Chapter 33

I do not own skip beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.

Return-part 1

A suitcase in hand, a shoulder bag on the other side and a crate with her cat, Kyoko passed the gates of San Francisco airport. Ticket stuck between the teeth, she went to the security checks. Snow slept in his box, not happy but resigned to her situation so unworthy of her rank. She removed her sweater which despites its large turtle neck was far too warm inside the plane. She had opted for an adaptable wear and dressed with thin not too tight slim faded jeans, light blue longue sleeves t-shirt and her turtle neck sweater. It was not nearly enough for the weather here, especially the thin jeans and she had been freezing all the while before entering the airport but she knew it would be warmer in Japan so dressing too warm would have been just a delayed pain.

Once installed on the plane, she sighed nervousness.

Yet she knew it didn't make sense. HE would not be there. He must have been in Scotland at the moment. At least, that's what she thought she understood from the little news they had exchanged. So being jumpy was ridiculous and completely unnecessary. She wasn't even angsty about seeing everyone else. She would be glad to see them. Well, she had actually saw Kanae a couples of times those last years. Three or four in the first two years and still one more time two years ago. And they had talked over the phone. Not quite as often as Kyoko would have wished but as it was what she had wished for she couldn't complaint. She didn't take a step away only from Ren when she left but from everyone in Japan. She needed a new start. She hadn't keep touch with anyone beside Kanae and Ren time to time.

Her smile was crooked half-bitterly. When was the last time she called her Moko-san? She didn't remember. She began to call her friend Kanae in her head for a while now. Maybe on one of the times they met after she left. The very last time she saw her she was already calling her by her name. Not that she minds and Kanae certainly didn't either. She didn't even remember when it shifted, it just happened. But with her return, a few things were brought back to her and the difference between then and now was striking. She couldn't imagine call her that anymore. She couldn't imagine do so many things she would have done without a second thought before.

Kyoko chuckled inwardly. Well, no one would prevent her to buy fairytales books or watch magic shows on tv still. She loved those more than anything and could still see her fairies friends each time she would go outside.

Still, she acknowledged the changes. Her style was different. Her pace too and even if it killed her to accept that Kayla might be right about this, yes, she had become quite the lonely wolf. Again, not that she minds.

She was just blown away with how things used to be.

But she was also impatient. She wondered how Chiori was. She knew through Kanae she had made up with acting and played a lot of comic characters bringing her a lot of success and that she had even started dating recently though Kanae couldn't tell if it was serious and who it was.

She was kind of curious as to how Maria-chan was too and hoped she could forgive her for her prolonged absence. She wanted to see her formers landlords. She had missed them greatly even if Kyoko had learned they had rent her former room again. It had saddened her but she knew it was unavoidable. Plus, even if they hadn't, she was aware she wouldn't have been able to go back to there. It would too small for her and with her cat. It was impossible. Things could not go back to what they were. In reading of that she had already found an apartment to settle right away when she would arrive. But she was resolved to go greet them at least if they agreed to.

In short, she had only reasons to rejoice mostly and nothing to worry about.

She was set on keeping away from a certain person so even if against all probabilities he was not abroad, she wouldn't reach out to him.

That was she managed to convince herself of after a few hours of plane and it's with a little more serenity that she approached the journey.

Falling asleep, she decided it wasn't worth worrying over nothing and try to bundle up in a comfortable situation. No matter how many times she took the plane, not used to the difference of height from before she grew.

She grinned peacefully, remembering she hadn't warned anyone about the date of her return so that she could avoid effusions such as an over-dramatic president. At the least she would set foot on Japan grounds with the confidence of being untroubled.

…

Descending the stairs of the unit, her feet touched ground and she infused air into her lungs, rediscovering its flavour, freshness; astonished to feel like embracing a familiar home again while still under the impression to be foreign to it.

Snow clawed at her cage grid pulling back her owner to earth. She smiled and her longs legs carried new steps in an old home and moved forward.

The clement wind played with her strands bringing other used-to-know odours and made her relieve herself of her sweater without delay and she retrieved her luggage shortly after that.

She was planning to go straight to her new flat to unpack where the leaseholder and the remaining of her bags were maybe already waiting but her phone rang.

PS: I know short chapter. Next one might be longer. Sorry it's a bit of a filer. Hope you will still like it. Kisses. Next one might also be the reunion…kss kss…

Author out.