Author Note: Thank you everyone who has read this story and thank you for waiting for an update. I felt glad I took time in really thinking this over before writing it and I hope you'll like it too. Remember the story title is still secrets so there will of course be some secrets throughout.

Chapter Nine - Refreshed

Kyoko smiled as she lay in the large bathtub at the Hizuri house. She couldn't believe the luxury that was right here at her fingertips. Yes, she and Kuon had a pretty big bath at their house, but she hadn't known about the numerous products that you could get to enhance the feeling. She had been surprised when Julie had come to her and offered some of these precious items and had felt obliged to accept some of them.

She felt radiant.

Kyoko had often heard the stories of the queens who bathed in milk and those who used honey for their skin, she had definitely known about the different types of vanilla in products and how the valuation went for them and whereas she couldn't hide her love for makeup and jewelry from her husband, she had been able to get away with just a few products for the bathtub.

It was nothing like this luxury now, the feel of being a princess.

There was just one thing that would make this bathtub even nicer and that was the warm body in the other room, the presence of her husband behind her. Knowing his body, being able to touch his body, loving his body. Still, he hadn't picked up on the hints she was giving him that perhaps they could share the bathtub and enjoy one another's company. At least she hoped that was the case, she hoped it wasn't something more to do with his stomach and pain.

She wondered how it would be like not to be with him every moment of every day and most of all she worried about him. He had always tried to get away with hiding the truth and keeping his own secrets. Even if Kuu was with him, Kuon would probably still try to make those thoughts and feelings disappear without having any means to do so.

She wished that he would actually be truthful with everyone or well, if not with everyone, with her.

Was he really scared that she would suddenly stop being in love with him?

Her sad eyes looked to the door and she gave a weak smile before putting her hands on her belly. It was larger than before, that was good right? That meant that their child was growing well and she was already doing an alright job as a mother? After all, it had been Kuon who had assured her that their daughter would be alright since she had her mother's love and magic keeping her safe.

Corn had more magic than she did.

….

….

Kuon sighed as he put a hand on his forehead and let his body slump on the chair where he was sitting. He held the phone up to his other ear. He didn't know how it had happened, but somehow the media had found the story about his stomach cancer and it was making headline news across Japan. Apparently everyone was awaiting his return and there were different fan clubs wanting to pull money together to help with his treatment. That would have to wait and he would have to tell them to give to those who didn't have anything rather than to him who had options.

He hadn't known how it had happened, but he was very glad that even before it had spread too badly, his manager had gotten hold of him.

"Well," Kuon sighed as he looked at the bathroom where Kyoko was, he didn't want to send her back to a country of jackals but staying here would be worse for her career and maybe even better for those wanting to spread vicious gossip. "We knew it was going to come out eventually, you want to send any of those reporters to New York because I'm not coming back yet."

"Kuon," Yashiro said on the other end of the line, "As much as some of these reporters would love to go to America, don't you think that coming home and doing some press might be best. Clear the air a little, direct the story wherever you want it to go."

Kuon looked down, "The facts are always going to be the same though. I'm sick, I got diagnosed with stomach cancer stage three, I'm going to go through with chemotherapy, the likelihood of me surviving is debatable." He took another breath in, "I don't know how the news expects to spin this story, no matter what angle you look at it it's the same."

Kuon could almost see Yashiro's frustrated expression on the other side of the phone call, "You just mentioned," he said slowly, "about five different ways they can spin it and what about Kyoko, is she staying over there with you?" he asked.

Kuon paled slightly, "We were discussing her coming back first and then joining me in New York later," he said nervously. He sighed when he heard Yashiro's reply.

"Kuon, what about the fact that if you send Kyoko back by herself it'll look like the two of you broke up and your marriage didn't last. Can you imagine all those vultures swarming in on here whilst she's pregnant and asking her all of the questions that you should be answering? Can't you imagine all the guys who don't know that you two are still committed to each other and having a baby, wanting to seduce her and flirting with her?"

Kuon sighed as he heard those excuses that Yashiro was making, honestly he had thought about those but his eyes had always been glued to the end result instead of whatever was happening in the middle. The points that Yashiro was making to him were very valid points, though he didn't want to admit his jealousy and protectiveness over his wife.

"I found that the top doctor for this was in New York," Kuon sighed before hearing Yashiro's seriousness.

