Emerald Light

A KnB Fanfiction

By: Lycanwolff

Chapter 1

Author's Note: So I was cruising Tumblr one night and came across a prompt and was graciously given permission to write a story based around that prompt. Thank you to Purple-Mischief on Tumblr for letting me take off and run with it. Here's her profile on AO3, so go check it out! /users/Koniro_Yotsuyu/

No one ever really thinks about what their life is going to be like after high school. No one ever really considers the possibility that it can all go wrong at some point. All those times when asked to fill out those pieces of paper with their five year plans, they always put that they'll be successful, and happy and rich, but no one ever writes down that they'd be struggling to pay the bills, or wondering if they'll be able to put food on the table. No one ever thinks that maybe it'll all go sideways and no one knows that better than Kazunari Takao.

High school had been the time of his life, the best years he had spent playing basketball, having friends and even a real relationship, but in his third year, his heart was broken. The one person he loved cast him aside and after he graduated, that's exactly what his life did; It all went sideways.

All of those thoughts raced through his head as he sat at the vanity, staring at a reflection that showed him the man he had become. He was still young, only being 26 years old, but he looked tired to his slate blue eyes. The lights around the mirror made him pristine, pale and perfect, but to him, he saw years of hardship and struggle. He was just happy to be done for the night and as he picked up a wet wipe, he began to clean away the makeup that covered his face.

"Kazu-Babe... Why do you look so down in the dumps?" Came a soft voice, soothing and feminine from out of the mirror's line of sight.

Takao somewhat startled at the sudden voice, but looked over to see whom had called him with such an affectionate nickname. She stood tall with long exposed legs, wearing six inch heels to make them look even longer and only wearing a silk robe that fell to mid-thigh. Her long, bleach blonde hair was pinned up and she had just finished removing her make-up, evident by the slight redness in her pale cheeks.

"Hey, Star... I'm just tired is all. It's been a long night." Takao said quietly as he resumed cleaning the stubborn mascara from his lashes.

"It hasn't been that bad. How much you make? Two, three hundred bucks?" The woman named Star asked, tucking her robe around her a bit tighter as she elegantly sat down at the vanity next to his.

"Something like that. I haven't counted it yet." He said with a half shrug as he picked up a new wet wipe to keep cleaning his face.

Star just nodded as she watched him, how his eyes seemed distant, almost defeated. He just blindly stared at the mirror as he cleaned away the makeup, not being much, just some foundation to even his complexion and some mascara to darken his eyes to make them more alluring. She honestly didn't think he needed it, but every boost helped when it came to getting money from those whom visited their club.

With a soft sigh, Star stood and went to the vanity across from his where she opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a neatly wrapped gift with blue paper and a delightful pink bow. She smiled at it as she set it down in front of him and she never looked away when he stared at it before looking up to her.

"This is for Bumpkin. Tell her happy birthday for me." She said quietly, smiling down at him as she sat back down.

Takao held his breath to keep from gasping, "Star-" He tried, but she held up a hand to stop him.

"Don't go telling me that I didn't have to do it. I did because she's a sweetie and deserves a present on her birthday." Star said, still smiling sweetly at him.

Takao sighed and dropped his hands into his lap, "She does... I tried saving up for it, but-" His voice trailed off as he stared at his hands.

"Bills got in the way." Star said in just above a whisper.

Takao nodded, "Yeah... She wanted that doll she saw on TV, but... I can't afford it." He held his breath to keep the lump in his throat at bay.

Star softly pursed her lips together as she rested her hand down on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze before letting it slip off.

"We've all been there, Honey. It's hard sometimes." She said, her bright blue eyes soft and comforting.

Again, Takao nodded as he resumed cleaning the makeup off, "Yeah... What did you get her?" He asked as he finally started to breathe normally again.

"You got her that doll she wants. I addressed it that it's from you." Star said.

Takao's breath caught in his throat as he immediately looked over at her, his eyes widened from a bit of shock before looking at the wrapped present. He plucked up the small tag that dangled from the ribbon and read the name to whom it was addressed, smiling before looking to see whom it was from and sure enough, his name was written in her handwriting.

