Author's note

So, here it is! The conclusion to this story that a lot of you asked for

I hope that with the addition of this epilogue, this Fic comes to a close in a sweet and satisfying way. I had a blast writing it, and never even hoped it'd get as many positive reviews as it did. Thank you all so much!

You may need to refer to previous chapter to fully understand some tied loose ends, but hopefully you remember ;'].

Jewelry sponsorship: ch 14

Kanae: member of Onnanoko no Kaikaku.

My current fanfic is Fruits Basket, if any of you all are interested. The link is on my page.

Thank you for being with me through this journey!

With love,

Ahn Na

3 years later

2x2 - 5x + 9

x + 9

Factor: 9x6 - 25y10

Simplify 7(6x - (5 - 5y + 2x) + 2y)

Kyoko flew through the exam sheet, her mechanical pencil squeaking under her rushing wrist. The classroom was deafeningly silent, only the sound of lead against paper breaking the insanity. She had spent the past two days studying aggressively for her final wave of exams at Santa Monica Arts High School, math proving to be the more annoying subject. But, after hours of torturing tutorial videos and multiple wall indentations from where she threw her hardcover book aside, she could say she had mastered the art of college algebra.

Somewhat.

After 30 minutes, she stood, her chair screeching against the tile. Sporting a smile, she marched to the front desk and dropped the exam into the Finished bin. The teacher gave her a meek nod before returning to her book.

I'm done. I finished. I'm done with high school!

She clutched her pencil to her chest and sped to the door, not even slightly bothered by the dirty looks.

She flung the door open, then apologetically and quietly shut it.

Finally. After juggling three years of performance training, school, and everything in between, she was finally done. Her time in the States was over.

"Ready to eat?" Manager Kim opened the exit door for them and unlocked the car. He had been by her side since her arrival to the States, and however awkward it was at first, she was eternally grateful. Besides keeping her company and being able to comfortably converse in Japanese with him, he was thoughtful and very meticulous with his taking care of her.

He was also gay, which made things less awkward rather quickly.

"I'm thinking sushi." He sighed melancholically. "Or should we eat western, since our time here is nearly-" he roared the car to life "Over!"

Kyoko laughed and turned up the radio.

"Let's have the most western of western foods...Barbeque!"

"Steak!"

They giggled as they sped down the roads, a bliss engulfing them both.

The Californian beaches rolled past them, the pale blue and green waves tangling over the shores, the children and ridiculously explicit beach-goers sprawled over the warm sands. She looked at the scenery briefly, then returned to her thoughts of Tokyo and the Darumaya and LME and Moko-san and Ren.

Ren.

She twirled the ring on her right ring finger.

The original two-year's time had been extended by President Takarada and his ridiculous excuses, however Kyoko knew just why she had to stay away a little longer. Ren had been in a film frenzy since she had left, making three record breaking blockbuster films and two award wining dramas. Melodramas, about losing a first love, to be clear. Maybe now that his main distraction was gone, he was finally paying attention to his work...or now he desperately needed a distraction and used work as one. Either one was as good of a guess as anyone's, but Takarada guessed the latter. He also understood that once she got back, they would both be taking things rather slowly (in the entertainment industry). So, Kyoko agreed to let him be for a while longer.

"The flight is set for Thursday," Manager Kim said. "Make sure to pack only the essentials, the rest will be shipped you gradually."

"Yes, mom."

"Are you excited?"

Kyoko took a sip of her grapefruit soda. "About?"

"To see Ren."

She fidgeted with the straw, making it dance around in circles before looking up. "Of course."

She had stopped communicating with Ren after the second year. They would be on the phone for hours and video chat for days. However, it became...painful. To see him smile and hear his alluring voice; it all became too much. There were times she just wanted to run back to him. She needed reassurance that he was there, waiting for her and okay. It got so bad at one point that manager Kim had to sleep guarding the doors and alerting LAX to not allow her on any planes. It broke her heart to break contact, but it broke it even more to have him so close yet so out of reach.

The strong scent of meat brought her back to the present.

"Let's eat!" she (sloppily) grabbed a fork, but Manager Kim slid a delicate pair of silver chopsticks to her.

She side smiled and shrugged before taking them. "I really couldn't get used to western utensils, huh?"

He shoved a medium rare, supple square of steak into his mouth and shook his head. "But that's okay...you adapted to what you had to."

Kyoko sighed and the stone on her finger felt heavy. "And I can't wait to go back."

"Standby studio 34...and Action!"

