DISCLAMER: I own nothing.

~~~ WED.17.05.17-11:00 ~~~

Frankly, he still didn't understand one thing that had happened with Kyouko since the press conference. And all throughout the press conference, for that matter. It all started with that kiss! That kiss, man.

Nothing made sense. None of the things she said, none of the things she'd done…

The things she told him, about not revealing more than what he was "comfortable with right now" hit so close to home. How did she even know to say that?

It was like she had suddenly become conscious of him. It was very subtle but the air about them had totally changed. Or was he imagining things?

And the media had been all over it. Every time a role put him in a situation to be close to an actress, their first impulse was to speculate. Things always calmed down eventually, the tabloids would probably change target in a matter of days, if not hours. But this was Kyouko. She had played the part they expected from a new comer, almost making sure that they would treat it like every other time. Did she plan this? She seemed, for sure, surprisingly at ease with the situation. Was this casual flirting a way to protect herself? It was a wise course of action, but he was a collateral victim of it.

He closed his eyes and let out a deep long sigh. He was so tired of ruminating the same thoughts.

"Ren, you ready?" came the voice of his manager.

"Sure" He got up and pretended to stop his cd player – the thing had been broken for years, he just pretend-used it when he wanted to be left alone.

[…]

After the meeting, Yashiro offered to get some lunch. He seemed strangely composed and so the actor accepted. They settled in an isolated space and opened the packed lunch that the ever so capable manager seemed to make appear out of thin air.

Kuon stared at him.

"You're awfully quiet since you came back. That's highly suspicious."

Resigned, Yashiro swallowed the bite he was having and straightened up.

"Yes." he said solemnly. "Ren, something happened." he looked at him seriously and paused. "I need to show you something..." he shrugged nervously "I meant to show you later, I thought you should really eat first... I didn't want to mess up your appetite."

Kuon's lunch was still wrapped on the table and his arms were crossed.

"What happened."

His tone made it clear that it was not a question but rather a demand.

For Yashiro's teasing to stop so abruptly, this had to be related to Kyouko. Kuon didn't intend to give him the satisfaction to ask or let him feel powerful from whatever information he held. He ground his teeth. What if it was about something totally different? He was so focused on Kyouko he sometimes forgot that life was full of things that weren't her.

Yashiro fiddled in his chair and gestured to his phone on the table.

"There's a video on my phone, please grab it, I'm bare-handed." he looked around them as if to make sure they were alone.

Kuon took the phone and looked at it, and at his manager alternatively, not sure of the safest way to proceed.

Yashiro cleared his throat and moved closer when Kuon finally activated the screen.

"There, in my camera app." he whispered "Do you have headphones?"

"Yes." Kuon looked for the item in his bag.

What is this about? He wondered. He was becoming more and more nervous. He plugged the headset on the device and looked at his manager.

"When I went to the car earlier," he was still whispering "I caught an interesting scene…" he hardly held back the devious grin that threatened to show on his face, but composed himself quickly. "Kyouko chan and Fuwa Sho!" he said even lower, but very excitedly. "You sure you want to look at it now?" he asked anxiously.

Yashiro seemed torn between wanting to see his friend watch the video, and the equal need to keep him from actually watching the video.

Of course. Kuon looked at the small screen. Kyouko and Fuwa. Most probably another argument. So that's why Yashiro didn't say anything until he was asked. This had the potential of ruining his day, if not his life. He put the phone down.

"You're right. I shouldn't rush into it." he said dejectedly.

Yashiro sat back a little further and calmed down. He picked up his sandwich and said nothing.