"Star-" he sighed and closed his eyes, "Thank you. She'll love it." He said in just above a whisper, blowing out a stiff breath.

"I know she will. She's a sweet girl. You're doing a great job." Star smiled.

Takao scoffed, "Yeah... I'll believe it when I see it." He finally finished with getting off the mascara.

"Sweetie-" she exhaled, "You're doing better than you think. I know it, and all the other girls here know it. You're a great father, Kazu." Star said as she reached over and clutched his hand.

"I'm a father who takes his daughter to work with him... I hate bringing her here." Takao said, his eyes becoming heavy with moisture that was barely held back by his long lashes.

"You aren't the only one, Honey. So many have had to, but she's safe here. All the girls just adore her cute little face." Star said, tightening her hold on his hand.

"Thanks for watching her while I was out there. My usual sitter told me yesterday she had a date tonight, so I had no choice, but to bring her." He said, softly sniffling and drying his eyes on the sleeve of his robe before anything could fall.

"Of course... I'll watch her anytime. You know that." Star said.

Takao nodded, "Thanks. I really appreciate it." He laughed at his reflection.

"Of course." Star said with a nod.

Takao forced a smile to the woman, his co-worker, before releasing her hand and finished cleaning himself up. The makeup was gone, returning him to normal as he shed his identical robe to hers and got dressed. He pulled on his pants and long sleeve shirt before putting on his walking shoes and tying them snug, wrapping the warm scarf around his neck and putting on his warm coat. He picked up the thick envelope from his vanity and the present before switching off the lights and heading towards the staff room where the most precious thing in his world was sleeping.

She meant everything to him, lit his world with color from the day she arrived at his doorstep. It was an unexpected turn, but one he wouldn't change for the world even though he was struggling to give her everything she wanted and needed. Four years ago, Miki Takao came into his life when a woman whose name he didn't even know dropped her off at his door.

Softly pressing his ear to the staff room door, he listened for a moment, not hearing a single sound before slowly, delicately grasping the knob and opening it. She lay on the long sectional couch, wrapped in a warm blanket printed with flowers and teddy bears. Her small head that was crowned with black hair rested on a soft pillow and she held her teddy bear with both her little arms. She looked so precious, so sweet laying there that it actually kind of pained him to wake her up so they could go home, but he knew that he had to as he stepped up to her side and leaned over.

"Hey-... Hey, Sweetie-pie?... Wake up, Baby." Takao whispered as he rested his hand down on his daughter's small shoulder.

The little girl softly groaned as she turned to hide her face in her pillow, tightening her hold on her teddy bear just to have Mr. Fuzz closer. It made him smile, the few times he did anymore, and with another gentle nudge, she opened her slate blue eyes and looked up at him.

"Daddy?... Is it time to go home?" She asked in a tired voice, so high and sweet to his ears that his smile broadened.

Takao nodded, "It is, Princess. Did you rest okay?" He asked, still in a whisper as he pulled her blanket aside and folded it neatly.

Rubbing her eye with a small fist, Miki sat up, still holding Mr. Fuzz against her chest as her father stuffed the folded blanket into a backpack.

"Mmhmm... Ms. Star played a game with me." She said quietly, just watching him put the few toys he had brought along for her into the bag.

"Oh yeah?... What did she play with you?" Takao asked, still smiling with the final toy going into the front pouch of the bag.

"We played I Spy with my hidden object book. I won." Miki said with a dreary smile.

Takao playfully gasped, "Well done, Pumpkin. Way to show her who's boss." He said with a small laugh as he zipped up the backpack.

Miki nodded, but yawned as Takao slung the bag over a shoulder and helped her into her coat, wrapping her little neck with her pink teddy bear scarf and putting on her mittens. She was all bundled up and when he hoisted her up onto his hip, she immediately nuzzled down and rested her tired head on his shoulder.

Softly rubbing her back, he stepped out from the staff room, giving Star a wave goodbye before turning for the backdoor exit, but when he was a few feet away, a few feet from freedom, his name stopped him in his tracks.

"Kazunari." It was a man's voice, firm and stern and one he knew all too well.

