garden away in search of their presence.

She couldn't help grinning as she saw how Kuon looked at Kyoko-chan, the minute he noticed her. Alive and soft eyes she had feared once would never grace his face again, a bright smile that made him look younger, his age, rather than the usual sternness that had possessed him in all the interviews she had watched on repeat, in the hope to connect to her son, if only a little.

She watched as Kyoko-chan unfolded the first layer of the wrapped brown package, and once only remained a thin wrapping of blue silk paper, she shyly gave one to Kuu and one to Kuon. She explained she had chosen the design with Julie, though she was vastly exaggerating that last point. But she let her say it as such until both men had unwrapped the sculpture.

Behind the soft silky paper, in each pair of hands of the men, a sculpture revealed itself to the gazes of everyone. Julie who had yet to see the final product, closed in.

The replica of one another, both creations were the same. And on each, four figures stood together in an amazingly polished light-chocolate wood, painted in the areas of clothes in clear white and blue, each human shape appeared like fairies but with their distinctive face traits on the faces. She admired as the artisan has even managed to reproduce the light wrinkles – very light, she added to herself – on her lookalike wood face and Kuu's, giving them a maturer appearance. Their own figures were standing while Kuon and Kyoko-chan wood counterparts were in front of them, crouching and facing each other. Each pair was holding hands. Her and Kuu from one side, but the kids were holding both hands since they were facing each other. It was incredibly realistic.

The most outstanding part was not the wood, however. But the pair of glass wings carried by each figure in their backs. Like butterfly wings, they were huge and pointy on the opposite edges, curling like lashes in those areas. And they glowed brighter than any jewel Julie had ever sported, shining in a rainbow of colours that twinkled under the sun.

'I merely suggested Kyoko-chan would be with us.'Julie eventually said, still awed by how stunning the two identical art pieces were. How the woodcrafter had managed this in three days was beyond her, and she was set on asking him more things, now that she knew how amazing he was.

Kyoko-chan cleared her throat.

'Well … I proposed this, so that both Ren and you and Kuu-san would have something always with you when you are away from each other,' She messed with her hair, something Julie had noticed she sometimes did when she felt embarrassed or self-conscious, ' … it would only make sense to me it would be you three.'She mumbled.

Her son looked in her direction, looking like he had melted inside, making her want to chuckle at his expression, but he worded a soft 'thank you' in her direction, and she glowed a grin, glad it was well received. Her husband followed suit, mouthing a 'you are the best' above Kyoko-chan's head.

'Nonsense,' Kuu said, grinning. 'It is much better this way. Right, Son?'

Kuon looked back at Kyoko-chan, giving her those special eyes she had seen him observed her with since they arrived. But Kyoko-chan took it in strike, as if he was only teasing her, and Julie was quickly discovering it was her default idea of her son sometimes strange behaviours. The woman arched a brow at his son, and his smile did shift into a half-crooked version, then.

'I would have hated if you hadn't included yourself.' He said, not developing more but both his parents read the message loud and clear. And they did. Their son was ready, on the starting blocks, to make her part of the family, any time she was willing.

'We would have been so lonelyyy.'Her husband added, turning on the dramatic air, with a palm pressed on his chest. And Kyoko-chan actually rolled her eyes at him, grinning.

'Oh yes, it is your father alright.'She mumbled to Kuon, who stared at her in curiosity, making her add. 'I remember you doing this sort of grand gesture in the past … like the end of the world was happening inside you.'

A not so distinguished giggle escaped Julie, and she covered her mouth.

'They are not father and son for nothing.'She concurred between her fingers.

'They are mocking us, Son.'Kuu said, a happy grin on the face, before gasping in an overly big shock. No. It is far worse. They are siding against us! What are we going to do?!' He whined to Kuon, who shook his head.

'I was afraid it would be inevitable.' Her son replied, a resigned smile appearing.

Everyone burst into laughs.

