AN: I hope that you guys enjoy this 😊 I'm currently reading comic books (both DC and manga) again so I'm feeling rejuvenated when it comes to writing. Also, this fic is now my longest fic on 😊
Chapter Thirty Eight – Challenges in Love
Kyoko concentrated on the screen that was showing what her husband was doing now, she had seen his eye flash in her direction for a split second before he refocused on his character. He was a professional after all. He wouldn't be brought down by things like this and Kyoko hoped that the fact that he wasn't reacting meant that he trusted her enough to concentrate on his work.
The actor offered his hand to her, "My name is Grant Mitchells," he said and Kyoko continued to ignore him. "You know there's only one reason why old guys go out with young girls."
Kyoko glared at him finally, that was the second time that he had said that Kuon was old. "Thirty isn't old," she whispered as she tried to keep calm. She couldn't make a scene on the set and she wanted to watch Kuon acting because she had always loved it the most when she could see him performing. "Even if he was sixty, he's my husband," she said and Grant laughed.
"Are you blind, this is the acting community and –"
"Cut!" The director said and Kyoko took that moment to stand up and move places with Kuon still looking at her concerned. "Now, I've got some notes on that scene," the director said as Kyoko chose another place to sit, this was near some female crew members so hopefully that guy wouldn't follow or he'd see that there were better choices to flirt with.
Kuon looked up at Kyoko again and smiled as his eyes seemed to question about the actor that had just approached her. Kyoko smiled and shook her head telling him that she was fine and it was really nothing to concern himself over.
"Kuon, can you give a little more focus. You're amazing and we all know it but you need to get your head in the game right now and block out distractions. Emma, you need to really think about who Black Canary is and Dinah's relationship with Oliver in this scene," the director said and Kyoko continued to watch from the screen. Words couldn't express how much she loved her husband and how much joy she had from seeing him perform at his highest level.
The scene started again and Kyoko watched how Kuon managed to use every part of his body when acting. As she sat there though, Grant approached her and sat next to her, putting his arm around her waist. Kyoko flinched as she saw a tiny amount of pain in Kuon's eyes before he was able to refocus on the scene. Kyoko just hoped that the director was pleased by this because then she could push this guy off of her.
Kyoko attempted to wriggle out of the hold but Grant held tighter to her and finally the scene was done. Kyoko smiled in relief but then felt something hot and wet against her neck and she stared at the actor as he pulled his lips away from his skin.
Kuon looked to the director, "Was that the last scene for today?" he asked and the director nodded. Kuon walked over to Kyoko who had paled since he wasn't saying anything. Had she disappointed him by having that guy kiss her? Did he feel as if she had betrayed him?
"Kuon, I -" Kyoko said as Kuon grabbed Grant from his collar and pulled him away from Kyoko.
"Don't you ever touch my wife again," he said as he looked down at Grant who had fallen back onto the ground. He kept that challenging look in his eyes before turning back to Kyoko. Almost possessively, he went to his backpack and put some bottled water on a cloth before bringing it back to her. "Put that on your neck," he said and Kyoko blinked at him. "I want you to wash it away," he told her and Kyoko nodded.
"Maybe I should go to the restrooms where there's soap and water," she suggested as Kuon smiled in relief. She walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder before passionately kissing him. She stepped back with a smile, "I'll be right back," she said as she left, "Can I come into your dressing room when I'm done?" she asked and he nodded.
"Do you know where it is?" he asked her and when Kyoko shook his head, Kuon pointed out the direction. "It has my name on the door so make sure to check it carefully," he teased her and Kyoko put a hand on his chest.
"I have absolutely no intention of seeing anyone else naked," she teased him before reaching high and letting her hand go through his beard. "You were amazing, sweetheart. I know you were amazing as Ren but it shows how much time and dedication you put into your work. You were so amazing, so talented, so awe inspiring," she said as he smiled back at her lovingly.
"I'll be right back," she said before hugging him again and went off in the direction of the restrooms.
With her out of sight, Kuon turned his attention to Grant who was chatting up someone else. He coughed as he stood behind him. "I think we need to talk," he said though his eyes had a slight boredom in them as if he were talking to a fly or a gnat. This guy was bothering him more than he wanted to admit. He had to be taken care of before a second incident occurred.
"You must be blind," Grant said as he walked away from the girl he was trying to win over and went into an area where only he and Kuon would hear each other's words. "What kind of a background does that woman have?" he asked and Kuon frowned.
