Chiori looked up as there was a knock on the bedroom door. Looking across at the curled figure of her friend on her bed she smiled lightly. Kyoko had not stopped smiling since she had returned. Chiori had tried to question her, but Kyoko had put her off saying she needed to shower first then upon Chiori coming back from taking Tama for a walk he had found Kyoko curled and asleep still smiling on her bed just wrapped in her towel. Chiori had covered her with her blanket and let the girl sleep.
"Julie-sama!" Chiori almost cried out remembering Kyoko asleep behind her, "Do you need something?" Chiori half whispered. Kyoko was a light sleeper and Chiori knew it.
"Well I was looking for Kyoko." Julie asked wondering why Chiori was whispering. She watched as the girl turned back to look in the bedroom as Julie followed her eyes to the lump in the bed. Chiori turned back to Julie.
"Is it important? I'm afraid Kyoko's a little wiped out." Julie smiled as she stepped forwards. Chiori didn't even hesitate stepping back to let the beautiful woman pass. Chiori watched as Julie approached Kyoko wondering if she was about to wake Kyoko, but she needn't have worried as Julie sat beside the sleeping girl and brushed the still slightly damp hair from her eyes.
"Well looks like we will have to wait until tomorrow to catch up and I was so looking forward to it." Julie said with a half-hearted sigh. The love in her eyes for the girl shone bright as she leant forwards and gently brushed her lips against Kyoko's forehead.
"Well then Chiori how about you and Tama come keep me company and we drop the Sama. It makes me feel old." Chiori chuckled as Julie struck a dramatic pose before smiling at her cheekily. They had become friends after Kuon's coming out and as both she and Kanae held the same love for Kyoko it had been hard for them not to. Julie had been the only other person alive Chiori had told one night in a depressed state about pushing Kyoko down the stairs at TBM. Though Chiori had seen the disapproval in Julie's eyes she never scolded the girl when she explained just how much she hated herself for doing it. Julie had comforted her telling her she made up for her mistakes everyday she was friends with Kyoko. And though her actions had been wrong, it was one of those things that had brought her to the person she was today so she could not say it wasn't an important part of life.
"That sounds great Julie and I suppose you want all the gossip?" she asked smiling. Julie smiled wider.
"Of course!" and together with Tama on their heels they left the sleeping Kyoko still smiling in her own world, where she and Kuon were still dancing in that clearing near the stream.
The next 3 days seemed to pass in a blur for Kyoko. For all who knew her well could see she was extremely happy. She like all the girls before her, spoke a little about their date with Kuon. Chiori decided early on that Kyoko was playing down the date and promised herself she would find out why when she got a moment. But that moment never came and as she climbed into the car with Kuon her movements were swift and precise. She would have to thank Julie for letting her in on the little secret of how to disable the car camera. As the light blinked out Kuon just stared at her from the driving seat.
"Chiori-chan?" Kuon asked as he watched the girl drop the wires she had just pulled from below the dashboard. Chiori just smiled softly and waited without replying. It only took a few minutes before Kuon's phone was ringing, hooked into the car's hands-free system Kuon answered it,
"Hello?"
"Ano... Kuon? The live feed has gone out from the car. Can you see any reason for it?" this was when Chiori spoke.
"I'm sorry I think I may have caught the wiring with my bag." Chiori added with a very soft un-Chiori like cute voice which had Kuon smiling. You sneaky minx you! Kuon thought as he listened to the crewman assuring Chiori it was fine and they would sort it out as soon as they arrived at their destination. As soon as the call was dropped Chiori smiled over at Kuon.
"You mister have a lot of explaining to do and you better get started." Kuon couldn't help but smile at Chiori.
"I do? Do I?" Chiori just shook her head smiling "Whatever you did it made her really happy that's for sure."
Kuon smiled to himself. Hell it had made him really happy. "So you think I have a chance of winning her over?" Kuon asked as he watched Chiori's face. The smile she offered him almost blew him away.