Takao pursed his lips together and held his breath to keep from growling, but he eased his expression as he turned around to glare down the backstage area to the open office at the other end. The man standing there was every bit of 350 pounds, with a heavy keg of a gut and more stubble on his face than a sheet of sandpaper. His flabby arms were crossed and his dead, stone cold and gray eyes were glued on him and it was an expression that Takao had come to hate.

However, as much as he hated it, the man signed his paychecks so he could make ends meet.

"Yeah?" Takao asked, drawing in a calming breath as he continued to rub his daughter's back.

"My office." The man said gruffly before turning back into the office.

Takao rolled his eyes as Star came up to him, her arms out to take Miki from his arms. He set his bag down and carefully passed his daughter over without waking her before he steeled his resolve and headed for the lion's den.

"Shut the door." The man said as he sat down in his chair.

Takao just did it without saying a word, not really wanting to with the hopes that whatever his boss wanted, it would be quick and he could take his daughter home and put her to bed. He was equally as tired and all he wanted to do was sleep and forget, at least for a time, that he was stuck in his situation.

"When are you gonna figure it out and cave like the rest of the girls?" The man suddenly asked, his tone firm and condescending the second the door latched closed.

"Because I'm not going to. I won't sacrifice what little dignity I have left just to pad my bank account." Takao said, his expression equally as firm as he crossed his arms.

"It's good money. You could buy that little girl of yours some pretty nice presents." The man smirked.

"Don't you ever bring my daughter into this mess. It's bad enough I had to bring her tonight." Takao snapped firmly and with a hard glare set into his eyes.

The man threw his arms up in defense, "Fair enough, but know that you'd get a healthy helping of cash if you finally decide to let that ass of yours do a little more work."

Takao growled, "There's no chance in hell I'll ever be apart of your illegal prostitution ring. This isn't a brothel; It's a strip club." He clenched his hands around his biceps tighter.

The man shrugged, "Brothel. Strip club. Either way, you keep showing your moves and money will come your way. Just know that there's more when you let those people lusting after you actually touch you."

"I have a daughter to worry about here. How is spending even more time here putting her first?" Takao snapped, blowing out a heated breath as he glared at the man with disdain.

"That's up to you. Do you want the money to take care of her, or do you wanna keep on struggling like you are? You're a great dancer, Kazunari, but putting forth some effort on your back could pay off." The man said, his expression completely neutral from what he was telling the single father.

"Fuck you... The only reason I keep coming back is to provide for her and I will not participate in your underhanded schemes. Just give me my paycheck, stop trying to convince me, and I'll see you tomorrow night." Takao said sternly as he held out his hand.

The gruff man just stared at him with his blank expression, his cold eyes boring holes into Takao's steely resolve. For so long he had refused this man, had simply come to work, danced for lusty men and women, let them toss money at him, but at the end of each night, he'd go home with money in hand and it put off starving for just another day. He was struggling to put food on the table and keep clothes on their backs, but at the end of each month, there were always just a few dollars left. He swore they would be okay, swore that his daughter would not go hungry, or never have a bed. He would always protect her, provide for her and he would manage it without having to sacrifice what little of himself there was left, or break the law.

"Give me... my paycheck." Takao said again, drawing in a deep breath and still holding his hand out.

With a roll of his eyes, the man reached into a folder and pulled out a white envelope, long and thin, holding the one thing Takao danced for. He took it and without another word, left the office, going to where Star was just sitting with his daughter sleeping against her chest. She never even woke up as he took her back and rested her on his hip before slinging the backpack over his shoulder and stepping out into the 3 in the morning darkness.

It was cold, misty, heavy with a fog that highlighted the orange cones of light that beamed down from the streetlights. There was no one around, not even cars drove by and even the working gals whom strutted the corners had gone home for the night. He was left to walk, as not even the buses, or cabs ran, and having a car was most certainly out of the question. Those were luxuries, things only successful people had and it was something out of his reach.

He just walked along the sidewalk, holding his daughter close and warm, only his footsteps breaking the utter silence of the night. Each exhale was a splay of mist that fluttered away like smoke, only to disappear into the air as if it never existed. It was peaceful in a way, quiet and serene despite being the red light district, but it afforded him a chance to just let the evening bleed away. His walk home always served to help him relax and after a half hour, he fished around the side pocket of his bag and pulled his apartment building keys.