"Does it matter where she came from or what her -"
"I'm wondering about her social class," Grant said and Kuon showed his irritation about being cut off when he was trying to make sure that this jerk didn't approach Kyoko in the future. "I mean, come on, half of these Hollywood relationships are over fame and money. Unless that girl is an heiress of something, it's obvious she's playing you."
Kuon raised an eyebrow but the look of dislike was still in his eyes, "She's playing me?" he asked and Grant nodded, "Shame that you don't know anything about her and you won't learn anything about her. That is my wife. She's not married to me for the money."
"Do you think that you deserve her personality wise?" Grant asked and Kuon shifted. He didn't want to think about his depression and how Kyoko had just gone ahead and accepted him as a different person. He didn't want to admit that he wasn't completely the guy that she had fallen in love with all those years ago. He didn't want to say how he was worried that his relationship with Kyoko would turn out to be like those TV relationships where people get married in high school and then in their twenties learn that they are married to someone different than they were. Those things wouldn't happen to the two of them.
Kuon scoffed, "Maybe I should ask you some personal questions too?" he asked before looking away, "but that would mean that I actually have an interest in you as a person and not just in keeping you away from her."
Grant laughed, "So, she can put up with a terrible personality just because she wants to be treated like a princess?" he asked and Kuon flinched at hearing that word.
He glared at Grant, "You have no idea what you're talking about. Kyoko is my wife because we love one another, we have a love that isn't matched by any TV or film couple. We have a love for each other that I doubt you'll ever have the luck to experience."
"That's before she knows that she can get someone young, attractive, rich, and with a great personality who isn't half her age older than her," Grant challenged him and Ren rolled his eyes.
"You have no idea what you're talking about but if you ever get near my wife again then I'll make sure to never give you a moment of peace again," Kuon said before going to his dressing room. He sighed as he sat down on the chair and looked at himself. He sighed and put his hand on his face. He thought that he had outgrown challenging men that were so much younger than him. He thought that he had matured and that he didn't have to worry about them.
He had to keep telling himself that those words weren't true, Kyoko wouldn't just leave him for someone younger. He sighed, maybe he could try to act a little younger or even look a little younger for her. What were twenty-year-olds doing these days? Going to clubs, getting drunk, taking random vacations to island resorts. He could do that too, he could try to be a younger man again.
…
…
Kuon had recently received the news that he was nominated for the Academy Award and would be going in April for a week to Japan where they were huge fans of his, maybe even bigger fans of him than of Kuu, which Kuon had once thought was impossible. Kuon was therefore being interviewed by many of the top TV talk show hosts and today was no different.
Kuon had already answered some questions about what the movie was, his acting process, what his hopes were, that he was grateful for being nominated but he didn't think that he would win. He had answered all of them skillfully and was hoping that Bella would be able to watch this. He wanted to do her proud.
"So," the host said as she looked at Kuon with a playful smile, "You are one of the most secretive celebrities when it comes to your dating life. We already know that you dated a lot of women before you turned fifteen but can you tell us a little about your dating life now?" she asked and Kuon shifted in his seat.
"Ah, that I don't have," he said before thinking about Kyoko and wondering whether she would have been proud of him for being nominated for the highest acting award you could receive. He hoped that she would be smiling and cheering him on but it had been so long since she had done that. He was starting to forget some of the supportive things she used to say to him.
"What do you mean?" the host asked, "is there someone special that you're attracted to."
Kuon nodded as he felt the pain flow through his veins. Every year without her was still painful, he had been told many times that the pain should get easier for him but it wasn't happening. He just had to keep fighting for Bella's sake.
"There is someone incredibly special to me that I'm attracted to," he told her and the host grinned.
"Well then, is it a secret or -"
"My wife, I'm attracted to my wife," Kuon said as the host looked at him not knowing where to go from there. "I mean, I still consider her my wife, she died about six years ago. I still feel as if I'm connected to her though. She is the most amazing woman I've ever known, nobody can replace her. Nobody would even be able to come close."
"I'm so sorry but maybe it's time to move on?" the host asked trying to lighten the atmosphere that came from Kuon's telling the audience this.
"Never," Kuon shook his head stubbornly, "I'll never move on from her. Could we please change subject?" he asked and the host stared at him speechless before nodding and going back to discussing the movie.
End of Chapter Thirty Eight
Thank you for reading
Thank you for reviewing Chapter Thirty-Seven
Ashenvale: Definitely a stalker who is going to challenge Kuon
Kris XD: I hope that you enjoyed this chapter
Ktoll9: He's more controlled than that since he's thirty but yeah definitely present manga Ren 😉
PaulaGaTo: I do still want to keep it rated T 😊 Of course Kyoko won't be swayed by another.
Undertheskys: Yes, yes he is