She watched him carefully, her eyelashes caressing delicately furrowed eyebrows, and peachy lips pursed in a tight line. "I-I thought you wanted me. I'm so much better than her in every way."

Through damp, chocolate brown bangs, he met her gaze. "You're not better than her in any way to me, Sandra. It has never been you-" he stopped her reaching hand. "It's best you don't."

She grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her. "I can give you so much more! Kyle, Please."

There was a moment of silence before he backed away from her, and met the eyes of a short haired, blonde woman.

She looked horrified and took a few steps back. "K...Kyle? Sandra?"

He froze and looked at her wordlessly. Sandra turned, giving her an uninterested glare, then a challenging smile.

The actors stayed with that blocking for about 7 seconds before the director gave a loud, resonating clap. "and Cut! Good job guys, go home."

The set flooded with stylists and stagehands, most flocking directly to Ren. He waved them away as politely as he could and signaled to the actresses.

"Take care of them first." He smiled.

The stylists bowed, and their eyes followed him as he headed back into his dressing room.

"Thanks, Tsuruga-san! Looking forward to our next scenes!" the short-haired girl bowed.

Ren gave her a small bow before stepping past her.

It was the end of the season, so he'd have a few months to rest. He needed to find something else to do. The President suggested he rest, since his health always fluctuated between malnutrition or overwork...but a suggestion was just that, so Ren didn't plan on following it. Maybe a sport? Maybe cooking?

"Ren, have you eaten? I can make some onigiri, maybe a miso soup? You seem down."

Kyoko sat next to him on the love seat, her bright eyes filled with worry.

Ren smiled. He remembered her as he had last seen her, Shoulder length ash blonde hair and honey eyes. He remembered her telling him she was going to dye it back to black and let it grow, but he didn't know if she had gone through with it. He didn't know anything anymore.

He threw himself down unto the couch, dissipating Kyoko's mirage.

"I shouldn't have let her go. I bet she is dating foreign men and having the time of her life." He flung his arm over his eyes. " How could they possibly not fall for her? I shouldn't have left her with just a ring, I should've tattooed my name on her forehead!"

He sat up and was greeted by her mirage once again, but with his name boldly tattooed in black ink across her forehead.

He cocked his head to the side and blew the letters away with a breath. "Maybe not to that extreme."

Kyoko stared at him lovingly, with a sweet smile.

Ren traced her every feature with his eyes, wanting to remember everything as clearly as he could. He reached out to her, wanting to feel her...to know she was okay. But when her image faded, he dropped his arm and stared ahead.

There was a knock at the door.

"Tsuruga-san? You should eat." Yashiro pocked his head in and pointed to a bento box on the dresser. "The staff got you some Sukiyaki."

Ren nodded. "Yeah, I'll eat."

Yashiro closed the door behind him, knowing it would do not good to confront the obvious lie.

Kyoko thought she did pretty well at packing the essentials: electronics, manga, scripts and notes and textbooks, make up and cosmetics and some clothes.

Manager Kim threw her her passport. "Sweetie..."

She caught it and held it up. "Got it."

With an eye roll, he opened the front door. "I'll be here to pick you up at 5 a.m. Be ready."

She nodded. "Yes, Sir!"

Then the apartment was silent. The soft murmur of the AC filled the space, and the scent to water lily candles settled around her. She would be lying if she said she wouldn't entirely miss this...she liked the experience. She grew. She matured. But home was home, and there was no place like home.

A notification popped up on her phone, and she retrieving it from the crystal table before sprawling out on the bed.

"Kyoko-san, when can I order another bracelet like yours? I want to gift it to my girlfriend."

"Kyoko! Do you have a discount code as a sponsor? Hahaha."

"Just got it in the mail...so beautiful and great quality and affordable price...I love all the products you endorse T.T."

She giggled and scrolled through her Instagram feed, replying to the newer comments.

"20% discount if you enter kyokeisjewlers at checkout ^.^ -Kyoko."

She set the phone down and brought her wrist closer to her face. The emerald pendant dangled and shone just as clearly as when she was given the bracelet, the chain still a vine of silver and stones.

It had been on her trip to Kyoto, when she went to find Ren. The plane ride with Kyohei and the kindness of his father all flooded back to her, making her tear up a little with melancholy. She had decided to officially sponsor his jewelry shop, doing photo shoots for it and everything. Kyokei's father, Mr. Nakimura had been hesitant at first, a little "apologetic at her kindness," he had said. But he greatly appreciated the publicity, and he deserved it...his works were amazing, and little Kyohei was actually beginning to work along side him and hoping to inherit the business. Kyoko also heard that his mother was hanging around more, and even moved to Itami so Kyohei could be closer to his father.

