A/N: Kurono is Nodoka's male ver. Only the word'No' is in common though... tee-hee! ;P Another (name subject to change) I guess? Beware of her OOC! I repeat, beware! Is it just me or this story only gets heavier?
DISCLAIMERS: K-On! belongs to Kakifly/Kyoto Animation© Alternate Universe and "Flying Solo / Final Destination" is performed by Chris Brown featuring Andre Merritt. This story is only a work of fiction and partly inspired. Several characters are the product of the author's imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
« Track 5: We're Flying Solo…»
"I knew this relationship was unhealthy…"
"I can't wait to introduce you to our new family member…" Sachiko beamed happily as she carefully poured the brew.
"Wha-Dad got you pregnant again?"Himeko gasped abruptly, whereas Kurono almost dropped his platter once he registered the news.
"How could you say something so embarrassing in front of your husband?!"
The middle-aged woman scolded her daughter instantaneously as she glanced over her beloved son-in-law awkwardly.
"D-Don't worry, Mom. I was about to walk around inthe garden with Asumi anyway, so… I don't hear anything."
Later, he stood up and left hurriedly.
"Kuno, please make sure that Asumi don't get too close with thepond."
"Okay."
"B-But… Mommy, I want to play with those fishes!"
"Fine, no sweets for a week then."
Himeko smiled spontaneously as she saw her daughter's trademark pout.
"You heard Mommy, right?" Kurono said softly while patting her head affectionately.
"Humph!" Asumi grunted crankily, but still follow the advice nonetheless.
"I can't believe it." Sachiko mumbled softly as she stared at her daughter continuously.
"Hmm… What is it?" Himekosmirked and started to poke her mother playfully.
"I mean, you two have been married for years… Cut the formalities and call him 'dear' already."
Sachiko then groaned while pulling back instantly, away from those prying hands.
"Well, I-uh…" Himeko stopped and glanced sideways before continued, "…we've been friends since forever, so it's natural."
"You can't because you still think of 'him', right?"
"T-That may be true, but…"
Actually, that's not the only reason.
"Mommy, look…" Out of the blue, Asumi suddenlyplunked down onto her lap. "…Daddy made this for me!"
The little girl giggled contentedly while showing off the braided flowers around her small wrist.
Himeko thenchuckled heartily as she examined the ornamented-bracelet, completely ignoring her mother.
"It's so beautiful, honey."
I just… don't deserve such privilege from him, especially after what happened.
Two years ago…
"Mommy, where's Daddy?"The four-years-old girl asked as she looked around anxiously.
"He'll be here soon, honey."
"I'm hungry…"
"Fine, I'll get you some sweets. Stay here and don't go anywhere, okay?"
"Okeydokey."
"Hello, Asumi-chan. Do you want to play with me?" From nowhere, a man suddenly sat beside her with a full-size tedblocking his face.
"I'm sorry, Teddy-san. I can't talk to strangers."
"Geez, it's me who told you that." Kurono groaned as he pushed the ted away.
"Daddy, I miss you so much!"
"Yeah, you forget me though…"
"Aww, Daddy… Come here; let me give you a big-big hug."
"Asu-I'm sorry…"Himeko stopped instantly and teasedthe embracing couple, "…did I interrupt something?"
Afterwards, they all laughed and had a group hug.
"By the way, Mommy… Do you know why my own daughter does not recognize my voice?"
"W-Well…"
"How could you, Asumi?"
It's maybe because…
"…I don't know."
No, never mind.
"Hey, it's Valentine's tomorrow. Let's have a date!"
"I-I'm sorry…" Himeko turned down the offer hesitantly while shifting her gaze to elsewhere, "…I already have an appointment with my friend."
"Geez, I'm late… How come she 'captured' you earlier than me?"
"Don't worry, Daddy. We can play together all day long!" Asumi claimed enthusiastically as she hugged the ted.
"Okay, we can go to the amusement park early in the morning tomorrow…" He then crouched down to face his daughter before continued eagerly, "…and ride everything!"
"No, Kuno. She must go to thekindergartenno matter what."
"Mommy, please?" Asumi then pleaded the young mother with clasping hands keenly.
"Come on, Hime. It's been a week since she'd last seen me."
"She's only four-years-old and you want her to skip already?"
"Well, umm…" Later, he got up and turned around instantly. "…no comment, let's drop the subject."
"Daddy, how could you give up on me?!"
After having a good lunch together, they decided to go home straightaway.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
"What's up?" Kurono flipped it open warily as he handled the steering wheel.
