Chapter 25

Kyoko looked at her best friend in disbelief. She shook her head. "NO! It's too risky. I don't want to force something like that on him!" She ranted.

"MO! Would you just think about it? What if he wants to? Did you think about that? I know it will work. It will give you both a chance to be together." Kanae tried to reason with her. She had told Kyoko about the potion she was gathering the ingredients for, with the help of Rick. Rick had told her to go ahead and plan on making it, whether Kyoko wanted her to do it or, not. He was certain Kuon would say yes and jump at the chance. The only problem Rick had, was the fact that Kuon still believed Rick to be a figment of his guilt-ridden imagination.

"Kanae... Please don't mention this again. The book you found the recipe in is so old, it was probably just part of a fairy tale or, something that someone tried to trick people with." Kyoko told her as she felt her heart stab with being reminded that their situation was probably hopeless.

Kanae knew when to stop nagging her about the potion and decided to do what Rick had suggested. The only tricky thing would be getting those drops of blood from her. She had the sea water, she discovered how much a grain weighed and Rick had found two of the most beautiful Chocolate Opals that he said matched Kuon's eyes perfectly. When she saw them, she couldn't believe that anyone would hide behind contacts with eyes like that. Now, all she had left to do is get the saffron crocus flowers and bulbs and Kyoko's blood.

Kanae sighed and changed the subject as her friend had requested. She would talk to Rick later to see if he had any ideas. However, at this moment, she would lull Kyoko back into a sense of security and figure out a way around her insecurities later. If it was something that Kuon wanted, Kanae was not going to stop him. She might warn him and let him know of the risks, but she certainly wasn't going to stand in the way of something that would bring her best friend the happiness and the long-term companionship that she would crave.

When a dragon ages, they develop and nurture their abilities to their fullest capacity. Golden dragons have many interesting abilities once they mature, and included in this array of delights would be foresight. Foresight can mean many things to many species. It can mean intuition or, it can mean being able to see the future for some. It can even be brushed off as a sense of deja vu. For an adult golden dragon, it means being able to see the future and what it holds for others, not themselves. This is precisely why Kanae Kotonami had a very good looking, golden eyed male standing before her, asking if she needed his blood.

"Mo! Who are you and why are you volunteering to cut yourself in front of me?" She asked, slightly horrified.

He chuckled. "Are you Kanae Kotonami? Friend of my daughter Kyoko and a very talented witch?"

She nodded a little nervously.

He smiled. "Then for the potion you will need a pure dragon's blood. Kyoko's mother was a human. The potion will not work if you use her blood." He explained. "That is why I am here to offer mine for Kuon's potion."

Kanae furrowed her brow. "Why would you do that for her boyfriend?"

He smirked. "Let's just put it this way... I'm the only male golden dragon in existence and it's just a little surprising that Kyoko wasn't born a human." He explained.

Kanae nodded in understanding. "I suppose that would present a few problems as far as propagating the species. It's good to know you see it that way." She winced inwardly a bit at the thought that he was only doing this so his kind could live on.

"Oh, no! It's not like that at all! Umm..." He blushed a little. He didn't want her to think he was a cold-hearted, sex-crazed being. "I just want her to have someone to keep her company that cares about her as much as I do and I want her to have someone that can properly protect and take care of her. She's strong, don't get me wrong, but she's also very fragile. She's been hurt and mistreated by many humans that had no business being anywhere near her." He explained hurriedly so that Kanae wouldn't misunderstand his intentions.

Kanae nodded. "I couldn't agree with you more. She told me about the family that fostered her and her mother. She also told me about what happened when they thought she was dead." Kanae couldn't help but show a little anger at the thoughts. At least my parents care if I live or, die.

"So when will you need it?" He asked curiously.

She thought for a moment, as the two sat on the little bench outside of the film studio. "Hmm, I still have to find and purify 45 grains of pure gold, I need to order the golden saffron crocus, find a proper bottle to store it in and finally practice the spell that goes with it all." She sighed. "I really don't know how long it will take." She answered honestly.

He nodded. "Well, I can provide the gold, saffron and blood. Is there anything else you'll need for the potion?"

She shook her head. "Not really. I just need to convince Kuon. Kyoko's totally against it. She says it's too dangerous, but his friend told me that he would more than willingly take it."

"Well then, I suppose you should start practicing. I think he'll be more willing to do this than you think, once he finds out he can be with her long-term. Just make sure that Lory and Ruto don't discover the plan or, it will be all for nothing." He warned.

"Oh trust me, ever since they caught me hexing Fuwa, I wear a charm that prevents them from spying on me or whomever I'm having a conversation with. I just hope they don't figure it out." She giggled and covertly showed him the little charm she had in her pocket when she wasn't on set.

He shook his head and chuckled. "You will be a very successful witch, my dear. Just remember not to use it to harm others." He patted her on the shoulder. "Well, I suppose if I am to get those things that you need, I must be going. I'll be sure to deliver them to you personally."

She looked up as he stood to leave. "Umm... Just don't deliver them to the LoveME office." She hastily scribbled her home address on a sheet from her LoveME notebook and handed it to him. "It's my home address. I'm home most evenings. Just be careful of all the children. They're rather aggressive when it comes to strangers."

He gave her a confused look.

She shook her head. "My brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Trust me, there's a lot of them."

He laughed. "Okay, I'll remember that. See you soon, Kanae-chan."

"Come on now... You're just a figment of my imagination. A bad dream." He told him as Rick began lecturing him.

"OI! I resent that! I am every bit here as you are, dumbass. I'm trying to tell you Kanae has a solution to your problem and you need to talk to her." Rick grabbed him around the neck and gave him a noogie.

Kuon shook his head. "Man I really need to stop letting Kyoko talk me into eating before bedtime."

Rick sighed in irritation. "What do I have to do to get you to believe me? Believe that I'm actually here? Just go talk to Kitten and she can fix the problem that you and Goldie are having." Rick insisted.

Kuon gave him a surprised look and Rick smirked, then nodded. "Are you getting me now? I know you don't call Kanae, Kitten and I've never heard you call Kyoko, Goldie."

Kuon woke up in a cold sweat, looking around the room as he sat up and noticed his watch laying on the floor. "Did that just happen?" He looked at his alarm clock, it was 5:30 am. He sighed. "Well, I might as well get up."