Kuon was unsettled. He reached for his food but stopped short of it. Judging by Yashiro's level of excitement, whatever he caught could not be so bad. Would he even mention the video if he thought it was a life wrecking material? Yashiro was still, after all, the closest thing to a friend he had in his current life. Despite his annoying nosiness, the man deserved to be trusted.

"What did they fight about?"

Yashiro thought for a minute.

"That's the thing." he said, his brows furrowed "I'm not sure they actually did fight."

Kuon felt the blood boil in his veins.

"Did they make up?" he asked painfully.

"Oh, no!" Yashiro replied hurriedly. "Kyouko put him in his place, it was amazing!" he started to fangirl.

Kuon stayed silent. He was tempted. Yashiro's sparkly eyes bore into him.

"They talked about you." he said teasingly "Come on, Ren, you have to tell me what happened!"

"Nothing happened, I already told you." Kuon cut his annoying little dance. He got up. "But you got me curious. I'm borrowing this." he grabbed his manager's phone and walked away, leaving his sandwich untouched.

Yashiro hardly hid his disappointment, as he watched his charge walk away. Like I'm going to let you observe me while I get my soul picked on, Kuon thought.

[…]

"My married name is never going to be Tsuruga."

Her smile as she said that. It was the same smile. She knows. He thought. She almost said my name, didn't she? He was going crazy. She knows.

Kuon had just watched the video three times in a row, and if he missed the slip of her tongue the first time, and dismissed it the second time… the third time he heard her say "You're so focused on K..." he couldn't help but think "K" meant Kuon. She was, in fact, talking about him in that sentence. But how is it possible? He had feared many times that she would see through him. Why would it happen now, and what would be the cause of her sudden realization? Would such a realization even suffice to explain the change in her behavior? He tried to breathe slowly, to calm the rushed beating of his heart.

Somewhere in the depths of his being, a voice suggested something. He tried to ignore it, cause with it came hope. Could it be? Like the voice of a playful child only stating the obvious. Could she be feeling the same way? He blushed lightly as he remembered her act as Setsu. She said she was in love, but the person didn't matter. Could that person be…?

She didn't let anything show in the video, her words were carefully chosen. She cleverly hid the facts associated to her feelings and the identity of the person she loved. But Yashiro was right, this wasn't exactly a fight. She was so detached and overwhelming that Fuwa only endured the whole thing. Kuon couldn't help but laugh at him. Well, never mind the singer, he was old news obviously. Who could that person be?

The fact that Kyouko was possibly in love with someone should have angered him out of his mind. But the small voice inside of him didn't allow it and forced him to reason. If she does know, then maybe… He didn't doubt her feelings for Corn. That made him smile longingly. He always thought those were friendly feelings, and nothing more, but what if? Her recent familiarity with him could actually be compared to her familiarity with Corn.

He sighed. Damn you, Yashiro! How was any man in love supposed to remain coolheaded after hearing words like that from the voice of his beloved? He took his head in his hand and tried to empty his thoughts. He was supposed to be at a photo shoot in less than an hour. He should find Yashiro and get ready.

He got up from the isolated bench he was sitting on and looked on both sides of the hallway before he started walking in the direction of his office.

Let's say she found out who he was, and he was about to reveal himself. She decides to stop him. Why? Let's say she did love him. She kisses him… But then, she blows him off! Why? Why did she refuse to see him before a week? A whole week. He was supposed to wait for a whole week before getting a chance to talk to her.

Though his thoughts were in turmoil, he didn't let it show. He came across a few people and waved to them politely, hidden behind a professional smile.

This girl… He needed to know.

He spotted his manager from afar, at a turn. Yashiro seemed to be chatting with someone, who was hidden by the wall. When the man saw his charge approach him, he moved slightly to his side and his interlocutors came into view.

Oh.

The girl's eyes thinned when she saw him.

"What a nice surprise, Tsuruga san!"