"Umm… I just want to remind you about the meeting tomorrow."
"Wha-Thank you, Sora…" He laughed inwardly while admitting, "…I forgot about it already."
"You're the boss though… That's all, see you later." The assistant grinned shortly and ended the call.
"Who called you just now?" Himeko asked curiously as she patted her fast asleep daughter lightly.
"She's my new assistant…" He beamed before continued, "…Park So Ra, a half-Japanese and half-Korean."
"I see… What's the call for?"
"I-uh have a board meeting tomorrow to discuss about the newproject."
"Yet you promised Asumi…" She grunted and looked away. "…whatever."
"I guess we can't have a date then…" He sighed and stared at his daughter bleakly. "…she'll be very mad."
"Indeed… You're her favorite after all."
"So, I believe that we can overcome this problem if we-"
"Kuno!" All of a sudden, a familiar assistant opened the door abruptly with a worried look plastered on her face.
"Sora, what are you doing? You can't just barge in while-"
"I'm sorry for interrupting, Kuno…" She bowedrestively as she handed the phone to him. "…it's an emergency."
"Excuse me, everyone…" He calmed down and took the phone instantly. "…it looks like we have to call it a day."
"Umm… If you let me in, maybe I can help you with this."
"Are you really sure about this?"
"Yes, I have flicked through those documents earlier and-"
"I'll count on you then." Afterwards, he left the boardroom promptly.
"Hello, Kuno…" Atsushi took a deep breath as he greeted his partner.
"Hey, man. What's the deal?"
"Your daughter had a hit-and-run."
"What-"
"Yes, we need you to be here immediately… for the blood transfusion."
"Goodness gracious, you look so striking today."
"Thank you for the kind compliment, Kodama." She fixed her dress deftly as she grinned happily at her personal driver.
"So, where do you want me to drive you today?"
"No, I'm good. I want to go there by myself…" Himeko sighed before continued hesitantly, "…can you give me the key?"
"Right, here you are…" Without further ado, Kodama gave it obligingly. "…just make sure you come home early, okay?"
"S-Sure… but I can't promise you though."
Later, she got into the car and left instantly.
"I couldn't wait to see you again…" She hummed merrily while tapping the steering wheel lightly. "…It's been five years."
Without prior notice, her phone echoed endlessly.
"Hello, Ku-" She picked it up and answered edgily.
"Hime, where are you? Asu-"
"I can't talk right now." She then turned off her cell phone.
Unknowingly,a trailer marched towards her uncontrollably.
"Manabe-san, the doctor expects you."
"Y-Yes, thank you." He heaved a deep sigh as he slipped the cell back into his pocket.
"Halloo, Kuno…" Atsushi greeted his friend while verifying a file. "…please, have a sit."
"How was the operation? Can I meet-"
"It was successful, but she still needs some rest… So, you can't."
"Thanks God." Kurono rubbed his face with ease briefly once the doctor finished talking.
"Well, there is still a problem though…" Atsushi murmured hesitantly. "…here, look at it."
"What is this?" Kurono stared at him questioningly as soon as he took the offered folder.
"It's the testimony of the blood test."
"I see… but why are you giving this to me?"
"Actually, we didn't use your blood…"
"Wait a minute, are you trying to say that…"
"Yes, she's not your actual daughter."
"No, there must be something wrong with-"
"Believe me;I hope so, too. I tried many times, but the result won't change."
"No way, my wife is not that kind of woman!"
"It may sound outrageous… yet it's the truth."
"You-"
"Doctor, we need your help with this woman!"
Out of nowhere, a nurse barged into the room harshly with an occupied trolley behind her.
"Yeah, Haruna. I'm coming…" He then rushed towards her promptly. "…Kuno, it's Himeko!"
"Gosh…" Kurono breathed heavily as he stared at her bleeding features. "…what happened?"
"Haruna, take her to the operation room and prepare for the surgical procedure right now."
"Yes, by the way…"Haruna suddenly handed a bag to Kurono. "It's her belongings, all of it."
He took the bag slowly as he gazed at his wife worriedly.
"Don't worry, Kuno. I'll do everything I can to save her."
Without more ado, Atsushi went after them at a fast pace.
"Hold on, Atsushi…" Kurono then turned around to face him with a gritty look. "…I beg you."
"You have my word."
Several months later…
"Mommy, I miss you. Please don't sleep anymore…" Asumi spoke softly while caressing her mother's tresses longingly.
