AN: I really hope you like this and the choices that I made. Thank you for all of your support 😊 I'm about to restart court reporting college classes soon (and paid $500 for textbooks) so the updates might come less frequently. Thank you 😊
Chapter Nine – Unplanned Facts
Kyoko paused as Kuon seemed to realize what he had just announced to the cast and crew of the movie. She hesitated as she saw that Moko was surprised about this, but she had at least rolled her eyes over it. Kyoko looked back at Yashiro who seemed to be stuck trying to decide what to do, then she looked at Kuon and saw how pale he had become.
"I mean…" he said weakly before one of the actresses took a step forward.
"Not to make things worse or bring attention to a slip up like this," Nodoka said as she held up the cast list, "but you aren't fooling anyone Ren, your name is all over this."
Kyoko and Yashiro both looked at Nodoka and then turned their attention to Kuon who knew that he had just made the biggest slip up of all time. He had been planning to come out eventually, but this was far too early. The more time he put in trying to plan a coverup for what was just said, the less he knew that he was actually going to lead people to believe whatever scenario he concocted.
"Well, I…" Kuon sighed and then dropped down into a bow, "I apologize for my deceit," he said as Yashiro and Kyoko kept looking at one another to see who would make the first move. "I was discussing things with the director and he said I was very much like his son. I think I was just trying to think of things from that…"
"I found a picture online," one of the crew said as he held up his cell phone as the shock was evident among the group. "So, I guess it is true. Ren Tsuruga and Kuon Hizuri are the same person."
Kuon closed his eyes but remained in this deep bow. He couldn't cover it up any longer and he was mentally kicking himself over what had happened. Had he ever thought that this would be a good idea? Why would he think something like that.
"I apologize for lying," he said, "but it isn't that uncommon for someone to use a stage name."
"Well," Nodoka said, "I guess not…but is this why you got into acting so easily, was it because of your father?" she asked as Kuon frowned.
"Does my acting really reflect any special privilege I received, it's true that Lory Takarada is a family friend but I had the acting ability to qualify to be a part of LME. I also never told any other person in the industry until now my identity, I chose to work under a stage name because I didn't want unfair treatment because of my family."
Kuon looked away as there was a lot of gossiping people around him, he had the feeling that soon he would be talking in front of cameras and in interviews. He only hoped that this attention he was getting would recache to those close to him especially Kyoko. "I do apologize if you feel that I lied to you and it affected you personally," he said guiltily before Yashiro stepped forward.
"You should stand up, Kuon," he said before looking at the gathered spectators, "I can assure you that until a few days ago, I didn't know about Kuon's identity or Ren's identity. I think that if I didn't know you can see that he wanted to keep this private and privileged information. You all know how I feel about confidentiality," he said with a terrifying smile that showed how he would defend Kuon as his manager.
"You're all hypocrites if you let this bother you," Kanae commented as she looked away from everyone. It was her loyalty to Kyoko that was allowing her to speak so bluntly in front of so many. "Everyone has something that they wish they could change, it's in the entertainment industry that we let vanity bother us to the point of deception. I'm sure that we've all changed our bodies or had different names or omitted some information during interviews."
Kyoko grinned and looked up at Kuon who was still very insecure about everyone knowing already.
If this was how a roomful of his peers acted then how would the whole of the Japanese general public react? Why were they continuing to stare at him as if he were an oddity?
"I think we should get ready for the table read," Yashiro said to which some of the people surrounding them agreed to. He rolled his eyes before looking at Kuon in a meaningful way, "You should figure out your next steps because I can't do anything as a manager without knowing your intent," he said to which Kuon silently nodded.
….
….
After the table read where everyone was impressed by the interactions between Kyoko and Kuon and how much energy and passion they put in, it was time to break for lunch. Kuon sighed as he looked down at the table. He knew that Yashiro still wanted to talk to him about his plans but he had no idea how to do that. Six years he had been hiding his identity, he should have come up with some kind of backup plan or at least some safety precautions by this point.
With a deep breath in, Kuon watched as everyone left and saw Kuu stay sitting beside him.
"I am sorry you know," Kuu commented as Kuon looked at him, "It was never my intention to have you reveal your identity before your time. I'm sorry that I came here, if I hadn't then you could have kept being Ren Tsuruga," he looked down. "I failed my kid and I ap-"
"You didn't fail me," Kuon said before exhaling slowly and placed a hand on his forehead. "I should have been ready for this and I think my acting talents are fine. I think that I'm at a point where my acting can help support me even with people knowing my connection to you. Dad, I've never forgotten how proud I am to be a Hizuri, I just…"
"Wanted to do the international work," Kuu said and smiled, "You will do so. I think you have more chance of succeeding over there than you did here. You are an American citizen. More than anything you have American blood in you, but we're not going to force you there."
