There's gender segregation in this chapter. It just kind of happened, sorry if it bugs anyone.

Kyoko awoke in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room next to an unfamiliar mop of hair. The mop of hair kept bobbing in and out of her view, as if the surrounding blankets were being moved by the deep and even breaths of a sleeping person. But no, the blankets were stationary when she compared them with the equally stationary walls. She peered over the side of the bed, and something hard collided with her skull!

"Ouch!" Kyoko cried.

"MOOOOOOOMYYYYYYYY!" a small boy now sitting on the floor holding his forehead cried.

A familiar woman swept into the room.

"What happened, baby?" She asked the child. Kyoko recognised her as Chris, the lady she met yesterday. This morning she was dressed in a tracksuit though, with messy hair.

"I hit my head," he sobbed, gasping between each word.

"I'll kiss it better, but please remember to give people privacy when they are sleeping."

The boy nodded, and stopped crying the moment his mother's lips touched his forehead.

"Want to read stories?" he suddenly asked Kyoko, showing her a book. "Uncle Kuon says you love stories!"

Kyoko's head spun a little, possibly from the earlier impact but possibly from the rather excitable child. He was holding out a book of fairy tales. Her decision was an easy one.

Chris reminded RJ to use his manners, then helped him onto the bed. The three of them then enjoyed the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, as read by Kyoko. Ricky was captivated by The Cloak of Invisibility the beggar woman had given the kindly man. He wrapped himself in the blankets of the pullout for the remainder of the story. Kyoko herself was swept away by the glorious balls and magical forests the princesses experienced, imagining herself twirling until she wore through her slippers. At some point during the story the Hizuri's gathered in the doorway to the living room to listen too.

It was only after the story ended that Kyoko realised she had no understanding of the situation she was in. For one, she was in a strange room. Secondly, she didn't know most of the people present.

"That was lovely, Kyoko dear!" Julie exclaimed.

Kyoko blinked at her. Kuu nudged Kuon and told him to get her back up to speed. He then gathered his grandson in his arms and suggested they all get ready for breakfast, which made most in the room grin knowingly.

"What do you say Ricky?" Chris reminded him.

"Thank you Aunty!"

Kyoko continued to present a vacant expression. When everyone else had left she spotted Corn. She must be in a fairy world! There was a lot less nature than she expected, and she was disappointed in the plain costumes the fairies wore.

Kuon grinned at the teenager as her sat down on the bed.

"What do you remember from yesterday?" He looked forward to seeing her face when she realised she was with her "father" again, that she had found her fairy prince, that they had spent the night together. He was very distraught when her face darkened dramatically.

"Shotaro…" she practically growled. His heart fell. Out of everything that happened, that boy was the first on her mind? He sighed and stared at his lap.

"Do you remember how you got here?"

She didn't answer so he looked her way again. He was marginally encouraged by the reappearance of her stunned expression. Kuon laughed half-heartedly, and gave her a brief summary. He gave much less emphasis on Rick's accident and a complete omission of their sleeping arrangements but did confirm his tridentity. He sat back while she processed.

"What's happening now?" The past was too much, Kyoko decided to deal with the present and stew later.

"Everyone is waiting in the kitchen to have breakfast together… if Dad left any food for us," Kuon gave a little laugh.

Kyoko was very tense. She was comfortable with Kuu and Chris, the child and other woman seemed nice enough, but she was completely thrown by the man in front of her. He was her sempai! That was such an easy-to-define relationship! It was safe, she understood it and its limitations. Now… she didn't now anymore! She should be happy, she recently admitted her feelings for him, but it was all too weird! Actually, she would probably be more comfortably if all the less familiar people were with them again.

"May I freshen up first?"

"Sure, that should be fine. Um, I can ask Mom or Tina if they can lend you clean clothes and anything else you need. The washroom is down the hall."

Kyoko went to the washroom, then proceeded to stand there awkwardly since she had neither a towel nor a toothbrush nor change of clothes. Kuon went to the kitchen and pulled his mom and Chris aside.

"So… she is completely uncomfortable around me."

"Ya. You're super weird," Chris grinned.

"She just needs time to get used to all the changes. Give her space babe," his mother reassured.

Chris looked thoughtful. "Why don't Julie and I spend the day with her? It'll give her time and she'll be able to talk it out with people who already know the situation. Get coffee or something. You can get to know Rick and help him practice Japanese and shit."

"He speaks Japanese?"

"I Rossii," Julie added ("and Russian" in Russian).

