AN: This is based on the character of Mystique from the X-Men who is my favorite Marvel character. I hope you enjoy. Thank you for choosing to read this fic, it will have Kyoko's and Kuon's POV switching every chapter.
The Beauty in the Beautiful
Kyoko 1: Waking up to a Nightmare
We were married one year ago in the spring. We were married in Kyoto and his parents had come and his father, my father-to-be who I already knew as a dad, he walked me down the aisle. It was so beautiful there, the sweet singing of the birds, the flowers…so many flowers and my smiling groom, the amazing Corn, my Kuon, waiting for me at the end of the altar as I walked down.
I remember my dress. I loved that dress. I still have it tucked in our closet next to the Love Me uniform. I remember how happy I was, how his smile could have awoken the dead with how beautiful it was. He called me his princess, he -
"Yamamoto-san," I hear but am unable to respond.
Somehow my body feels hot, why does it feel so hurt? It's as if there's a rash but I'm unable to move. I only came in for a CAT scan because Kuon was so worried about my head. Why are they calling me Yamamoto-san. I'm a famous actress now. Even if they call me Hizuri-san then that's fine. Why can't I move? Why can't I breathe? Am I still in the hospital? Is this part of the procedure?
"Oh god, Yamamoto-san," they tell me and I pause.
I can't correct them. I can't argue back with them. What's happening! Kuon has a work appointment but he'll come. If they call for him then he'll come.
I can't move and then the words I next hear haunt me.
"There was an emergency, we need to get the tests done immediately. Inject her and put her to sleep. She signed up for these tests and my god, I'm going to make sure that we use them. My reputation is on the line here."
I don't know what this means but it doesn't feel good. I feel a needle injected into my body and I start to lose consciousness? Why are they calling me Yamamoto-san? What tests are they talking about?
…
…
I feel as if I've been asleep for a long time. How long ago did they put that needle into my body and what were the effects of the drugs? I want to know what they injected me with down to each element. If they put a dash of water into the solution I want to know that too. My body feels so itchy. Why is it so itchy? Why do I feel as if I'm wearing some weird suit?
I open my eyes and take in the blurry image of an unkempt blond. I can't focus. I can't really see his face but Kuon doesn't have a beard, he doesn't have wild and unmanageable hair, he doesn't look weak ever. I close my eyes again but then feel something rough and cold on my cheek and hear a soft voice.
"I'm here, princess," I hear Kuon telling me. Was that him? What happened? I've only been out for a few hours at the most.
"Hizuri-san, would you leave her alone?" I hear a doctor say and I smile. I feel thirsty and maybe hungry, it's as if I need to eat right now. I feel something upon my forehead, this feels so warm and wet and then I realize that he's kissing me but his lips feel strange and unfamiliar. Have I somehow lost part of my memory?
"I'm here, princess. I'm not going anywhere. Won't you please open your eyes for me?" he begs me and I feel nervous for him. I don't like hearing him so concerned but if I'm with him then I can calm him down. I open my eyes and look at him.
He's changed. I don't know how long they've kept me under surveillance but he's changed.
He looks thinner, more exhausted, older even but not the older with the passing of years, older as in the mental exhaustion when you stay up all night doing a homework assignment. His hair is a complete mess as if he's run his hands through it too many times and he has a beard and sideburns. When did he get those?
"Kyoko," he breathes in relief and I reach out for him but then pause as I see my hand. This is not my hand, it can't be. I'm moving it, I feel my fingers moving but it can't be my hand. It's a sharp blue, not something dark or light but a medium blue-blue and the skin is tight and rough as if I'm some reptilian creature. I don't remember having skin like this. I really don't remember having skin like this!
"Kuon," I say as I touch his cheek and see that my entire arm is covered with this blue texture. He leans into my touch, pressing his hand to my hand and holding it to his cheek as he looks at me, hope returning in his eyes. "I'm…I'm thirsty," I tell him and he nods shakily.
"Water, I'll go and find you water," he tells me before looking at the doctor, "She needs water," he barks desperately. I hate seeing him like this. I hear the doctor calling for someone to bring me water and Kuon kisses my hand a few times. I'm not sure what is going on.