Kyoko loved their little family, and agreed to visit them once she was back in Asia.

She shut her eyes and hugged her phone to her chest.

Then, sprung up.

I should text him...just to tell him I'll be going back tomorrow.

She pulled up his contact and pressed the message option. Then froze.

Wouldn't that be weird? I haven't messaged him in over a year but now I'm suddenly announcing my arrival...

Isn't that like a -she thought about it-a booty call?

She stared at the keyboard, thinking.

Tsuruga-san...how are you?

Delete.

Ren?

Delete.

I'm coming home, hit me up.

Deleted very quickly.

She tapped her finger against the screen anxiously.

I miss you. So so much, and I can't wait to see you tomorrow.

Ren set his cup of green tea and script down, interested by his phone buzzing with a notification.

Yashiro looked over from his novel. "Isn't that your personal phone?"

Ren nodded, staring at it atop the black picnic table in front of them.

He made no move toward it, so Yashiro grabbed it.

"Who is it?"

Yashiro looked at the screen, eyes wide, then a perplexed expression fell over his face. Then he just laughed. Real, echoing cackles.

Ren scrunched his face and snatched the phone into his hands.

Kyoko-chan

Iisjnusp4

He blinked and stared at the screen.

Iisjnusp4...?

He tried to see if it was code for something, tried to decipher any words while Yashiro wiped his tears away.

Nothing came to mind, except the bubbling excitement that she had contacted him.

With incomprehensible blabber, but contacted!

What if she's drinking...with guys...

Ren set the phone down and sighed.

She'll probably send a clarification soon.

Kyoko rolled around on the carpeted floor, then protested when she finally hit a piece of furniture.

Why did that send!? I was trying to delete the message not send it!

See, after multiply monologues and cheesy phrases were deemed unfit for sending, Kyoko dropped her phone on the carpet, gliding it over her arm on the way down.

Great level of screen sensitivity, Apple.

She cringed at the sight of the message.

Iisjnusp4

Iisjnusp4

Iisjnusp4

Pulling a pillow over her face, she decided the best thing would probably be to sleep.

The next day

Ren sat in silence, his eyes glazing over the TV.

Soccer? Archery?

Sighing, he turned the monitor off and slid off his couch.

Maybe I should just do that movie I was offered...

It was a cold day for Tokyo, the sky a muted gray and air a crisp seemingly blue hue. Small specks of snow pasted to the windows and danced down to the leaf-less trees. After a few minutes, the snow came in faster chunks, coagulating on the outer window sill.

His phone buzzed.

"Hm?"

"Check your SNS sites."

Ren straightened over the marble counter, holding the phone closer.

"Yashiro? Why?"

The line clicked dead, leaving a monotonous series of beeps before completely cutting off.

He pulled up Twitter first, and was instantly overwhelmed with 1000+ notifications.

Not knowing exactly where to look, he browsed the Trending hash tags.

You know when someone tells you something, and you can actually, physically feel your stomach drop, or flip. Your breathing speed and heart beat race. Your time stop.

Ren dropped his phone and snatched his keys from the counter, the words:

#WelcomehomeKyokoM engraved into everywhere he looked.

Sho grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Kyoko is back in town." He said.

Kanae rushed into the living room, leaving the miso soup on the stove.

"Really?!"

They looked at the TV as footage of Kyoko arriving at LME flooded every news channel. She was as beautiful as ever, and her smile brighter than even.

Sho smile. "Great to have you back, kid."

"We should visit her!" Kanae exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "I still haven't properly thanked her for everything."

Sho nodded. "Yeah, we'll visit her soon."

"Tonight!" Kanae sat on his lap, pouting her best puppy-dog eyes she could.

Defeated, Sho laughed and tapped her nose. "Not tonight." He said.

Kanae frowned. "Why not?"

He hugged her closer and gave her a kiss.

She blushed and melted unto him. "Oh. Okay, tomorrow, then."

The press was overwhelming. Kyoko kept her head down, but smiled as she and Manager Kim stepped into LME, and was greeted with an even bigger crowd of reporters inside. She hadn't announced her arrival, but the airport traffic recognized her almost immediately, even with her new, dark hair. It was still only chest length, but still pretty different from before.

Her popularity was something she still hadn't gotten used to.

