Chapter 8
He stepped off the plane feeling like he owned the world. His 18 days with Kyoko had proven to be the best 18 days of his entire life, up to this point.
{"Kyoko... I know we haven't really been dating for that long, but with all of the time we've spent together in the past and as long as we've known each other... I have to ask you.." He knelt before a stunned Kyoko and pulled the little trinket out of his pocket.
She gasped. "Kuon... Is that?"
He nodded nervously. "Kyoko..." He whispered. "Would you please be my wife?" He unwittingly turned on the puppy eyes, and she melted.
She gave him a teary smile and nodded vigorously, trying to find her voice. "Yes!" She squeaked out and flung herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.}
"en...Ren...Ren!" Yashiro was standing before the daydreaming giant as he reminisced with a goofy love-struck smile on his face in the middle of the airport terminal.
He snapped back into his current situation and focused on Yashiro. "Oh.. Hi Yukihito." He greeted gleefully, surprising Yashiro with his exceptionally good mood.
"I take it that things went well." Yashiro commented as they walked to his car.
Kuon nodded. "Exceptionally well." But he most certainly was not going to clue in Yashiro or, Lory right now. He had wanted to enjoy this moment before all of the teasing began.
His new apartment wasn't as bad as he expected it to be. It was actually pretty upscale, more so than he thought initially. The rooms were spacious, the kitchen was large and everything was included in the rent. Alright... He had to admit that Shoko called it correctly when she picked this one, as much as he hated the fact. What was even better, was that the place was so secure that if someone didn't have a security code to the floor you were living on, they couldn't get in. There was a grocery mart on the top floor and a full gym and swimming pool on the basement level only the residents had access to. This place was actually better than Shoko's apartment or the one that he had shared with Kyoko. Now all he had left to do was fill it with furniture and buy groceries. He swore that he couldn't spend one more night sleeping on a futon. He needed a real western bed or, he was going to waste away from lack of sleep.
"No wonder Kyoko always got up early. She couldn't sleep any longer on that torture device." He groused as he filled his shopping cart with miscellaneous ready to eat, microwavable foods.
"Excuse me..." A male voice mumbled as they reached for the same prepackaged dinner then looked up.
The color in his face drained. "What the hell are you doing here?" He spat out quietly, desperately trying not to make a scene.
Ren rolled his eyes. "The same could be asked of you, Fuwa-san."
Sho humphed indignantly. "I suppose they'll let any trash rent here."
Ren snorted. "And I suppose I should let management know they have a roach infestation."
"Ha... I was going to find you to let you know you've been replaced, but seeing that you're here you've saved me a trip." Sho gloated.
Ren looked at him curiously. "Really? Didn't I tell you last time I don't have time for your childish games. Get to the point Fuwa."
Sho grinned widely, he was going to love the look on his face. "Kyoko's replaced you. She's dating an American by the name of Kuon Hizuri." Sho told him waiting for Ren's smug smile to be wiped from his face.
"I know." He smiled. "She's engaged to him too. If there isn't anything new, you have to tell me, I believe I will finish my shopping." He chuckled and walked away leaving a stunned Sho behind.
"Moko-san, you can't tell anyone. You know how Takarada-san is." Kyoko begged through the phone line.
Kanae fought the smile that was on her face, imagining Kyoko in full dogeza for not telling her immediately. "MO! Get off the floor. You know I wouldn't do that. Don't you think he interferes in our lives enough? I forgive you for not telling right away." She told her trying to keep the feigned irritation in her voice.
Kyoko sighed with relief. "Thank you so much Moko-san."
"Oh... I'll be on some strange LoveMe assignment next week with Chiori. We won't be able to call you for a week. The LoveMon says it's all hush-hush." She informed her. Lory had only told them that they would be spending a week in LA helping out some big Hollywood talent and that all arrangements had been made for their trip.
"Kami... I hope it isn't like the special missions he gave us last year." Kyoko gasped, then blushed as she remembered her time as Setsuka Heel.
"No, he says it's not anything like that." She told her. Maybe if we get a little time to ourselves, we can stop in and see her. She pondered as she listened to Kyoko go on and on about her time spent with her new fiancé. "Alright Kyoko... I have to go. I have an early photo-shoot in the morning. I'll talk to you later."
Kyoko smiled softly into the phone. "Okay Moko-san... I'll talk to you later. Have a good day tomorrow." They ended their call, both smiling from the fact that they were able to talk to their best friend.
After he had finally put all of his newly purchased groceries away, he decided that he wasn't very hungry after all. He poured water into his little coffee maker and placed a pod of tea into the receptacle, then waited for it to brew. How on Earth was he going to deal with that no talent moron that was the bane of his existence? He sat the mug of tea on his coffee table and turned on his television to watch the news while he studied the script from his current drama that was in the last few days of filming.
He sat back in the seat and stared at the ceiling. "Just a couple of more months." He reminded himself. "Just a couple more and I can go back." He smiled remembering the good news Yashiro had and the new offers Lory had given him to look over. Maybe I should take back my name soon. He thought as a plan formed in his mind. Just a little longer. Maybe after I make my debut in the US. He nodded in determination. That sounds good. He smiled. He was not about to make Kyoko take a false name. She was going to marry Kuon Hizuri, not that she minded.
What the hell!? How was it that she was engaged to that gaijin, and Tsuruga didn't have a problem with it? He stomped into his apartment, slamming things around while putting away his food. He opened the refrigerator again looking for beer and remembering that Shoko had refused to get him any under the excuse that if anyone found out she was buying for him, she could go to jail. When did she become so concerned about that! It hadn't really crossed his mind that the beer she had in her fridge had been for her consumption in the first place.
He whipped out his phone and pressed #1 on his speed-dial. It rang four times, and she finally picked up. "What do you want Sho." Aki asked tiredly.
"I want a new apartment. I don't want to live here." He told her like a petulant child.
She sighed. "What is wrong with it now?"
"Tsuruga lives here!" He growled.
She raised an eyebrow. "Is he on the same floor as you?" She asked flatly.
"No, but.." He started.
"Then you two will probably never see each other unless you initiate contact." She interrupted then hung up on him.
"What the hell? Is everyone against me?!" He tossed his phone on the counter and pulled a small bag of chips from the cupboard, pouting.
"Remember to hold tight with your knees." Mark reminded her.
She nodded atop the large stallion with her bow resting across her lap.
"Now... Begin..." He called out, and she took off in a gallop.
THWAK!... THWAK!... THWAK!... FWOOSH!... CLUNK!... THWAK!
"Much better." He beamed as she came back around and Shadow sidled up next to him.
She sighed. "I still need more practice. I missed two of them, and I didn't hit the center." She said defeatedly.
He looked at her in surprise and shook his head. For the short amount of time she had been shooting from horseback, she was doing exceptionally well. What could be done, though? She was a perfectionist. He had figured that out the first few days he had started working with her. "Don't worry, you still have a few weeks before filming starts on location. Where did Luke say you were going?"
"New Zealand. Mr. Jorge has spent the past month while we've been training, searching for the perfect spot and getting all of the permits. He emailed me some shots of the locations." She told him excitedly as she dismounted and pulled out her smart phone. "See..." She smiled brightly.
He raised an eyebrow at the stunning picture of the old stone bridge that spanned over a small river, then she displayed the mountains and cliffs that the river ran through down to a big lake. He nodded in approval.
"I'm so excited. This will be my third overseas trip, counting coming here. Last time I was in Guam, but it wasn't for my filming. I was helping out a friend." She blushed a little and he wondered if that friend had been Kuon from her reaction.