~~~ SUN.24.05.12-11:00 ~~~

It felt like her bed was moving and she wriggled around lazily, waking up. What a crazy dream! She thought. Wait. She opened her eyes, and saw landscape passing by very fast in her line of sight. She hugged herself and pinched her arms. It wasn't a dream. She remembered.

She was in a futuristic electric car, on a futuristic highway, with a futuristic husband who was driving them to a futuristic, or, well, just a surprise destination.

He refused to tell her where they were going, when he told her to get ready early in the morning.

Once they were on their way, he diverted her attention with talks about other subjects that he knew would get to her. He explained to her how the car worked, and how technological progress that had happened over the years had made it possible to travel faster, safer and cleaner. She didn't understand much of the details, but that car looked kind of funny, it did make her curious. The highways had been reinvented too, in a way that cars could drive themselves now; still, he liked to drive and never used the autopilot. She listened to him attentively and asked questions, as they went on their way, no longer thinking about the surprise he had in store for her.

Remembering this conversation made her smile, now. He said that people like them, who have fame and money can begin to make a difference. For instance, he told her, the two of them had invested time and money in a solid project to clean the ocean. The lab they were supporting had finally started their operation a couple of years ago, after lots of efforts. The oceans would be clean again in a few more decades, at this rate, he told her. It was so nice the way he talked about it. He said their love of nature and their shared will to improve things was what made them so strong. The ocean will be clean again! She thought. It was a nice thing to do together. She realized it was up to her to contribute to making everything she was witnessing now a reality. She would not have imagined that things could change so much in only seven years. If what he said was true, then there were hopes and causes to defend. Anything is possible. She promised to herself that when she'd be back in her time, she would do everything in her power to help better the world.

It was a long ride and she had fallen asleep in the quietness of it all, thinking about how change can happen if we make it. There was still a lot of work, he told her, but little by little…

Now that she was awake, she turned her face his way and thought to herself, am I really going to get used to that? He looked dreamy. He was concentrated on the road, apparently not noticing that she had woken up. Jazz music was playing and she waited like that for a while, thinking back to all the wonderful things in the future that she could help grow.

When the car slowed down, she popped up to look around.

He smiled to her.

"Ah!" she said as realization finally hit her. "I know that road."

Kuon smiled to himself in the driver's seat next to her but said nothing. He absentmindedly scrolled through the radios, changing the station.

Kyouko recognized the hills, the river, the houses. This was the area she grew up in.

She blushed, understanding what their destination would be.

"Is it still there?" she asked.

"The clearing? I should hope so, we have an understanding with the owners."

"The owners?" she asked a little more tensely than she would have liked. She had never even known this place was owned by someone.

"They're not the Fuwa Ryokan, don't worry." he joked.

"That's not what I was thinking." she pouted and he laughed. That's exactly what I was going to think, she thought, embarrassed from how well he knew her.

When he stopped and parked she recognized the dirt path that led to the woods, just a little further from where they were.

"So, what do you think?"

"This is lovely." she blushed "Thank you Kuon."

He laughed.

"I had forgotten how often you used to blush." he brushed her cheek "That's cute."

"Stop doing that," she grumbled "it's not fair."

It was only her second day with him, and even though she had gotten used to the idea that, well, they were together… Her belly tingled. Every time! Well, yeah, they were together. He was showering her with attention, he made her laugh, he listened to her worries… Even though he was patient and understanding, he couldn't refrain some familiarity from time to time. Like when he called her cute and brushed her cheek. She was not totally used to that yet. How was she supposed to control the beating of her heart? She had no training for that kind of emotional overdose, even less if this was going to be a constant.

He laughed from her sulky expression.

"Well, should we get going?"

[…]

They wandered around the woods, following the nostalgic path, without a care in the world.

It was so wonderful, being here, right now… with him… Kyouko was no longer bothered by the inconveniences of being lost in a random spot of her time-line. Whatever hurdle she had to face in the future – or should she say in the past – was worth it if even just for this moment. She pictured the lovely faeries

"Hi Kyouko!" they were saying "Welcome back!" they sang, as they swirled around.

But no matter where she looked, Kyouko's eyes always ended up back on Kuon. In the handsome man walking next to her, she saw the boy, she saw the goal, she saw… Well he was, most definitely the one and true fairy in her life.