"Oh Kuon...Kuon...Kuon" she said whilst shaking her head side to side. "If you only knew. You have had her for so long now, but neither of you were willing to just take the next step." Chiori grabbed the door handle as Kuon lost control of the car for a few seconds.
"WHAT!" was all Kuon could say as Chiori smiled again. She wasn't going to give any more away she just hoped this push would be enough.
"So where are we going today?" she asked with a wicked smile, knowing he was getting no more from the girl he struggled to get his mind into focus...She likes me? Hell...she sees me as a man! He had hoped for this of course and hell he had even thought about it after their date, but now hearing it he was willing to give anything to know if it was true.
Kuu stood there happily smiling beside his son as Kuon looked at the six women before him. They all looked stunning Kuon decided as he looked over the six women his mom had personally dressed. She had told them it was her present to them all for being so kind to her son. Kuon looked at the roses on the table next to him and smiled as Makoto nodded for him to begin.
"Now ladies, first we will announce the winner of the challenge." Kuon picked up the white rose from the 4 roses placed there before turning back to the girls. "This was a really difficult decision as we had more than one amazing cook, but there was one who stood out to my father as exceptional for one dish." striding forwards Kuon walked straight to Oka and handed her the white rose.
"My father said your pudding with no word of a lie was the finest he has ever tasted." Kuu nodded happily and had a little to add.
"If you ever want to come and cook for me I would be happy to have you." Oka looked at the white rose in her hands and smiled happily at his words.
"Thank you..." Oka said and the girls all clapped for her victory, but were cut short when Oka continued "But I'm afraid I will not be staying."
The shock was total as Oka turned to her right and walked away from Kuon and over to Kyoko who stood next to Chiori.
"Here..." Oka said handing the rose to Kyoko "Without you my pudding wouldn't have been as wonderful."
Kyoko looked down at the white rose then up at Oka. "Of course it would! It's not what it looks like, it's the flavour! Oka-san..." Kyoko was at a loss for words as Oka shook her head.
Taking Kyoko's hand she placed the rose in it and closed it gently around the stem. "I'm not ready. You have worked hard for what you believe in... You haven't given up or listened to what others thought of you or what people said you couldn't do... I need to do that...I need to step away from the stereotype and find who I really am... and let's face it." she turned and smiled at Kuon before looking back at Kyoko. "What's the point in having a man who won't eat everything you cook when you're aiming to be a top chef?"
Kyoko's eyes sparkled as she stepped forwards shocking not only Kuon, the other women and the crew, but all of Japan as she hugged the woman who had been a torment and in some cases the cause of distress for Kyoko. "And you will make a wonderful chef Oka-san." The camera caught that moment as Oka's eyes sparkled with tears, that moment of hesitation before her arms reached up and around the young actress hugging her back.
"Thanks, Kyoko-chan..." turning her head slightly before whispering so not even Chiori could hear she added a little extra. Kyoko nodded into her shoulder as the women stepped apart. Kuon and Kuu just stood there watching as Oka walked back to her place brushing away a few tears but smiling happily. Kuon looked across at Makoto who just shrugged. It seemed they had not been prepared for this predicament, but Kuu being Kuu strode forwards to save the moment.
"Well Kyoko-chan was the very close second place so I suppose this works out just fine."
"Ano..." all heads turned to the smiling Chiori as she smiled politely before bowing to Kuon. "I'm afraid I too will ask to leave this week. I've realised there are other things I need to do before I can fully commit myself to another. Kuon you're a wonderful man, but to tell the truth, you could never handle me." Her cheeky smile was back as she stood from her bow. Kuon couldn't help but chuckle at her words as Kyoko grabbed her friend's hand.
"Chiori..." for a moment as the girls looked at each other no words were spoken, but it seemed to everyone watching that a full conversation was held between the two girls as Kyoko dropped her hand and Chiori smiled at everyone again.
