AN: I hope you guys enjoy this, there's a lot of Moko in this one 😊
Chapter Seven - Friendship
Kanae sighed as she sat down in the kitchen at the Hizuri household. She watched the blond man making tea for her and couldn't help but notice how stiff his body language had become. He was really taking what was happening to Kyoko to heart, but then again, she couldn't blame him. She wasn't too sure of what was going on but she knew that for this guy to lose composure in front of the media it was something bad.
"She hasn't contact me," Kanae said as she looked up at her friend's husband. She had to admit that as a person, she genuinely liked and respected Kuon. Knowing him as both Ren and Kuon, she knew that he had teased Kyoko quite a bit and been a little too free in his actions, but he had always been able to keep her safe and focus on what was best for her. He had always been loyal and was one of those rare guys who would never even look at another woman but the one who had become his wife.
"I wouldn't think so," Kuon sighed, "Milk?" he offered her and Kanae gestured just a little bit so he brought it over to her and took a deep exhale. "I know you don't really like me," he said, "but I need your help."
"First off, don't make things up, I like you fine…mo" Kanae sighed and she smiled. "I just have to give you a hard time because you're married to my best friend." She saw Kuon nod with a smile. "So, what's going on? The only times that you've contacted me in the past have all been to do with Kyoko. I'm wondering why you're calling me and she hasn't."
"Kyoko is…." Kuon tried to think of the best way of saying it, "She's lost her memories. I don't really know why, it might be a mix of trauma to her head as well as trying to save herself from her experience, but until the age of fifteen, she doesn't have her memories."
Kanae sat there quietly before nodding, "Okay, so did she recognize you as her childhood friend? I can't imagine her not following that jerk."
"It's more complicated than that," Kuon sighed and he sat down showing the depression that he tried not to show anyone else. "She actually started off by telling me that I was an actual fairy who had taken her into a world that I had built to satisfy my own wishes and demands. She said that because I was from the fairy kingdom that I didn't understand proper logic and it wasn't right to do this to her."
Kanae choked as she stared at him stunned. However, she did have to admit that she believed this story. That was the type of thing that a younger Kyoko would do. "I'm glad I hadn't started drinking," she coughed before sighing. "Well that really sucks for you."
"I hope I've been able to convince her otherwise, but I don't know," Kuon continued. "That's why I thought that you might be of more help to her. I don't think that at her mental age, she's ready to be in a romantic relationship, especially with a man who seems much older than her, but she could use some kind of support. I can try to be her friend, but I think you'd be a more calming choice." Kuon ran his fingers through his hair. "I also trust that you wouldn't do what that…" Kuon shook his head. "I don't even want to think about what would have happened if I hadn't known."
"So, she did go back to that jerk?" Kanae asked and Kuon hesitated.
"After she started talking about fairies and her idea that this wasn't a proper reality but something that I had constructed to please myself, he had enough of her and he took her to a psych ward." Kuon could see the horror and disgust on Kanae's face. "They medicated her with something that gave her hallucinations and I took her here and helped her to the spare bedroom." Kuon made a fist and looked up to where there was an external drive.
"Let me guess," Kanae said as she gestured to the drive, "You took care of the situation and that's the evidence?"
Kuon nodded. "I know you know that I can snap, Kanae-san," he said to her with a sigh. "I know that Kyoko has told you all about my violent past and that I still carry around some of that anger and most of the time I can get control. I know this because she apologized for telling you but I knew you cared about Kyoko enough to keep it private because she asked you to. After he did that to her -"
"I understand," Kanae sighed as she looked up, "I also know that you have ways of dealing with your anger through physical activity and you've never caused any harm to Kyoko or to Aurora. So, should we be expecting him on life support?"
"I don't think I went that far though he'll probably try to blame me in the public eyes," Kuon said before hearing Aurora crying on the monitor. "If you could excu-"
"Go. Be the good dad that you are," she waved him off whilst she sat there trying to think of how best to approach her friend. She knew that Kuon had a point. As loving and gentle as that man was to her, he might be a threatening figure and it most likely wasn't just his height that created that impression. She need to make a plan because whenever Kuon called her it was because it was something to do with Kyoko that he couldn't achieve himself. She did have to admit that when it came to Kyoko, that guy would do anything in his ability to help and protect her.
That was what love made somebody do.
As Kanae sat at the table, turning the conversation over in her mind, she heard a voice behind her. "He-hello,"
Kanae turned and smiled at her best friend, she could tell by her lack of confidence that this was an earlier and younger Kyoko. It was a Kyoko who would most likely need patience and delicacy. Kanae smiled at her, "Good morning," she said as her eyes narrowed in concern. She wanted to take in every detail of Kyoko's condition. The worst thing she could do was worsen her condition. "I don't think you remember me."
