Chapter 11 - A Fool

Two years ago…

"Eh? To… to your house? B… but To-, I mean sensei… is it really okay?"

"Geez, are you going to go back on your word? My lovely wife, or should I say… your mother," he chuckled, causing Kyoko to turn red with embarrassment, "want to see her 'son', or rather, she wants a daughter to dress up." He added in a lower voice.

"I… I would love to see you again and to meet… to meet sensei's wife." She muttered, still red, "it would be an honor." She added quietly.

"Well then, it's decided then, you will be meeting us next week, in our home." And he hangs up, leaving Kyoko hanging by the thread.

She sighed and scratched her head; she should at least bring souvenirs. However, she doesn't know what they like, and even if she does, they probably have it already; the Hizuris are awfully rich and famous in Kyoko's perspective. Stumped, Kyoko contacted her current manager.

"Excuse me, Sato-san, I would like to take my vacation break starting next week. If it's not too much trouble…"

"Ah, not at all, Kyoko, the president spoke to me directly." He chuckled wheezily, "Will I see you soon?" He added in a suggestive tone.

"Um," Sato-san is so concerned about my career; he doesn't want me to be away too long to hurt my reputation! I have to work hard too! "Yes, I definitely will be back as soon as I can!" She shouted in a fired up voice, fist pumped and in a fighting pose.

"Ha?" The man spurted in surprise, "What…? Alright…" He then hang up without another word to Kyoko while he muttered to himself.

"Right now… a present… a present for sensei and his wife… right…" She scratched her hair with her hand in her desperation.

Then, it came to her.

Quickly, she took out her cell phone and dialed to her best friend…

Of course that never worked out and in the end she ended up with the last person she wanted to be with – Tsuruga Ren.

"Mogami-san…"

"Mogami-san!"

"MOGAMI-SAN!"

"Huh?" Kyoko tripped over at the sudden outburst, and was grabbed by the arm by Ren, "Oh, I'm sorry Tsuruga-san, I just drifted off, please forgive me!" She bowed.

"Ah, don't worry about it," he smiled warmly, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Ah, every time he asked that question, it translated into 'tell me what's wrong with you or else I'll turn you into nothingness with my smile attack'. Sweat dropping, Kyoko decided perhaps it would be better to just tell him everything.

"Erm, sensei invited me over to meet his wife, but I don't know what I should bring to them." She murmured in embarrassment and smiling awkwardly, "What do you think Tsuruga-san?" She turned towards him, only to find his face unnaturally close to her own. Instantly, her face warmed up at the closeness.

What? Emperor?

"Ah, sorry, Mogami-san, it's kind of hot today so I wondered if I could fit in your shadow, it didn't really work." He smiled, shit shit shit.

Kyoko blinked at him.

Ah, even Mogami-san wouldn't believe something this absurd! His smile remained genuine on the outside, but in actuality, he could feel his hair being ripped out piece by piece already.

"Oh! So that's how it is!" She slammed a fist in her palm with an expression of sudden realization. "Maybe if I walk like this…" She started walking on her toes, "Tsuruga-san would be able to fit?" She beamed at him politely inviting him to join her shadow.

"No… thank you, let's cross the road and walk in the shade of those trees instead." He murmured, trying to keep his shoulders from shaking and his face straight.

He failed horribly.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Kyoko puffed out her cheeks while she emitted a dark aura as her eyes narrowed.

"Really… ha ha… I'm sorry Mogami-san…it's just that… no matter how much you try… ha ha …." After his painful explanation, which he never finished and gave up on, the two started on the topic in a more serious approach.

"What would you like to get them?" He asked, though honestly, they'd like anything you get for them.

"I wanted to get them something they can only get here… in Japan" She frowned, a finger on her lower lip.

"Ah, I see." Ren swallowed silently, he must not give in to cuteness!

"But then… I thought that sensei would already have everything so…"

"Well, how about starting with what they like?"

Kyoko turned her head and looked at him thoughtfully, "Sensei likes food, and I don't know what sensei's wife would like." She muttered, sighing.

Without thinking, without sensing the complication that will ensue, purely out of habit, he blurted the answer out…

One week later

"Umaibo!" (Popular, cheap, Japanese snack.) The golden haired goddess held the rather large bag of snacks in her hands as though they were the most wonderful treasure. Her eyes had water droplets hanging from her eyelashes, and though she was drooling slightly, Kyoko can still find no words to describe her beauty.

"Kyoko! Sweetheart! You are too much! How did you know that I love these?" She squealed, holding Kyoko in a bear hug.

"Haha, Hizuri-san, really, it was nothing. And… a very important person helped me out." At this, Kuu flashed a wink at Julie, who smiled back mischievously.

"Is that so? But Kyoko, both of our last names are Hizuri, won't you find it confusing? I actually prefer to be called my actual name." She said kindly.

Kyoko quickly put up a resistance, "I can't do that… sensei is sensei and Hizuri-san is Hizuri-san… I…I"

"Actually," Julie flipped her shining golden hair, "calling my Hizuri-san makes me feel so old." She took out a mirror and admired her own reflection, hearts popping out of her eyes.

Hearing that, both Kuu and Kyoko sweat dropped.

"Al… alright, Julie." Kyoko reluctantly agreed while Kuu laughed on the sidelines.

"Well, Kyoko, I'm really sorry, but the both of us has surprise work." His facial expression twitched a little and Kyoko could just barely catch a few swearing words and 'boss', "So, do whatever you would like at home, the password for the TV is 4043 by the way." He smiled happily, before grabbing his and Julie's coat and departed

"Wai… wait! Sensei!"