"Well sorry to burst all of your bubbles but it seems that you really don't have a choice this week Kuon...Have fun." with that Chiori went to stand next to Oka who couldn't help but laugh at everyone's faces as Kuon took a few moments to comprehend that he now had his 4 remaining contestants without having to drop anyone. He turned a cheeky, smiling face to Chiori.
"You do realise this show is called The Bachelor and it's supposed to be my decision don't you?" Chiori just shrugged and smiled, as she leant on Oka whispering to the older woman who giggled before Kuon turned back to the women.
"Well lucky for me I got left with 4 of the most wonderful women any man could ask for?" Picking up the remaining three roses he handed them to the three remaining women who simply smiled. It seemed no one was exactly sure how to handle the situation, but the camera caught the look Kyoko was giving the rose she twirled happily in her fingers as the 4 remaining women hugged and chatted with the two women who would be leaving that evening.
"Are you sure you want to go Chiori-chan?" Kyoko asked for what must have been the 5th time since returning to their room together.
"It's time Kyoko. I set myself a goal and I have now completed it. And hey we can't leave Kanae-san all alone to do the Love Me work now can we?" Kyoko looked down at the rose she was still holding for a moment.
"Then maybe I should come too?"
It was almost like teleportation, Chiori was instantly sitting beside Kyoko on her bed. "Oh no you don't missie. You are going to stay here and make all of your dreams come true. Kyoko listen to me and you listen to me good. There is a man here who could very much love you if only you would let him. The fact is Kyoko you know how you feel about him don't you?" As Kyoko looked away Chiori used her hand to pull her back to face her. "Don't you?" Her eyes were firm and demanding as Kyoko looked into them she sighed and nodded.
"Yes."
Chiori smiled at this and patted Kyoko's hand in a comforting way. "Then you go grab him girl! Grab him and don't let him go no matter what."
Kyoko's eyes were sparkling with unshed tears as she looked at the woman who had once pushed her down a flight of stairs but now was one of her best friends. "But what if he doesn't want me to?" Kyoko asked.
Chiori could already see that Kyoko's resolve had almost collapsed at the thought of her being with Kuon, she just needed a little push. "Then he's not the one for you and you find another...But really Kyoko-chan do you honestly think Kuon would say no?" When Kyoko didn't answer Chiori just smiled "Grab hold girl." Chiori bent to pet Tama who was asleep in her bed on the floor.
"Well I'm going to miss you little lady." Chiori said as Kyoko watched on before smiling her own secretive smile.
"Oh I'm not so sure about that." Kyoko offered. It was her turn now to be the all knowing one.
Chiori felt a little put out that Kyoko didn't understand her feelings towards the small dog she had fallen in love with. "And what makes you say that?" Chiori asked hardly masking the hurt in her voice, but Kyoko only smiled wider.
"Because she's coming with you." Kyoko reached over her bed and pulled out Tama's already packed bag and dropped it down before Chiori who looked like she had just been told she had won the lottery.
"But...My mom. I can't Kyoko-chan."
Kyoko smiled brightly at her friend. "I've already spoken with your mother, Chiori-chan. She has said that it will be perfectly fine for Tama to come home with you." Chiori's jaw dropped. Her mother had always said she would never have another dog after her own had died when she was a child and broken her heart.
"But when?...How?"
Kyoko smiled as she hugged her friend. "I phoned before I came back up to the room. I asked Makoto-san if I could borrow her phone and I think she is rather looking forward to her little girl coming home."
Chiori blushed slightly as she looked down at the small dog. She had always blamed her mother for everything. She had treated her badly and it wasn't until Kyoko had taught her just how bad some mothers could be that she had realised just how bad she had been to her own mother that cared for her so much. She had done everything for her...Been her support and strength, she had been her rock. Chiori knew this and looking down at the small dog she realised there was more reasons to go home now then ever. She needed to go home and she needed to hold her mom and tell her just how much she meant to her.
"Thanks Kyoko-chan." Chiori almost whispered as she wiped away the single tear she had shed.