"I actually found seven doctors in the top twenty who are in Japan specializing in this, the number three doctor right here in Tokyo," Yashiro nodded. "You might not be able to act, but you can definitely come back to Japan. You wouldn't want a pregnant Kyoko to be vulnerable, would you?" he asked with a mischievous smile that was easy for Kuon to visualize.

Kuon looked down, "I'll think about it. I'll fly out when I was planning to and I'm going to answer those press questions. I want to talk to the president face to face and see what he recommends, if he says that the treatment in Japan is good enough and he has enough faith in it, then I'll do that. No guarantees I'll stay," he said before seeing Kyoko exit the bathroom.

She looked at Kuon as she held her bathrobe in preparation to be disappointed, "Did you just…"

"Listen, I have to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow," Kuon said quickly.

"Just make sure to take good care of yourself," Yashiro said before letting Kuon hang up.

Kuon stared at his wife, he wasn't sure how much of that she'd just heard. He watched her shiver slightly. After hearing that did she actually expect him to give her bad news. "I'm going to go back over to Japan, but I'm not promising I'll st-" he said before feeling Kyoko's arms around him.

Kuon felt her wet hair on his shoulder and let his hands pull her close to him.

"I'm so grateful," Kyoko whispered to him, "even if it's just for a minute or two, you'll be there beside me. An hour, a day, anything, you'll be there with me." She looked to him and backed away, letting her robe fall slightly. "Thank you," she said as he looked at her guiltily.

"You're welcome, princess," he said in surprise. Maybe he would be able to stay in Japan after all. "Now," he grinned to her, "We should get you warmed up," he felt his eyes catch some of the king of the night smolder. He took her shoulders in his hands and gently turned her and guided her back onto the bed as he looked over her. Now she could remember exactly how she had gotten pregnant.

"You smell," Kuon said as he trailed his nose down her chest, opening up her robe a little, "so good. I'm afraid that I won't be able to let you go tonight," he said as he gave small pecks to her lips and put his finger on them as he looked at her with the power of an emperor and the sexiness of a renowned model. "Hmm, what ever shall I do with you," he said as he ran his fingers through her wet hair.

"Be careful now," Kyoko grinned to him, "You don't want to risk your reputation of being a mature and respectable actor," she laughed as he looked at her and let his hand roam her body.

"Oh don't I now," he said before slipping his shirt off. She knew exactly where this was leading.

….

….

Kyoko laughed as she rolled over to look at her husband, she put a hand out and touched his chest. "Well, that was one way of getting warmed up," she hummed as she came closer to him and curled into his body. He always treated her so well when he made love to her, it made her feel like a very precious jewel he was trying to protect or as he wanted it put, a princess.

"You know, you're a lot more open than that girl who was afraid to be kissed," Kuon teased her.

"Well, I wasn't your wife when that happened," Kyoko said as she ran her fingers through his blond hair. "So, you're going to come home? At least for a little bit, you're going to be with me?" she asked as he grinned and then allowed himself to laugh.

"If only for a little time I'm going to make sure that the three of us stay together," Kuon promised her. "It depends if the president thinks that I can complete my treatment over there as well as I could have over here. I guess I should have done more research," he told her as she pressed kisses to his chest.

"You know, I've been reading up a lot on your condition and there's one thing that is not in America that you have there," she said as he nodded.

"I have you and your love," he said before she lifted a finger to place on his lips.

"Not only do you have me and my love, but you have my work ethic, my knowledge, my perseverance, and you have my trust in you getting better and my belief that you will," she said honestly as he held her closer to him. "All I ask is that you allow me to help you."

"I will allow you to help me," Kuon said as he looked at the woman he loved so adoringly.

"No, you really do have to let me," Kyoko stressed. "You hide a lot of secrets, Kuon, I need to know all of them if we're going to make it through this. You're going to have to tell me everything about how you're feeling."

"Only if you do," Kuon replied, "You try to conceal things as well."

Kyoko grinned, "You've got a deal Mr. Hizuri," she said as she laughed. She really hoped that Lory Takarada would push for Kuon staying with her in Japan. It would make her feel so happy and relieved to be able to have Kuon in their home. It was much less scary than him being in a place she had never even visited.

"So, princess," Kuon smiled, "Are you still wanting to go to Disneyland tomorrow?" he asked, "I know there will be a lot of Disney princes walking around. I know how much you loved them as a child, the perfect prince."

Kyoko shook her head, "I already found the perfect prince. A prince with so much magic inside of him. A prince that was able to fly. A prince that I am proud to call my husband."