"Be a good role model!" Chris kissed him on the cheek and pranced off to see Kyoko.

Kuon rolled his eyes and seated himself at the breakfast table. He poured himself some coffee, then on reflection of his pseudo-sister's request grabbed an apple. He addressed his nephew.

"So RJ… do you like dinosaurs?"

The knock on the bathroom door made Kyoko jump.

"Hey, it's Chris, can I come in?"

"Um, yes," Kyoko said extremely quietly, then called more clearly, "Yes!"

The lady she had met yesterday opened the door and let herself in.

"Crazy seeing you again so soon!" she commented.

Kyoko could only nod in assent. Crazy was a very good word for the past 24 hours.

"Shit!" Chris said suddenly, capturing Kyoko's attention. The older woman's face showed concern and Kyoko couldn't understand what for. Chris grabbed a wad of TP and wiped Kyoko's eyes. She was surprised to feel water move across her cheek.

"I don't really know you yet, but it sounds like you've had a lot going on lately."

The events since she left Sho played through her mind until-

"I didn't tell the couple at the Darumaya I was staying out overnight!"

"Alright, we can take care of that. It's 8 am, they should be awake. You can borrow my phone and call them right now!" Chris smiled reassuringly.

Chris sat quietly while Kyoko called home. The couple were concerned but relaxed at the call. They asked her to tell them ahead of time next time and Kyoko agreed enthusiastically. Chris didn't know any of this because a) she could only hear Kyoko's side of the conversation and b) she only knew manner words in Japanese. However, she was able to identify the 17 times Kyoko apologized, strengthening her hypothesis the younger woman had low self-esteem.

"How did that go?" Chris asked with a smile when Kyoko returned the phone.

"They were very nice. I worried them but they didn't get mad."

"It sounds like they love you a lot."

Kyoko looked a little startled at this, but muttered an affirmative.

"So," Chris cocked her head, "Julie and I were thinking the three of us could have a girls' day. What do you think? Oh! Hat time do you work today?"

"I have to be on set from about three to eight today, but my morning is free."

"Awesome! We'll go out for breakfast. Towels are over here and I brought you some of my clothes… they might be a little big, childbirth and all, but Julie is way taller than either of us. Cool. Need anything else?"

Kyoko said she was fine so Chris left her to it and joined the others.

"Uncle Kuon is taking me to the museum, Mommy!" RJ reported excitedly. Chris beamed at Kuon.

"Isn't that exciting! You'll have to tell me all about it. Kuon, what time do you work today?"

"Three."

"Let's meet up at LME again for lunch at 1:30. Ricky isn't used to eating that late so make sure you have a HEALTHY snack at around ten. Although," she turned back to RJ, "Grandpa will probably need a snack by then too!"

Those visiting from America chuckled at this, but Kuon was still a little shocked after hearing his father be referred to as a grandparent.

Kyoko finished in the shower and came out just as the boys were getting ready to leave. She was dressed in tights and a too-big sweater. Kuon thought she looked adorable. He smiled at her but she only returned it for a second before looking at the walls and then her feet.

"Can I have a hug?" RJ asked her. Kyoko was a little surprised, but knelt down to hug the kid. When they let go, Kuu grinned and also asked for a hug. When they were done, Kuon and Kyoko looked at each other and blushed.

"Talk to you later?" Kuon asked. Kyoko could tell he was trying consciously not to scare her. But then he blanched.

"I didn't top up the parking meter. I think we need a cab."

His father made no effort to hide his amusement.

"Mogami-san may you please call Yashiro and ask him to find my car? I'll call the taxi company…"

"Sure, of course! You go have fun!"

Everyone but RJ, who wasn't paying attention, could tell she was trying to get rid of him. It wasn't like she hated him or anything, far from it, but she wasn't sure how to act round him. She looked up at him and smiled shyly.

"See you soon."

Kuon felt his stomach flip. He nodded too much for the situation. Kuu, Chris and Julie tried very hard to supress their laughter.

When it was only Julie, Chris and Kyoko in the apartment, Kyoko called Yashiro.

"Kyoko-chan! To what do I owe to pleasure?"

"Tsuruga-san asked me to tell you his car got towed, and ask if you would please try to find it?"

"Do you know where he was parked?"

"Um, we're at the Tokyo Imperial Herald Hotel so somewhere nearby…"

There was silence on the other end.

"Yashiro-san?"

"I will do my best Kyoko-chan."

He ended the call.

Long time no see! Thanks for reading.