I see a nurse enter the room with a jug of water and a glass and I freeze as I see my reflection in the jug. It's not just my arm and hand with this blue stuff, my entire body is covered as if I'm wearing some kind of scifi suit.
"Disgusting, the freak woke up," he says and I blink at him. I sit up and Kuon gently helps me, staying by my side though his eyes are dark and I can sense the pain in his heart, I know him so well that I can judge his emotions within a second.
"She's not a freak!" he barks at the nurse who takes a step back with his arms raised in a sign of surrender. I look at Kuon before seeing my reflection and I hold him closer, terrified.
I don't look like myself.
I'm naked with the skin on my whole body a shocking blue and almost shimmering. My auburn hair is back and cascading over my shoulder and my golden eyes are made even brighter in contrast to my body. Why am I blue? How did this happen? I don't look human. I look like a freak, like an alien. What happened to me?
I see Kuon taking in my reflection as well before he looks at me fiercely, "You're not a freak," he tells me before sitting on the side of the bed and wrapping his arms around me. He feels so warm and I cling to him, my hands wanting to touch every part of him. "You're not a freak, you're my wonderful Kyoko," he says and the doctor hesitates.
"I'm so sorry," the doctor says, "Six months ago there was a mix up. We thought you were someone under the name Yamamoto. She had agreed to have this testing done on her for a large amount of cash. The files were switched. I wasn't here to authorize it and before we knew it, you were unconscious and we had already started the testing."
Kuon has his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his chest and kissing my shoulder lovingly. How is he not repulsed by my appearance. I'mrepulsed by my appearance. "It's unable to be reversed," Kuon says slowly, trying to break the news to me. "But listen," he tucks some of my hair behind my ear and I look back at my reflection. I look like a mutant, "I'm here. We're going to get through this together and I won't let anyone harm you. Can you look at me?" he asks me and I turn to him. He kisses me passionately before slowly saying, "I promise that I will do my best to make sure nobody ever harms you."
I trust him. In this given situation he might be the only man that I trust.
I stand up and out of the bed and he takes my hand, allowing me to lead him to the mirror, walking slowly. It hurts to move. I was put under for six months and it hurts to move. He sees this and without me asking, he sweeps me off my feet and goes over to the mirror. He knows I want to see myself. I'm so ugly. There is no chance of me modelling like this or even acting.
"It's okay," Kuon tries to remind me with soft kisses placed on my back behind my shoulders, "It's okay. We'll get through this together. We'll go somewhere to figure this out and I won't leave your side. It's okay because I love you," he tells me and I blink. How can he be so supportive? Shotaro would have ditched me five months ago if he were in this position.
"I'm a freak," I whisper and turn to him, my tears dampening his t-shirt. Kuon is in a T-Shirt, something is not right with the world. Where are his designer clothes? Where is the public image he has always tried to project?
"No," he tells me, letting his hand rest on my cheek and he turns my head to him, "No, you're not a freak, not to me. I'll protect you, please let me protect you."
I wrap my arms around him tightly, tears falling into his shirt again and nod. Again, how is he not repulsed by the monster that I've turned into. I want to hide, run away and pretend that this isn't happening. He isn't running. He's being the supportive and caring man that I married.
"I'm sorry," I whisper to him and he shakes his head. He deserves better than to be with the monster that the hospital has turned me into with these tests. How dare they do this to me!? They've ruined my profession, they've ruined my life and turned me into an outlaw. Kuon had six months of this, six months of seeing me like this and he hasn't run yet.
"You have absolutely nothing to be sorry about, princess," he tells me as he takes me to the bed and I pull the blanket around myself. "I love you."
I look at his face and the honesty and concern in his expression. I lean in to kiss him and he gently raises my head to get a better angle. As we kiss, I place my hand on his heart and he puts one of his hands on top of it. It's then that the doctor speaks.
"Kissing a freak like that is disgusting," he says and I hear Kuon cough.
"What did you say?" he asks and it feels there is going to be a fight. Please don't let there be a fight.
End of Kyoko 1
Thank you so much for checking out this story, reviews are deeply appreciated.