'So, you are actually prepared.'Kuu said as they walked back inside the house to lunch, to Julie's delight. She was starving. She would have to tell Kuu about her blunder later, but she wanted to find a moment to talk with Kyoko-chan alone first. It would probably have to wait tomorrow, however. They would be leaving after lunch, and her son had planned to spend the afternoon with Kyoko in some special place.

§§§

~~Somewhere, elsewhere, yet not so far away~~

'

'…'

'So, I heard you were desperate, Sparrow?'

'Don't mock me Al, I searched everywhere.'

The man on the phone whined, he was never whining. He was grouchy, he was excited, he was sometimes blind and oblivious. But whining? Never. It was creepy and so unmanly of him, he barely believed what his ears were telling him. He scratched his beard.

'That bad, huh?'

He must really have sniffed around in all places.

'You have no idea…'

'In other countries too?'

'Yeah … I put on a worldwide call nearly one year ago after the first few hundreds here came out as a fail.'

'I remember you doing that… Are you sure you are not being kinda … too difficult?'

Surely, there would have some people matching his requirements. He took a puff of his cigar as he pondered.

'Of course I'm difficult.'He heard a groan from the other side, and the sound of his usual old rolling chair creaking.

'I'm not making this with my ass … either I paint it in gold or I don't paint it at all.'

"What about looks? Surely some fit the part."

"Some would have been okay…"The voice conceded on the other end of the phone.

"Then you can"

"Impossible. Their skills were terrible."

" … Kane."

He sighed, puffing out smoke. His comrade had always been stubborn, but it had got worse and worse, it seemed, with his obsession.

"What? That's the truth. An eyesore for what I have in mind."

"Skills can be taught, shown … or I don't know, directed, you know … like by a director."

"Funny as hell, Al."

"You know I'm right, Sparrow."

"No, I don't, I really don't. I'm not trying to make just another a repetitive police special unity something."

"That doesn't mean you could not instruct them so they perform well."

His friend grumbled in the phone's mike.

"They weren't all bad, you know. Some were even half-correct if I dare to say so."

Al snorted.

"There you go, just contact them and"

"No, Al. Half-correct is not what I need."

And there went realism and pragmatism, far away from his friend and into the great beyond.

"My show requires people with imagination; otherwise I will never make them believe."

"All works of fictions are make-believe, Sparrow, don't be ridiculous."

"Doesn't change a thing."His friend said, and he could not help a smirk to pull at his lips. All works his friend did were unbelievably good, so if he was that set on this, the promise was incredible, he could not wait to see it.

"Oi? Did I lose you to your mind again? I was talking, you know." Kane said in his ear.

"Shh … I'm thinking."

Maybe he should contact Lory. That love demon always nurtured jewels he jealously kept until he had decided they were ready. But.

By the time he would be able to extract one from the nurturing hands of LME boss, his friend would have lost all his remaining hair. He could always contact Lory later.

"Why don't you stop by?"He proposed.

"Where?"

"At my work."

" … you're kidding, right?"

"I'm not."He said, holding back a chuckle.

His friend cursed in the phone.

"Amateurs are the only kinds I'm going to find there."

"Maybe,"He admitted, "But you are desperate, right? So, this is as good as any place to look at this point."

Another salve of swears came and were propelled into his ear for a good minute.

"You are mad. Completely mad." Al crushed his used cigar in the ashtray, smirking in silence.

"See you there, Sparrow." He said before cutting the line under another curse. He could nearly hear the steps of the pacing on his worn-out floorboard.

§§§

END OF CHAPTER 124

PS: Hello everyone. Sorry it took a while. Life has been hard recently. Health is my demon. Anywhere, I'm glad I'm back and I hope you will like this chapter.

As promise, the storm is starting. Slowly, slowly, be ready.

Kisses to you all, i hope you are all good and sparkly and happy.

Mimagfan,

AUTHOR OUT.