"Come here, Asu-chan…"Sachiko sighed wistfully as she held her granddaughter. "…You don't want to disturb Mommy."
From afar, Kurono kept a close eye on them raptly.
"So, can you accept it yet?"Suddenly, the very same doctor appeared and patted his shoulder lightly at the same time.
"Since I've been with her all along…" He breathed in before carried on, "…somehow, I can assume her as my daughter."
"I see…" Atsushi smiled curtly. "…it's all good then."
"However, I still can't bring myself to face Himeko…"
"Kuno, she really needs you… now, more than ever."
"I know, but whenever I see her at this moment…" He looked away as he resumed, "…I feel nothing, nothing but hatred."
"Fine, just don't do anything that you'll regret later…"
"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind… Thanks for the advice."
"Ungh…" Himeko opened her eyes wearily as she browsed through the room restlessly. "…where am I?"
"Look, Mommy's awake!" For the time being, she could get the hang of her daughter's delighted scream.
Asumi then ran over towards her, almost fell in the middle.
"Be careful, Asu-" She gasped instantly as soon as she felt that there was something odd with her body.
"Hime, don't-" Still, it was too late. Kurono closed his eyes recklessly at the sight of his dumbstruck wife.
"N-No… Where are they?" Little by little, tears started to fall from her eyes once she saw the blank sheet.
"Mommy…" Asumi wept as she observed her wailing mother.
"Kuno, please comfort her…" Sachiko said, trying to calm down the edgy situation. "…Let's go, Asu-chan."
He nodded feebly before moseyed closer to his stressed wife.
"Stop budging, 'll only hurt yourself."
"Kuno, what happened to my le-"
"They were infected, so… we have to cut them."
"No, just go away…" Himeko quivered and pushed him away instantaneously. "…I know, this must be drea-"
"It's the truth, Hime. You should accept it!" Kurono shouted impulsively as he pulled her in his arms forcibly.
"Don't touch me!" Then again, she only got more enraged and scratched his cheek.
"Stop it!" He then raised his hand swiftly just before he memorized Atsushi's words.
'She already gets what she deserved, so you'd better not punish her even more… It's for the best.'
He then withdrew his hand as he tightened his clutch around her waist.
'No matter what, just bear with it until the right time. For now, you should just keep quiet about it.'
"Give them back…" She wailed and cried on his shoulder continuously.
"Please…" He said as tears slowly slid along his cheeks. "…calm down."
'After that, we exchanged a farewell kiss and made an oath to meet again on another February 14th.'
He breathed heavily once what's written in the diary which he found next to her other stuffs evoked in his mind.
'Well, I'll just endure with this marriage for the time being. I can't disappoint my mother after all…'
Even I can abide the truth, so you should abide it too… although it hurts.
The present…
"What? She really does it?" Himeko chuckled lightly as she gazed at the sight of her daughter kissing the alarmed father.
"He is a very kind father…" Sachiko said as she followed suit. "…even your father rarely spends time with you back then."
"Well, I wonder where our new family member is." Himeko pried, trying to change the topic.
"Umm… Could you remember about our neighbors, the Hayashis who live across the street?"
"Yeah, I was just thinking about visiting them shortly. Besides, Asumi always bugs me for it."
"Actually, they're no longer in this world. They were both involved in an accident last month."
"No, it can't be…" Himeko murmured as she clasped her hands.
"I know that it does sound dreadful…" Sachiko paused and continued, "…in fact, I almost faint when I first heard about it."
"I will miss them for sure…" Himeko uttered blandly with a sigh.
"However, Sachi survived and has been living with us since then."
"So, where is she now?" Himeko asked straightaway in anticipation.
"On a date." Sachiko replied while winking playfully at her daughter.
"With who?"
"A close friend…" She then got up gradually. "…do you want snack?"
"Absolutely."
"Tell me…" Kurono murmured as he suddenly sat beside her. "…are you the one who told her to do that?"
"I'm sorry, but…" Himeko giggled quietly once she noticed his annoyance. "…what are you talking about?"
"Whatever."
Ever since I woke up that day, somehow I can tell that he's changed…
She then sipped the brew while glancing at his calm face occasionally.
It's just… the way he's been smiling at me and treating me until now…
"Hey, what are you looking at?" Hesurveyed as he noticed her stare.
They all seem unreal anymore… I wonder if it's because of my flawed.
"Nothing…"
Maybe this is my reprimand… for everything I've done behind his back.
« To Be Continued »
Written by,
Danielle J.