AN: Thank you for choosing to read. If you're wondering about slower updates, it's because of two things. First, school just started and I'm working 26 hours a week not including lunch or getting to and from work. Second, I tend to not be able to write if I'm not reading books (usually comic books) and I haven't been doing much of that recently. Well, enjoy.

Chapter Twelve – Opportunity for Abuse

It was time to sort out the press briefings and that was scary to both of the Hizuris. Kyoko was satisfied enough that Kuon was alive and back in her life, but apparently the media needed to know more about their situation. The tabloids had even been pushed so far that they were making up rumors about Kuon and someone even said that he was in hiding because he caused the plane crash. Kuon would never do that.

Kyoko had phoned earlier to see when the two of them could talk to the president but the girls at the front desk were talking about how he was still in a meeting. That frustrated the young woman. Her husband was ill and not just physically. The president knew about this illness. Kyoko also knew the fear that her husband tried hard to conceal about how he was afraid to be out in public around people.

This was just annoying to her.

"Can't you just tell him that Kuon wants to see him. You know who the two of us are and you should know how important the Hizuri family is to Takarada-san." Kyoko looked down at her phone and sighed, maybe she should send him a text. She walked over to her husband who was reading over a magazine focusing on the acting world. She squatted down in front of him.

"Sweetheart," she said gently as she took his hand lovingly, "Are you going to be okay if I step away for a moment?" she asked and Kuon laughed with a weak smile.

"I'm not a child, well most of my personalities aren't," he attempted to joke. "I'll be just fine."

"Okay," Kyoko nodded hesitantly. "I shouldn't worry so much," she admitted to him and looked away. "Kuon, if at any point you feel uncomfortable and you feel as if it would be better for me to come back then please text me. Should I leave a note in case Brian comes out," she whispered to him. "Sean can take care of himself, but…"

"It'll be okay. I'll be okay," Kuon squeezed her hand as he tried to reassure her of that.

Kyoko kissed his cheek and then nodded. "I'll be back as soon as I can," she said. She didn't mean to treat him like a little kid who couldn't take care of himself. Her husband was not only strong but he was very resourceful as well. Under normal circumstances, there was nobody in Kyoko's mind who was more capable than Kuon, but the thing was that they weren't under "normal" circumstances at present.

Kyoko stepped away and immediately looked at her phone. She would return after no longer than ten minutes. That should be enough time.

She didn't know that someone had just barged his way into the agency looking for her.

…..

…..

Kuon glared up as he saw Sho standing in front of him. He was the last person who he had wanted to see and it showed in his eyes. "Fuwa," he nodded before raising an eyebrow. "What can I owe to this displeasure?" he asked and Shou smiled.

"I've come to collect Kyoko," he said and Kuon laughed amused by this.

"You've come to collect her?" he asked before his expression turned into one of baffled amusement, "Are you serious? I was involved in a plane crash, it's not as if I'm a vegetable or something and even if I was, there's no guarantee that you and Kyoko would ever get together."

"You may think that but when the news comes out about how lacking doctor-patient confidentiality is," Shou mocked him before kicking back the wheelchair causing Kuon to turn the brakes on and glare up at his rival.

"I've handled a spinning car, do you really think I'm helpless?" Kuon challenged him. He didn't want to say anything about the comment that Shou had made concerning the doctors. They wouldn't have said anything. They were too concerned with their jobs, fifteen minutes of fame wasn't worth this.

"No. I don't, but I do think that there is somebody up in your head who is," Sho smirked as he said this loud enough for those close by to hear. He saw Kuon's eyes widen for a split second before he managed to turn his face to a neutral.

"I don't know what you mean by that," he said as he started to hear the whispers and inside he felt himself shiver and start to shake as if losing control. On the outside he was fine.

"I'm of course talking about your multiple personalities," Sho said as Kuon heard the voices and whispers all around him. He tried to stay strong but it was as if his mind was going fuzzy. He placed two fingers on his forehead and attempted to control his breaths. He didn't want to break. He didn't want to black out and change and prove Fuwa right. He just had to calm himself until Kyoko came back.

"So, I can see I'm right," Sho smirked as the gossiping bystanders started to get louder and louder in Kuon's head. He felt as if his eyes closed and he fell into the darkness.

"There's nothing to see here," Yashiro called out as he stood between Sho and whoever was in that wheelchair. He gave a look that made ice cold sparks appear in the air as he studied the people around them. "If you want to hear the full story and if you have any respect for Kuon, you will leave now," he warned them before turning back to Fuwa. "What are you doing here? Not enough work at your own agency that you had to come here. LME doesn't take scum like you," he said as he noticed the sound of heavy breaths.

The man behind him was not the proper Kuon, he knew that much.

Shou tried to push Yashiro aside but he stood firm in his position. "So, this is the job of a manager at this company. Protecting the weak and sickly?" he asked and Yashiro's glare narrowed.

"It should be but I'm Kuon's friend or don't you know what friendship tastes like? I'm sure that the only taste in your mouth is the bitter aftertaste of rejection. I'm surprised your manager hasn't been able to get you enough work that you came here alone," Yashiro said as he stood up for his close friend.