He smiled to her when he noticed she was looking at him and he reached for her hand. He squeezed it when she put it in his, and she kept walking alongside him.

"We're almost there." he said.

She recognized the trees… She moved a thick branch from their way and the beautiful stream appeared before them.

"Ah!" she exclaimed, happily.

He watched lovingly as she hurried to the riverbank. She looked around, amazed. That place had not changed one bit.

"Look, Corn!" she yelled excitedly "Uh, I mean… K- Kuon..." she blushed suddenly and tried to hide her face in her hand. "Huh. Sorry…"

He came closer and took her hands.

"What is it princess?" He was so close she thought she would fall in his eyes. "Did you find something interesting?"

She gulped.

"It's uh, a.. A ladybug." she said timidly.

"Ah? Where?" he asked, with a seemingly genuine interest.

He followed her to a bigger rock and spotted the insect.

"Ah there it is!" he said contently. He looked at her with a wide smile. "You know what they say about ladybugs?" he asked her mischievously.

"Uhum…." she was suspicious. "I'm not sure…" she could tell he was about to weave another story around for her.

He sat down, and she followed him.

"Many centuries ago," he started with a soothing voice "in a far away land, an innocent jeweler's apprentice had been found guilty for the murder of his master, and was sentenced to death by decapitation." Kyouko's long face didn't faze his concentration "The apprentice kept claiming his innocence, but the day came for his execution. As the executioner lifted up his axe, he noticed there was a ladybug on the condemned man's neck." Kyouko held her breath "The executioner was not a cruel man, he only just did his job." Kyouko nodded several times "He had not been ordered to kill the ladybug, so he pushed it away, gently, and lifted up his axe again." He waited and looked at her. "And then?"

"The ladybug came back?"

"Exactly," he smiled at her relieved expression "they say every time the executioner lifted up his axe, the ladybug came back to sit on the innocent man's neck." Kyouko turned her head to the sky, a dreamy look in her eyes. "After what seemed like the hundredth time," he spoke again "the king, who was very wise and had witnessed the miracle, declared that the man was innocent and graced him." She sighed happily and turned to him. "And they say, the very next day, the true murderer was found."

"They say?"

"Well, more precisely, my father said." he grinned.

"Your father the fairy king?"

"The one and only."

She lay down on the pebbles and sighed of contentment again.

"Aaaaah," she said "this is so nice."

They stayed silent for a moment.

"I still can't believe it." she thought out loud, after a while.

"Hum?"

"I remember it like it was yesterday…" she closed her eyes "When I saw you for the first time. This must have been the best day of my life."

He didn't say anything. She opened her eyes and tilted to her side. She found him right next to her, lying symmetrically and watching her. She blushed.

"You want to talk about it?" he asked quietly "About what it means?" his brows furrowed ever so slightly "Like… If you have questions, maybe?"

She thought about it. Of course she had so many questions! Like when did he recognize her? How did he fall in love with her? Why in the world, did he fall in love with her? Why did he hide his identity? Did he really hate himself?… She remembered the sad feeling that overwhelmed her, the night she touched upon the idea that her beloved sempai and her magic secret prince might be the same person, that was also her mentor's son. He must have been through so much. Was it right to ask him about it now, when so many years had passed?

"I don't know" she said "Are there things you think we should… like discuss?"

He chuckled.

"It's not that I especially want to. We already had this conversation, but I can tell you again, if you feel like it will help." his eyes became slightly darker. "Or if you're scared..."

"Scared?" what was he trying to say? "Do you think I am scared of you?" this supposition was outrageous.

"Well, I don't know. I mean I know the you from now is not, but maybe..."

