Chapter 7
Lory was stunned when he heard the voice of his long lost angel lilt angrily through the phone. He was even more stunned at what she'd revealed to him. It was all unacceptable, a young man treating a young woman in such a manner. The boy was obviously an animal. No, animals had better manners. He would never insult Natsuko-chan and Simba in such a way. This boy was a monster to drag Kyoko-chan like that. He became even more incensed as he watched the latest video posted on the internet and was satisfied with his decision to send the memo company-wide.
Apparently Ten had the same notion when she called her brother and let him know of the situation, because her brother John, had called moments after and let him know that he was calling in the lawyers and filing charges. They had more than enough video evidence to take this little vermin down. Lory agreed with him and informed him of all of the trouble and instances that occurred while Kyoko was in Tokyo. They were going to bury him. He could have the voice of a god and they would make certain that he wouldn't even record a jingle for a dog food commercial in his bleak future.
Although he was excited to see Ten and Kyoko, these were not the circumstances he wished for the meeting to be under. He and Kuon had planned on surprising them with a visit later in the month. Now everything had been completely ruined. Well, maybe for him, but for Kuon things had just gotten a little brighter. Her fairy prince had saved her from the evil Sho and he had become her knight in shining armor. Not exactly how Kuon had wanted things to turn out. Certainly he would do it over and over, if faced with the choice, but he wanted to come back into her life in a less dramatic way. Now everything was plastered all over the internet and quite possibly every tabloid in existence by morning. Lory seriously wondered if Kuon even realized this at the moment, as he and Yashiro escorted Ten and Kyoko to his office.
"Lory..." Ten nodded as a greeting and he winced inwardly. Gone were the "Darling Days". He had lost that privileged title and he was fully aware.
Lory sighed inwardly. "It's a shame we have to meet under such circumstances. Have a seat." He motioned to the three and had Ruto pour drinks for everyone. "John called after you hung up." He glanced at her.
Ten nodded again. "Kyoko is his favorite. She's been doing really well in LA." She commented as she sipped her tea.
Lory leaned forward and glanced at Kyoko. "How are you feeling Mogami-kun?" He asked gently.
Still wrapped in Kuon's embrace, she looked up at him. "I never believed he would do something like that." She said quietly and tears started streaming down her cheeks again. "I never thought he would actually try to hurt me, like he did." She sobbed.
Kuon pulled her closer. "It's okay... I won't let it happen again. I promise."
She looked up at him and her brow furrowed a little. "What about Morizumi-san?"
Kuon had completely forgotten about that whole mess. He frowned a little and sighed. "Kyoko-chan... She lied to you. I never had or wanted a relationship with her." He rubbed her arm gently. "I was talking about you, when you were Bo... It was always you."
Ten motioned for Lory to follow her to the back room, to give them a little privacy and discuss with Lory on what their next actions against Fuwa would be.
"Really?" Kyoko asked a little bewildered.
He smiled softly and nodded. "Really..." He sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I just... I was afraid you would hate me for lying to you about being a fairy prince. It was something that your entire childhood was built around. Can you forgive me and give me another chance?"
She stared down at the floor and nodded. "Can you forgive me for running away?"
He chuckled a little and hugged her close to him. "I think that running away, did you a lot of good. You don't need to apologize for doing what needed to be done." He smiled at her stroked her hair. "I can say that I'm very proud of what you've accomplished this past year and I'm looking forward to watching your new movie. I can also say that I am working very hard to catch up to you." He gave her a little kiss on her rosy, tear abused cheek.
She sighed. "What do we do now?"
"Well first, you need to answer a question for me." He slid off the sofa and knelt before her, stunning her as he took her small hands in his large. "Kyoko Mogami... Will you be my girlfriend?"
She let out a nervous giggle. "So dramatic...Hmm, I don't know..." She wiped the last of her tears with a tissue and nodded. "Yes... I'll be your girlfriend, Kuon Hizuri. Only if you promise never to lie to me again." She scolded as she hugged him.
He pulled her into a tighter hug. "I promise." He stared into her eyes. "Well... now I would very much like to take my girlfriend to dinner, because I am actually starving." He confessed.
She furrowed her brow. "You? You want to eat?"
"Hey now... I've been doing really good. I've been eating three balanced meals a day and working out every morning before work, I'll have you know and I've learned how to make a couple of healthy meals." He told her with mock indignance.
She squeezed his bicep and blushed. "Hmm, I though you looked a little bit more buff than before."
He gave her a lusty smirk. "I can show you the rest later, if you like." The Emperor purred.
Her eyes narrowed sexily and she smirked. "I may take you up on that offer." The Queen replied and Kuon felt his insides flip excitedly, then felt a slight blush creep onto the tips of his ears. He cleared his throat a little nervously. "Umm, how about we let everyone know and then get going?" He suggested while pulling out his phone to send Lory and Yashiro a text.
Kyoko nodded and shot Ten a text to let her know she would see her later at the hotel.
Ten entered the room and turned to ask what else needed to be done about their pest problem, only to find Lory Takarada in full dogeza before her. She furrowed her brow in confusion. "W-What are you doing Lory?"
"Ten... I've been a fool. I've hurt you and myself with my callous indifference. Please forgive me. I promise to make it up to you for the rest of my life." He declared to the stunned beauty.
Ten sighed in exasperation and sat roughly on the armchair. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to massage away the migraine that was now forming. She shook her head. "Lory... I just don't know. I don't know if I'm willing to go about blindly as I did before. I can't live like that anymore. Telling you I love you and then your only answer being a wrapped candy, as if I were a child. It's too painful and I'm not here to cater to your eccentricities or your ego. I just can't do it anymore. I'm an adult and want an adult relationship." She glanced at him and sighed again. "Look, I know you don't love me and you're still dealing with your issues, but I need more than just an occasional pat on the head. I'm sorry Lory. I just need more." She started to get up to leave the room to check on Kyoko.
Lory grabbed her wrist gently. "Ten... please don't leave me. I know I've no right to ask you, but I love you. I just can't be without you. I feel like the world is closing in around me and crushing me from the inside out. I'm sorry I was so completely blind and that it took your absence to open my eyes. Please... please don't leave again. I don't know if I could survive it." He told her with the most sincerity than she'd ever seen in his eyes.
Ten groaned a little and stared at the ceiling with small tears in her eyes. She looked back at the man on his knees, holding her wrist. "Fine... but you'll need to date me properly and... it will have to be around my schedule. I'm not playing around Lory. I may be in my thirties, but I'm too far in life to be doing that." She warned.
He smiled brightly and let out a breath he'd been holding onto. "Anything Ten. Anything you want, My Love." He quickly pulled the surprised, small red-head into his arms and hugged tightly, as if she would slip through his fingers or disappear.