The building itself wasn't out of sorts, just older, but well maintained. The rent was cheaper and most of the tenants were law abiding, so there was little to worry about once he was home. It was one thing he could be proud of, that he was working and dancing and letting people stare at him so he could afford to let his daughter grow up in a decent home. Everything worked and despite being small, only a one bedroom, it was theirs.

He marched up the stairs, still holding his daughter on his hip as she slept, but once he topped the staircase on the sixth floor, he stopped when he heard that very neighbor sitter talking in the hallway.

"Don't worry about it. It never takes much to convince that idiot next door to let me have the night off from watching his brat. I needed the break anyways."

She was on the phone.

"It's ridiculous... Who knows what he does on the nights I don't sit for him. Probably takes her with. It's disgusting!... Oh, I know... There's been more than one night I just didn't feel like it and told him I couldn't... He's actually a stripper... I bet he's whoring himself out too. I wouldn't be surprised... Right?... Ugh... It's so gross. I can't believe I live next door to a stripper with a love child. How could any woman actually let him care for their daughter?-"

Takao's brows furrowed hard as he pursed his lips together, holding his breath to help battle against the instant anger that was boiling in his chest. He was fuming, completely heated from overhearing her, but with a deep intake of air, he stepped out from around the corner and made his face go neutral as he headed for his apartment door.

"Mr. Takao?... Y-You're home." The young woman said, her dark eyes a bit wider as she stared at him and immediately hung up her phone without warning the person on the other end of the line.

Takao didn't even stop as he fiddled with his keys to find the right one, "Yup. Safe and sound." He said blandly.

The woman just stood there at her door, dressed in her ankle length pea coat with her purse hanging on her arm. Her hair was still done up nicely and her makeup wasn't smudged and he knew just by looking at her that she had just gotten home from her date.

"How'd your date go?" He asked, stopping in front of his apartment door and balancing Miki on his hip.

"Um... Fine... Mr. Takao, did you... Um... Did you bring her with you?" She asked, just staring with her mouth lightly parted with an airless gasp.

At her words, Takao froze and looked over at her, "I had to. I couldn't find someone to babysit in the half a day you gave me. I hope your date went well though... Sure sounded like it."

She gulped, "Mr. Takao-" She tried, but he cut her off.

"I had to bring my baby to a strip club tonight, but you knew that already... I'm glad I know now though, how you really feel." He said, taking in controlled breaths as he cranked the key left to unlock his door's deadbolt.

"I-I'm... I'm sorry." The woman said without looking him in the eye.

"I highly doubt that. Luckily, Star adores my daughter and my daughter kinda likes her too, so it works out." He said as he opened his door, only to stop when the woman spoke up.

"You had a stripper watch her while you danced?" The woman reeled with disgust.

"Don't you dare judge me for how I decide to support my daughter. Just because I'm a dancer doesn't mean I take any less care of her. How much do I owe you for the last two weeks?" He snapped, his brows drawing down as he glared at the woman.

"Um... $150." She mumbled.

Takao, still expertly holding his baby girl to his hip, fished the thick white envelope from his coat pocket and thumbed through its contents, pulling out the required amount before handing the cash to her with a hard glare set on his face.

"I'm paid up. I won't need you anymore." He said before vanishing inside his home.

He shut the door and locked the deadbolt and knob before dumping his keys, the backpack and the two white envelopes down onto a small entry table and trudging deeper into the small apartment. The living room held a small sofa with a TV hung on the wall across from it and the kitchen was really only big enough for one person. There was a small balcony on the far side of the living room through a sliding glass door and down the short hallway that housed the single bathroom, was the only bedroom.

He headed down the hallway and into his daughter's room where he gently laid her down in her small toddler bed before unzipping her coat. He moved slow as he took it off of her, followed by her scarf, slipping off her shoes before pulling back the blankets. He tucked her in with a smile on his face, admiring how adorable she looked when she was asleep and when he placed her well loved teddy bear into her arms, he leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Good night, Pumpkin. Sleep tight." He whispered, taking one last second to watch her before stepping out of the room and closing the door until only a crack was left.