"Wait" she interrupted him "there is nothing you can tell me about yourself that will make me feel safer." He waited for her to continue, so she did. "I don't need you to answer any question to make me feel like I know you better… I mean, I feel like I've always known you!" that brought a small smile on his lips. "I have only been here for a day, and you were able to make me feel like we had never been apart… You don't need to explain anything to me, not right now. I'm sure you'll tell me what you need to say, when you need to say it." She stopped and caught her breath. She had spoken faster than she realized. "I mean… I'm sure you already told me… I can wait for the past." She pouted.

He brushed her bangs and kissed her forehead.

"Ok" all traces of worry were gone from his beautiful features. "Thank you." He sighed "Please remember to use those exact same words when we have this conversation in the past. I really needed to hear those, back then." he looked at her pensively.

"Of course, in the past." she was still a little bit shaken, by their proximity, by the embarrassing confession she had just blurted out, and by his sweet reply. "Besides..." she continued hesitantly "If I ever was scared of you," she said the rest very seriously "it was only because of your carnal appeal." she regretted those words as soon as they came out.

"Oh really?" he said sexily, bringing his face closer.

"Well, yeah" she continued, embarrassed "like what you're doing now..." she shook her head "you have to remember that falling in love was my biggest fear!"

"Ah yeah, I remember, believe me." he twitched his face in a grimace "That was such a pain."

"Shut up!" she poked at his chest "And you kept on..." she couldn't find the right words. He was bound to make fun if she called it tormenting her. "You know, it seems so easy to be here, right now, with you." she blushed "Because, here, and now, it all makes sense and I have no choice but to accept it, but at that time… a man like you..."

He caressed the hair behind her ear. That brought back so many memories.

"A man like me, at that time, would have given anything to hear you say those words."

The way his fingers brushed her temple made her a bit dizzy. She had become very aware of the beating of her heart. Her gaze stopped on his eyelashes. So long. Then on his lips. She wanted to kiss him.

"I'm so lucky." she said.

"No, I'm the lucky one." he laughed "Having you for a soul-mate, that's the real treat." he smiled at her stupidly and she couldn't stop herself. She silenced him with a kiss. It was just a small peck, very fast, well she was still a shy girl…

"Remember to do that, too, in the past" he said huskily "cause that's what I needed the most."

She felt her insides twitch from his deep look. If he ever wanted to do anything to her, now was the time.

Finally, he got up, and she felt somewhat disappointed, but she followed him in the direction to where he'd left his backpack. He stopped and turned to her with a smile. She blushed.

"What?" was he going to kiss her now?

"I've got something for you." He said simply and extended his closed hand to her. Ah, is this… Without thinking, she reached out and recognized the shape when she received the item. "I thought you might need it." He tilted his head and smiled.

She looked at the blue stone in her hand. It was exactly as she remembered it. Maybe it really was magic, after all? She brought it to her heart and nodded her gratitude to him. He just patted her head. She would have liked to feel him closer.

"Well, that's not all." he said "We have food, remember? You hungry?"

Kyouko nodded silently, ignoring the new kind of hunger that had begun to stir inside of her.

Author's notes:

Well, of course Kuon had to see that scene with Sho (I wasn't going to let Yashiro's hard work go to waste)! I'm glad you liked it and things are starting to make more sense. I'm hoping I'll be able to puzzle you some more though. Who knows what Kuon will do with his husbandly rights, but rest assured, the sexy will be back soon enough, one way or another. The new mini Kyouko I invented was supposed to be some kind of shrink form, I think I used the word "blouse" wrong: I didn't pay attention cause it means "scrub" in french! Anyway, I corrected it for more clarity.

A famous mapping site told me it takes over 5 hours to drive the 450 km from Tokyo to Kyoto nowadays, I thought it was too long, so I imagined in 7 years we could have electric cars that not only hold that distance, but also, let's leash out on imagination, make it even faster than our 2017 ones! Anyway, in my mind, Kyouko napped for about 1 hour on a 3 hours long trip.

Thank you so much for the nice reviews! I'm keeping the title, since no one seemed to mind.

And of course, thank you for reading!