"It's funny that your career is going to get dragged down by a person who doesn't even know who he is," Shou said coldly and Yashiro raised an eyebrow.

"Whether my career goes down because friendship matters more to me is none of your business or maybe I should let my career crash like yours. Not enough work to fill your day. You do know that Kyoko is far too good for you. She once relied on revenge to motivate her but then found that there is an enjoyment in living your life. It's shown in how much better she is as a talent then -" Yashiro said as Kyoko looked at the two of them.

"What do you want?" she asked Shou.

"I came here to talk to you," Shou replied and Kyoko rolled her eyes.

"How blessed I am for that," she told him before hearing Kuon's breaths and noticing the painful anxiety that was coating his expression. "Fine. We'll talk over here," she yanked Sho by the shoulder before looking back at Yashiro nervously. She smiled as she saw the man nod and turn back to his friend.

"So," Kyoko said as they got to an empty area, "What is it?"

"My mother wants to visit you," Shou said, "She said that all she's been getting is voice mails from you. You must be sooo big in showbusiness now, it's a shame that I don't see your name anywhere. What have you been working on recently."

"It's none of your business," Kyoko looked away. "You wouldn't understand either, it's not as if you've been in love before."

Shou paused, "I've been in love,"

"Not really," Kyoko said. "I pity you. You will obviously never have a bond with anyone of the type that Kuon and I have with each other. So spit it out, she wants to see me and she's been phoning me. Okay. I'll phone her back, thanks for the message," she said with a role of her eyes.

"You're going to continue to be with him?" Shou asked, "With all of them."

"Of course," Kyoko nodded, "and let me tell you this, every single one of them is better than you will ever be." She walked back to her husband and their good friend.

…..

…..

Once Kyoko had left, Yashiro immediately looked back at the man in the wheelchair. He knew this wasn't Kuon. He also knew that this man needed comforting. "Hi," he smiled to the man in the wheelchair. "It's Brian, right?" he asked with a kind and calming tone. He saw the man nod nervously. "Do you remember that we met before?"

"Yes," Brian nodded, "You're his good friend. You try to protect him."

"Exactly, but I thought we could be friends as well. I'd like that a lot," he said as Brian looked down. "Would that be possible?"

"Ye-Ye-Yes," Brian nodded as he stuttered.

Yashiro tried hard not to show the sadness and compassion on his face. Brian was so different from Kuon and very different from Ren. It was as if he was seeing Kuon's traits backwards and things that were not so prominent for Kuon were brought out in Brian.

"Good, then we're friends," he said as he found a chair and pulled it up beside him. "How have things been for you lately?"

"K-Ky-Kyoko's very k-kind" Brian commented and Yashiro nodded.

"She is. Her kindness and compassion is one of the things that people note as her best asset. I think her guts are also in that and then of course her work ethic. There's a lot about Kyoko that Kuon was attracted to and I believe a lot that Kyoko loves about Kuon," Yashiro commented as he tried to get Brian calm again.

"An-and th-that blond?" he pointed to Sho and Yashiro rolled his eyes.

"A nightmare, I'm afraid. He's a part of her past that has stuck himself to her without consideration of her feelings. I hope one day that she is strong enough to escape from him forever," Yashiro said and Brian looked at him nervously.

"She doesn't l-love him, right?" he asked and Yashiro shook his head.

"Fortunately for everyone's sake, no. She loves Kuon and knowing Kyoko, there is love for you as well in her heart," he watched as Kyoko approached them and gazed down at Brian before hugging him close.

"Hi," she said as she pulled back.

"Brian and I were just discussing who Sho is," Yashiro tried to explain so that Kyoko would be aware of who she was talking to.

"Well, he's an idiot," Kyoko said before looking at Yashiro. "Thank you for taking care of him like that, I really owe you."

Yashiro shook his head, "I will always stand up for my friends," he told her and Kyoko smiled happily. She just hoped that the Fuwas would be as accepting of Kuon as Yashiro was. She would never stop feeling such gratitude towards the manager.

…..

…..

Kyoko looked up exhaustedly at her husband's manager as he approached her. "Yashiro-san," she said weakly before feeling the tears in her eyes. "Please don't speak. I don't want to hear another person in my life telling me that I'm living a hopeless situation. I want Kuon to wake up. I'm not giving up on him. Money doesn't matter like he does."

"I wasn't going to say that," Yashiro said as he sat down beside Kyoko. "I was going to say that Kuon has never given up on anything. I know what could have happened and I know what still can but the fact that Kuon is still fighting shows that he's not giving up."

Kyoko blinked, "That's what Kuu and Julie are telling me."

"Let him fight for at least a little longer," Yashiro suggested. "I will stake my career on it."

"So you really believe -" Kyoko asked with a smile.

"I haven't taken another client on, have I?" Yashiro asked her. "I know that he'll make it and don't let the media tell you differently," he said as Kyoko smiled in appreciation of this man. He was always looking out for the best not only for Kuon but for both of them.

End of Chapter Twelve

Thank you for reading. I'd love any reviews you'd be willing to give

Thank you reviewers Chapter Eleven

Black neko hime, brennakia, Kris, paulagato