He went back to the living room and took off his coat and scarf, hanging his and his little girl's up in the closet before picking up the two envelops and going to the couch. He sat down with a long sigh, being more tired than sore since he had been dancing for a number of years. He was in fantastic physical shape, which made it easy for him to work the poles every night for both men and women. He may be only of average height, but he made it work with a set of six inch heels whenever he was on stage. It made his legs longer and if that's what it took to get patrons to spew up more money, than he'd gladly do it.

He slipped a headband over his head to pin back his hair before opening the envelopes, taking out the stack of cash and the check to see how much he made. The paycheck was healthy, being enough to cover rent and maybe another bill, or two and it was a huge relief. His boss may have been trying to convince him to partake in illegal acts, but at least he wasn't low enough to start cutting his pay in order to force him into it. It was weight off his shoulders knowing that there would be just enough to make it worth putting some into savings and when all was said and done, he'd have fifty dollars left over.

He smiled a little when he did the math and it meant that he could get his baby girl a cake because that one patron, that one person watching him gave him that extra twenty. Her birthday that was that very day would be the first time he could afford it, and it made him feel like he was a real father. Like he was finally doing something right. His whole life changed the night his baby girl was literally thrust into his arms, and he immediately put her first ever since. He had dropped out of college to work, waited tables for awhile, but as expenses started to pile up, he needed more. He needed better income and that's when he had decided to do whatever it took.

He became an exotic dancer.

After arranging the cash, taking the time to make sure all the heads were facing the same direction because the bank was finicky like that, he went to the kitchen to make some tea. He filled the kettle and put it on the stove top to heat, plucking a mug from the mug tree and deciding on what he wanted. He wanted to rest, wanted to fall asleep as fast as possible, and the best way to do that was to have peppermint. He put the bag in the mug and went back to the couch to clean up his earnings, stuffing the check and the bills into a single envelope with the intentions of going to the bank once the day brightened and after he got some sleep. Despite the day being his daughter's birthday, she certainly wouldn't mind the pit stop, but he would dote on her and do whatever she wanted on her special day.

The tea kettle finally whistled to draw his attention, where he filled the mug and inhaled a huge lungful of the calming menthol. It was so settling as he sat down on the couch and switched on the TV, keeping the sound low to watch a recap of an earlier basketball game. He didn't need the sound anyways to know what was going on, his time playing in high school taught him that, but it never failed to amaze him when seeing someone he knew playing as a pro.

"You're still a scary ass bastard, aren't you Miyaji." Takao said under his breath as he blew on his tea to help cool it.

As he watched the game clips, he pulled out a plain red folder from the nearby desk that was filled with paperwork. Bills, financial paperwork and bank balances poured out as he set it all out and looked it over, scanning for any discrepancies that could spell trouble for them. He kept a very close eye on their finances, simply because there wasn't any room for error and a single miscalculation, a single misplaced decimal could spell a missed payment, or late rent. He couldn't afford that, not with Miki in his life and if it meant he got even less sleep, than so be it.

The quiet was suddenly broken when his cell phone rang, startling him a bit as he reached for it on the coffee table and looked at the screen. He didn't recognize the number, but with a flick of his thumb, he answered it anyways.

"Hello?" He said, raising the phone to his ear.

"Hey, Kazu... It's Aiko." Said a soft female voice that he recognized as his sister.

"Hey, Ko. How're you?" He asked, keeping his voice low as he sipped his tea and leaned back into the couch.

"I'm fine. How's the birthday girl?" She asked, her voice a hushed whisper as she spoke.

Takao exhaled a smile, "She's fine... She's asleep."

"Tell her happy birthday for me okay?"

Takao's brows furrowed, "Are you not coming by later?"

"I can't, Kazu. I'm sorry. It's part of why I'm calling. I have to cancel our plans."

"What?... Why?" He asked, his chest aching at the thought.

"I have to work at the restaurant. I couldn't get out of it because if Mom and Dad found out I went to see you, they'd fire me."

"Ko... Miki wants to see her aunt. What am I gonna tell her?" Takao asked, his shoulders dropping as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I'm sorry, Kazu. I really wanted to, but if I'm gonna keep paying for your phone, I've gotta work. That's why I'm calling from a different number."