"I don't really remember anything," Kyoko smiled, "Are you related to Kuon?"
"Wow, I think we'd look more similar if that was the case," Kanae sighed. "No, I'm here because when you could remember you would constantly try to tell everyone within a ten foot radius that I was your best friend, mo."
Kyoko blinked before bowing, "I'm sorry that I don't remember that. Thank you for being my friend though, I've never really been in the position to have many friends."
Kanae nodded before gesturing for Kyoko to sit down at the table. "Kuon's been filling me in on a few things," she said. "So, you don't remember anything past the age of fifteen?" she asked and Kyoko shook her head. "So, you have no recollection of shocking pink uniforms or the fact that you're one of Japan's most treasured actresses?" she asked and Kyoko shook her head.
"I don't remember why I would go into acting," Kyoko said awkwardly. "I've never really been interested in being a star. I've been interested in supporting them but…" she closed her eyes and felt the tears fill them. "Why would he do that?"
"Kuon?" Kanae asked, "Listen, that guy means you no harm at all. If he's done something that has upset you, I promise that he never meant to. If that is the case then go and talk to him and he'll apologize and do whatever he can to make it up to you. I've never seen a guy that in love with somebody. All he's interested in is being the prince you've always wanted."
Kyoko shook her head, "No, not Corn…" she said, "or Kuon, but Sho…why would he do that to me?" she asked and Kanae sighed.
"When I met you, you had already been hurt by that guy and you were wanting revenge on him. That's why you joined the agency. You said that he had ruined your life and if you hadn't followed him there were a lot of things that you would have been able to do. You wanted to be a bigger name than him and show him how much more valuable you are," Kanae said before smiling. "However, you started acting because it made you happy and it gave you a chance to claim a precious life. You bonded with Kuon through the acting world so I guess in many ways, it was good for you."
Kyoko closed her eyes, "but why…"
"Because he's a jerk, because he's not a guy who is worth anything," Kanae said with anger in her own eyes. "That's what people from well off families do, they take whatever they want and don't care about the rest of us who have to struggle every day to make a living for ourselves. He was born into luxury and he still thinks that way."
Kyoko hesitated, "Is Kuon in that category?" she asked and Kanae sighed.
"Mo…." Kanae turned to her friend with a weak smile, "No. That guy is different. Yes, he comes from money and the way he experiences the world is different than other people, but you've met his parents. If that guy acted like a jerk then his parents would have talked to him about it and figured out the problem. He was left to defend himself a lot as a kid and so he had a shell around him that you managed to penetrate. I'm not sure how he was before he came here, but because he suffered pain he managed to see others as people and help them. I've seen that guy help people who are starting off as crew members, other actors being attacked by the media, even people at restaurants. He's the son of wealthy parents, but he's…human."
Kyoko nodded, "They're talking about making him take the place of a guardian because of my mental age. Should I let him?"
"I don't think you should let anybody," Kanae argued, "but if there is anyone in this world who could fit that position, it would be him," she said not aware that Kuon was outside with Aurora in his arms and could hear what she was saying. "That guy cares about you with every fiber of his body. He would never do anything that would cause you pain or unhappiness. He would always talk to you before any decision. All he wants is for you to be protected."
"And that's all because he loves me?" Kyoko asked and Kanae nodded.
"You'll learn that there are a lot of people who love you. In fact, ever since your birthday, that guy and I have been in a silent competition over who cares about you the most," Kanae smiled. "I think I have to surrender to him, but he tells me that there are some things that I can do which he might not be able to. I never really cared about people around me until I met you and it's still bothersome to do it with a lot of people."
"Do you like Kuon?" Kyoko asked as she watched her friend. "Is he a good person?"
"Don't tell him I told you this, but he's one of the best people that I have ever met. I like him a lot because he cares about you and would sacrifice his life for you. I would never tell him that though, I have my pride, mo…" Kanae said stubbornly.
Outside though Kuon was smiling as he gazed upon their daughter. He knew that he and Kanae did care about one another despite how they both wanted to be most important to Kyoko. He was happy that Kyoko was hearing this from someone other than him but he was still scared. What if the memories never resurfaced? What if the wrong ones did?
End of Chapter Seven
AN2: A huge thank you to those who support and read this story, it means a lot. Special shout out to reviewers of Chapter Six: Ashenvale, Guest, PaulaGaTo, RichkeyZero