Slam!

Kyoko sighed, she lowered her hand that was reaching out to them, and walked to the room where she was assigned.

It was a clean room painted completely white, it had no posters on the wall, just a single painting. A painting of a young girl with black hair in braids, she had startling amber eyes.

So cute! I wonder who this is.

The girl had angel wings on her back as well as a halo, but over the years, the painting had faded and it no longer had the freshness of a well-kept one.

Everything in the room seemed to be white; it was so clean that Kyoko had a hard time being comfortable.

Slowly, Kyoko made her way down the stairs, maybe I should make dinner? But sensei did say that Hizuri-san loved making food…

She settled down on the couch and opened the TV, she input the code, a black screen followed by a DVD screen.

What? DVD? How do I switch it back?

Baffled, Kyoko tried pressing several buttons.

Whirl

Eh? I broke it? Confused and thoroughly frustrated, a demon and an angel appeared by her side.

"If sensei knew that you broke that expensive TV, you'll be kicked out for sure! Run! Run like the wind!" The demon whispered by her ear.

"No! Apologizing is the better option! Kyoko-chan must be willing to stand up to her actions, even if you are to be peeled."

Yeah, it's better to run.

Just as she was ready to bolt, a picture of a young man appeared on the screen. He was sitting on the chair, blonde with blue eyes.

Eyes widening, Kyoko dropped back on to the sofa, unable to move.

Tsu…

"My dear mother Julie… I heard that I have made you worry this whole time."

But it can't be, this guy clearly isn't Japanese! She thought as she stared into his captivating eyes.

"If possible, I would like to, not with a video like this, but to meet you, embrace you…"

That physique, that face, that bone structure…

"… and apologize, with all my heart… I want to apologize."

Apologize? Mother? Hizuri… Kuon?

"Not for not contacting you for five years…"

Five years? Tsuruga-san started acting five years ago…

"But for misunderstand you and father…"

But it can't be… this man looks… just like Corn! It can't be!

"For noticing for the first time only now, you patiently waited for me."

No… she clutched her hand, realization dawned upon her, yet she can't accept it, the cruel reality.

"Killing the impulse to see me…"

This isn't real…

"And entirely…"

I can't…

"For my sake."

I don't want to…

"And yet I misunderstood that since there was no contact from you."

All this time…

"I was disappointed, and thought that…"

Everyone…

"I had been abandoned by you, or at least that's what I thought."

Had already…

"For my own protection, I selfishly left home…"

Seen…

"And I selfishly started acting another person."

Known…

"However…"

Realized…

"Even though I'm like that…"

Everything…

"You both…"

And I…

"Tucked me in and…"

Was…

"Protected me."

Only…

"With all my heart… I thank you."

Just…

"For your…"

A…

"Deep love."

Tool.

All this time, he must have laughed at the sidelines at me while I talked about Corn, all this time…

But, how could I be sure he's Corn?

It's just… a feeling.

Are you done laughing at me yet? So I'm so pitiable that you will not correct me even when I'm wrong. Is it funny for you to watch me? You must have been hiding your laughter each and every time.

Kyoko, who was so absorbed in hatred and embarrassment and her demons who were afloat did not realize the tape ending… nor the fact that a person was standing behind her for more than half of the tape.

"Wa! My little Kuon is so cute!" She squealed, dragging out the 'so'.

Startled, Kyoko jumped towards the squealing woman, "Ju… Julie? That is your son? Kuon?" My last hope.

"Yes, isn't he so cute? Do you want some pictures?"

"Ah, it's alright, so… where is he now?" Please… anywhere but…

"Tokyo! He's in a similar career path as you, perhaps you've worked with him before." Well… maybe… just maybe he's not popular even with a face like that so…

"Oh! And he's quite popular too!"

(Kyoko is in the process of being reduced to ashes.)

"Kyoko! Kyoko?"

A few minutes later

"What? You forgot to take the DVD out?" Kuu asked in a desperate whisper.

"Hehe, sorry honey!" She whispered back, grinning broadly, "but from what you tell me, our Kuon hasn't been honest with this little lady here, so why don't we help him a little?"

Kuu's lips twitched slightly, "that could hardly count as helping, it would be way more romantic if Kuon tells his own desperate tale to her beneath the moonlight beside a river where the two of them are wearing Kimonos!"

Undisturbed by their giggle filled conversation, Kyoko stirred, "Um, sensei, Julie, I'm really sorry, it's just that your son looked like someone I know…" He may be Tsuruga-san judging by that bone structure and muscle proportions there are no way he is Corn! Corn is a fairy prince, not some deceiving, horrible, trickster!

Demons started swirling about around her as her plan for revenge started to form in her mind.

Yes crush him from the inside out.

"Er, dear, do you feel cold?" Kuu muttered to Julie while shivering from the aura Kyoko was producing.

"Hm? Just a little, a little." She murmured back, leaning closing towards him.

Kyoko's vacation ended shortly after, she tried very hard to play a prank on Kuu, however, and she ended up failing miserably. Julie dragged her to shop for several hours (she was saved by Kuu), and of course, she decided to keep the secret for Tsuruga Ren (only because she might need to use it for blackmail reasons later on).

So that's how Kyoko found out about Ren's secret identity, she gave up on the plot for revenge as a favor to Ren, who she owes much to.

Obviously, she would be kidding herself if that were the full story. Nevertheless, in the next year, Ren was back on her 'good' list, though with an extra note of 'dangerous'.