"Kyoko! How do you feel coming back to Japan?"

"Are you staying for good?"

"How are you and top star Tsuruga Ren holding up?"

"Did he visit you in the States?"

"When is your wedding taking place?"

Kyoko bowed through the crowds, hiding her hands in her pockets to protect the ring.

She herself didn't even know the answer to most of those questions...and hearing her very thoughts be spoken out loud made her feel oddly emotional.

"We will be having a formal press conference soon, please save questions for then." Manager Kim held the elevator doors open and urged her inside.

She pressed against the back wall and suck a little into her coat before giving the press a final smile and wave.

Their chatter increased, and Kyoko laughed.

"I'm happy to be back in Japan." She said.

The reporters stretched their mics into the elevator, but were kept out by security and Manager Kim.

They listened silently.

"I do plan on staying here now." She continued.

She fidgeted with her ring in her pocket.

And decided to stay quiet on the other questions.

" Has your engagement been called off? There are rumors of Tsuruga Ren hooking up with his co-stars."

Kyoko opened her mouth, then closed it, unsure if saying anything would make the situation worse.

"Uh—"

"It has not been called off."

Her head snapped up.

It was a physical feeling just as it was an emotional one. Your heart rate speeds, and your inhale catches in fear of the image before you dissipating. Your chest tightens and your eyes are suddenly hazy. All the times before you were there disappeared, and all you see is the now. The present.

Him.

" And I would never cheat on my fiancée."

The crowd split as Ren walked into it, either too stunned or attentive to speak.

Her eyes were as bright as he remembered, but with a renewed spark. Her skin as pale and lips as delicate as he remembered, but with a new elegance. She wore black jeans and a long knitted sweater under a khaki coat. Her hair was loose and waved down to her chest.

Her hands in her pockets and eyes fixed on him.

He wore a simple black V-neck, and Kyoko immediately wanted to scold him for not wearing a coat.

He had obviously been at home, and not even decades apart could erase his features from her memory.

Sharp jaw, shaggy hair. Tall and warm in the sweetest way.

She exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding as he stepped into the elevator.

His eyes had grown seemingly tired, and she quickly noticed the weight loss.

She bit her bottom lip and with all her will kept her hands in her pockets.

Ren reached over to the elevator buttons and pressed the door close symbol without breaking away from her gaze.

Manager Kim stepped out, holding the crazed press back.

If they were yelling, she didn't notice. If they were loud, she hadn't noticed or cared.

Ren.

She seemed frozen in place. The only thing differentiating her from a life sized doll WAS her labored breathing.

As the doors closed behind them, she finally broke eye contact.

She looked at the floor for a second, then shut her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry."

Ren leaned closer, lowering his head closer to her.

After taking a breath, she continued. " I couldn't contact you anymore because I wanted to run to you so badly after every phone call. I couldn't bare it and I hurt you and I was selfish and I'm so-"

He kissed her.

He carefully held her face and kissed her ever-so-slightly, wanting to keep that feeling forever. Her taste and the lips he had been trying to keep in his memory were finally there.

He broke away to look at her.

She didn't want to open her eyes; what if it was a dream?

Ren ran his hand along her cheek and gave her a light peck on the forehead.

She hesitantly opened her eyes.

He smiled and exhaled such a satisfying breath, and Kyoko did the same.

"Let's stay here just a bit longer." He whispered and ran his hand over the elevator buttons, pressing the top-most options. Then the emergency stop.

The alarm was loud only at first, but when he truned back to her, she couldn't hear it anymore.

He slid his hands down her shoulders and arms, taking her hands into his, then smiling at the sight of the ring.

"You still have it."

"Of course."

She tightened her grip around his hands.

"Ren, I love you. It took me so long for me to accept that, but I promise to tell you and show you everyday from now on." Kyoko took her hands and wrapped them around his neck into an embrace.

He hugged her waist and nuzzled into the crook of her neck.

"I promise to take care of you always, Kyoko-chan. Please don't leave me anymore."

She shook her head. "Oh god, no."

Ren laughed and pulled away just long enough to give her a longer, more intimate kiss.

Everything in life happened for a reason. Them meeting as children was a pending fate, and her heartbreak and difficulties had only strengthened that into destiny. The past was the past, but as painful and deteriorating as it was, it was the only way for them to meet. It was the only way for them to connect. A ray of light is hidden in a world of light; a dark period is needed to see its true, present radiance.

But in the end, he was there and she was there. So it would all be okay.