Takao sighed, "I was gonna ask about that. They getting suspicious?"

"I can't really tell, but I have an inkling they are. I'm sorry, Kazu, but Mom and Dad... They still don't believe you."

"Seriously?... After all this time? How many times do I have to tell them I don't remember? I can't report what I don't remember, Ko. It's been four years and I showed them the DNA test results. Miki's mine." Takao said, his throat cracking with a scoff as he shook his head.

"I believe you, Kazu. I do, but Mom and Dad... They're still mad that Miki wasn't born in wedlock."

"That's crap, Ko... I wasn't planning on having a baby this way, but that doesn't change anything. Miki's my daughter and if they can't accept that, I don't know what else I can do." He said, turning an ear towards the hallway to make sure his voice wasn't waking up that very little girl.

"I know, Kazu and I adore Miki... I wish there was more I could do to help. How's work?"

"Fine." He said flatly as he sighed and took the headband off his head.

"Was it a good night?"

"It was decent," he swallowed, "There was a bachelor party there tonight and the owner put up a contest for them; A dance off between four of us dancers." He said, dropping his head back to stare up at the ceiling.

"How'd you do?"

"I won... The other three just tried twerking it instead of working the pole, but I brought the house down with my Earth-Bringer routine." He cracked a lopsided smile.

"Yeah?... That's awesome, Kazu. Were they gay?"

He shook his head, "Nope... Straight as hell, but apparently I move better than the other girls up there. They actually picked the club because they'd heard there's a male dancer there and wanted to see for themselves. Shocked the hell outta them enough to get a hundred off one."

"Wonderful! That's awesome, Kazu. I'm really happy for you."

"Well, that makes one of us." Takao sighed and arced an arm over his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing really... Just wish I could afford to buy Miki a present. Star bought her that doll she's been wanting." He said, his eyes starting to sting.

"Oh, Kazu... Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I wanna do this on my own. I can do it... It's hard right now, but I can do it. There's enough left over this month to get her a cake. It's the first time." He said, his voice cracking with his rising emotion.

"Kazu-... I-I... I can help you, you know."

"I love you, Ko, I do, but I don't wanna ask my little sister for help. I can do this." He said, his chest softly beginning to hop with airy sobs.

"Kazu... I love you too. I just wanna make sure you're okay."

Takao held his breath to control his sobs, "I'll be fine... We'll be fine. We're making it."

"Okay... I love you guys. Tell Munchkin I love her and happy birthday."

Takao nodded, "Okay... Miss you, Ko." He sobbed.

"Miss you too. Good night."

As the first tear leaped from his eye and screamed down his cheek, Takao took the phone away from his ear and ended the call. His chest hurt with the thought that he wouldn't get to see his little sister, that his baby girl wouldn't be able to see her aunt because she was hiding the fact that she was still talking to him. When his parents had found out about Miki, had found out that he didn't remember when she was conceived, they cut contact. They cut him out of their lives, but his sister was determined to keep that bridge open no matter how weak it was. She was his only lifeline, his only safe harbor and if it wasn't for Aiko's support, he really would be alone.

Pressing his hands into his eyes, Takao started to cry, letting the tears fall from his slate blue eyes for yet another night. He missed her, missed his parents, but they wouldn't accept him back because of what he was. He was trying so hard, struggling so much just to provide, but to them it didn't matter. He was a dancer with an illegitimate childwhose mother he didn't know. He had no idea. He couldn't remember her face, her name, nothing. She was a blank space in his mind and there was nothing he could do to change it.

Covering his mouth to stifle his sobs, Takao laid down on the couch and pulled the blanket over him that was slung across its back. His home was a one bedroom, and that one bedroom did not go to him, but rather his daughter. That was her room, her space, which meant whenever he sat down on the couch, he was in bed. For four years he hadn't slept in a bed because he wanted his daughter to have it instead. For four years he had slept on the couch and watched over her, made sure she rested safely and soundly. For four years, Kazunari Takao cried himself to sleep knowing the next night, there would be more tears, more worrying about whether he could pay their bills. He knew there would be more, but wherever his daughter was concerned, every tear was worth it.

Today was her birthday and she was turning four.