Chapter 2

She was starting to heal, he could see it in her eyes. She was almost ready for her final trek. He wanted to be the one to personally escort her to that pedestal that no unworthy man could ever think of touching. With the connections he had forged in the States, she would become the goddess he knew she should be. According to his resources, there had been several producers and director's looking her way, his father being one of them. Reino just needed to look over all of her new contracts to make sure there were certain individuals not included. Certain individuals that had caused all of the damage in the first place.

She looked through the scripts and the cast listings that had been included that the American directors had sent for her. There had been three such offers. Two for Hizuri Kuon and one for Hizuri Kuu. At one time she would have been overjoyed to accept, but now? After all of the lies? Could she really do it? She sighed deeply. "Reino... I have to do at least one of these. They're all for leads, they're all from prominent directors and the releases will be international."

"Akazukin-chan... Are you sure?" He asked with a bit of worry. He really didn't like the thought of her being around anyone from the Hizuri clan.

She hugged him then kissed his cheek. "Don't worry Urufu." She blushed and pointed to the script she was taking. "You'll be there for me and so will Niki." She smiled and left to make dinner.

Reino sat in her living room in a daze with his hand on the cheek that she had just kissed. "Urufu?" He chuckled. "When did she come up with that one?" He chuckled and looked at the cast list for the one she had picked. Hmm... James Bell as the lead, we have Sam Charles and last but certainly not least Kuon Hizuri.

Circles In The Sand was the title. The synopsis explained that the story would be about a female vampire's long life, from being a cursed Egyptian Queen to a modern iconic model. The very good looking, raven-haired and steely blue eyed Sam Charles would be the High Priest that cursed her after she refused him. Kuon Hizuri would be playing a misguided hunter in the modern age and James Bell, the fair-haired icy blue-eyed young man that was known for his rolls in supernatural type movies, would play her eternal protector and lover.

Reino shuddered at the thought. Any one of these three men could be a threat to his growing status in her life. He sat back on the sofa, groaned and wished with all his being that he could see who her red thread of fate was attached to. He had tried to many years ago when he first saw her, but she had been the only individual he had ever met that had none. There had been many leading to her, but none coming from her. He noticed the orange, indicating that she would have a child in the future; she had many yellow for her friends and the purple of the awakening that was connected to him, but sadly he could see no one that would be destined to cherish her heart as it should be.

He often wondered who would make it into her bed but, not her heart. He had hoped for her sake that he was wrong.

For many years Circles In The Sand would be the defining moment of her career and life. The turning point, if you will. After that she rose ever higher in the celestial trappings of the acting world. There was only one mistake in her life; however, she never considered the little blond-haired, green-eyed imp a mistake. She hid him well. Only those close to her knew of him, Chiori, Reino, Nikki and his family and her own mother, whom Reino helped her reconnect with. They all understood her secrecy and her deception and stood by her in her decision.

"Kaa-san?" The beautiful five year old looked up at his mother questioningly. "Do I have to go to school?"

She knelt before him eyes gold to green. "Shin... English... Remember?" She had named him as such because he was the only genuine and honest person in her life that she could trust with her heart.

He sighed and repeated his question in perfect English. "Do I have to go to school in Los Angeles? I'm going to miss Auntie Chi-Chi and Obāchan Saena." He whined.

She gave him a stern look. "Shin... Your education is very important. You will get nowhere in life without one." She smiled softly. "Besides You will still have Vikki and Nadia, and your Uncles Reino and Nikki and what about me?" She pouted and gave him a little lost puppy look. As a loving mother, she had learned quickly over the years how to lay the guilt on pretty thickly with her son.

"No! Mommy! Don't be sad! I will always want to be with you... I... I was just saying I was going to miss them." He quickly tried to console her by wrapping her in his tiny arms.

"It's alright my love. I understand. We'll go visit when it gets too much to bear." She stroked his glittering diamond locks. "We'll take two weeks in December. Okay? During your winter break. I promise." She looked into his gem quality green eyes with little mahogany star-bursts in the centers near the iris. His father's eyes.

He knew her word was as good as gold. She had never in his small life, ever broken a promise to him. He was a very intelligent little boy. He, Shin Mogami knew that the world was not all soft little puppies and candy canes. He also knew that his mother was very special. Too special for just anyone and he always made sure that the men she dated were thoroughly vetted by his Uncle Reino and so far, none of them were good enough for her in his opinion. His Uncle Reino was special too. He could see his mom's little demons and his own, but he still couldn't see that little red ribbon that tied his mommy to anyone. It made him a little sad.

Shin had done a lot of reading on the subject lately and yes... at five he was very mature. He would be starting second grade this year and mom had promised that she would allow him internet access this year also. There were already so many things he already knew because Uncle Reino had snuck some of the information for him. He followed his Dad's career, his Mom's, he could read and write. Kyoko had made sure to keep him busy with piano lessons and martial arts. He played with his Uncle Nikki's twin daughters Vikki and Nadia, but there was just something that was still missing. He just couldn't pinpoint it. She seemed happy when she was with him, but when he saw her in interviews and on TV, her smile was a lie, fake. He didn't like that so much. It would be many years before he could do something about it.