Kuon laughed, "I just have to get used to being Kuon again," he commented. "I don't think that Japan will let me go back to being Ren Tsuruga so easily once they figure out who I am. I might have a lot to explain…I just hope I don't let you down, that I don't hurt your image."
Kuu frowned, "Never. There is no way that you are an embarrassment or disappointment to me, Kuon. Let me know if you need help with that," Kuon was going to speak before hearing Kuu's stomach start to growl. He laughed weakly.
"Go get something to eat, I still need some time to think," Kuon suggested as Kuu put a hand to Kuon's shoulder and squeezed it in support before going to get something to eat. Kuon sighed and looked down not realizing that one other person had been waiting in the room.
"So," Kyoko said as she walked over to sit opposite her boyfriend, "You know, you're not the only one affected by this," she said as Kuon blinked.
"Are you talking about…" he sighed and looked down. Was she angry that now there might be some kind of rumor going around that the only reason she had been cast in this role had been her connection to him? Had his name really become such a devastating blow that she wasn't going to want to be with him.
"Well, I did tell Kijima-san that I was dating Kuon Hizuri," she said with a playful smile. "So, I suppose that the world should know that as well. I don't know if I can bring any good to this story, but I think I can provide some support to you. I mean, if that's not asking too much, Corn," she said as Kuon looked at her.
"Very straight forward, Kyoko" he teased, "Did you have to practice that?"
"Wow, are you doubting my acting ability, Kuon?" she asked before holding his hand. "It must feel better in a way, right? I know that when I met my mother again and listened to her, it was very scary but it felt as if some part of my past had been reset. I mean, you helped me through that, didn't you?" she asked as he watched her.
"Kyoko, this isn't your fight," Kuon argued.
"No, it's not," Kyoko nodded in agreement. "It's not my fight or my battle to face, but you are the man I love, you are my boyfriend and I think I've finally graduated the Love Me section," she paused before her face turned much more serious. "However, I swear to the fairy kingdom that if you hurt me Kuon then I will make sure you hurt as well. I will hate you more than I hate Shoutaro. I…"
Kyoko was caught off guard when Kuon kissed her and she wrapped her arms around the actor.
"Can we try to keep it private until the shock from my identity has gone down?" he asked wanting to protect her and Kyoko could understand that this was where his actions were coming from.
"Sure," Kyoko nodded before smiling playfully, "However, people know that we're friends or at least colleagues who get along well with one another so I still get to eat lunch with you," she said as he bowed his head with a smile, "Besides, I happen to be the only person who will successfully have you finish a meal."
Kuon smiled before exiting with her. He went with her to get their lunch bentos that Kuu had arranged. Some of the actors had left but the crew had managed to set up the equipment and first scene so that they could act together. Kyoko sneakily squeezed Kuon's hand before seeing a couple of their costars come up to him.
"So, um…" Nodoka asked, "I'm sorry that I revealed your identity, Ku-Kuon but I'd like to tell you that if you have trouble with any of the Japanese words," she said, "since you're a foreigner."
"I'll be fine, but thanks," Kuon said as he gave her a strange look. Had this girl completely forgotten about the fact that he was also Ren Tsuruga and he had starred in at least ten times as many projects as she had. He had more than a couple dozen roles on his resume, most of those spoke only in Japanese.
"I mean, did it take you a long time to learn Japanese?" she asked as Kyoko looked up at Kuon and tried very hard not to laugh. It wasn't as if he had just transformed into a completely different person. He was still him, he was just a blond him with emerald eyes who had told people his real name.
"My parents taught me as a kid," Kuon smiled kindly before looking back at Kyoko not knowing how to deal with this. Why was she asking questions like this?
"So, you have a Californian accent?" Nodoka asked and Kyoko paused, she wanted to hear this as well. She had heard his British accent because of their time as the Heel siblings, but she had only heard his Californian accent since learning about his identity and even then he didn't say a lot of words. She also wanted to ask him to read a list of sentences in an American accent.
"Something like that," Kuon smiled as he continued to speak in Japanese.
Nodoka frowned, "Can you?" she asked as Kuon looked back at Kyoko and saw her eyes shimmer in the same way as they did when she talked about the fairy kingdom.
"(Like I totally have someone who's my totally righteous babe)" he said in English trying to say something very stereotypically American. He saw the confused look on Nodoka's face, maybe he had gone too far.
He heard laughter behind him and smiled as Kyoko seemed to catch onto how he had joked around there. He shook his head.
"Stop it," he grinned as she nodded and put a hand over her mouth attempting to stop her laughter.
