Chapter 26

When he finally made it home, he found his little butterfly sitting curled up on the sofa with Zeus resting next to her. That dog had become very laxed in his manners since Kyoko came to them. He would have never even thought to rest on the furniture, yet here he was very comfortably. She was deeply into a script that appeared to be more than just for a series or commercial. It had the look of something more feature film-like. She had a very concentrated look on her face, she seemed troubled.

"New script, fairy-chan?" Ushio leaned over the sofa and kissed her forehead, then sat next to her.

She sighed out and worried her lip a little. "Yeah… Takarada-san says it's for my debut."

Ushio smiled proudly. "That's wonderful!" He paused a moment and noticed that she seemed even more troubled than before. "What's wrong?"

She sighed out. "The screen tests and readings are in Los Angeles... It's supposed to be an international release."

He could see the worry written all over her face. She was definitely nothing at all like her mother, he could happily say. "Is there something wrong with that?"

She looked as if she were about to cry. "I won't be able to stay here with you. I'll have to leave and live there for awhile." She whined a bit.

He turned her face to him and smiled softly. "Why? Do you plan on leaving your poor old dad here and never coming back?"

She gasped. "O-Of course not!"

He pulled her into a hug. "Kyoko, you won't be filming 24/7 and I won't be working constantly either. We'll still be able to see each other and talk on the phone. We can chat online...or do you not plan on using that laptop I got you?"

She hugged him tightly. "Thank you." She sighed out. "I forgot." This having family and a boyfriend thing was taking some getting used to.

"Ren… You're doing it again." His temporary manager scolded. He had become more vocal about a few things since he took over for Yashiro. It was actually quite unexpected and a little shocking. They had gotten to know each other a little better than before. He certainly wasn't a fangirl like Yukihito, but he did give good advice and pointed out important issues when needed. Like now.

"?.." Kuon turned to him with a confused look. "What am I doing, Ruto?" He honestly hadn't the faintest idea of what he was guilty of. Of course Kyoko would have been more than happy to point it out. Well, maybe not.

Ruto sighed. "You are feeding the sharks again. They are starting to circle." It was their little catch-phrase to let him know that he was being too nice to hungry women. Jeez, hard habit to break. He thought defeatedly. It wasn't that he didn't want to break the habit, it was that it was so ingrained into him he didn't realize he was doing it, and a large portion of the world's women saw it as flirting. So, for him, it really was a hard habit to break. He was actually making a conscious effort to not pay too many compliments to his female co-stars or be too nice to them. Which this also presented a problem, sometimes there were a few that took that wrong and they would introduce him to their nice male best friend, that just so happened to be perfect for him. Yes, wouldn't they make just the cutest gay couple? He groaned at that thought. I just can't win for losing. Most of these Hollywood women believed that they were so special that if he weren't attracted to them, then he most certainly must be gay. There was just no other explanation for his indifferent behavior.

Ruto heard the quiet groan and let out a small chuckle. "Why not use the shark repellent." He smirked, and Kuon's eyes lit up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the little bauble that matched Kyoko's. No, it wasn't an engagement ring or a wedding ring, but American women weren't mostly familiar with that custom, and he wasn't about to explain it to them. They had picked out a pair of couple's promise rings before he'd left. After that big dust-up with Kana Kusunoki and the misunderstanding related to the little troll that tried to kill his woman, he wanted to do something significant that made her see proof of his dedication that was a little more long-lasting than a little decomposing dandelion. Although, what she had done with that little gift did make him smile when he thought of it. She had put them in resin and used them as little charms to carry with her always, as she told him herself. It always made him feel warm and fuzzy inside when he thought of it. He heard Ruto sigh exasperatedly, and quickly dialed back his killer smile or fixed his face, as Yukihito always instructed.

Honestly she really didn't know what to do about the men in her life. She was gradually becoming familiar with the situation of random strange women just walking up to them and kissing them or throwing themselves at them. Was it really that way with all good looking men? Well no. She knew this to be not the case at all. She knew for a fact that Kuon was not that way now and she most certainly knew that her father wasn't that way, regardless of all of the floozies that wanted to sleep their way to the top. If anyone actually took the time to get to know either of her men, they would think that they had been living in a monastery a good portion of their lives. Ushio hadn't dated since her mother, and Kyoko suspected that the woman had ruined him permanently with her glacial personality recently. Kuon was very dedicated to her and had most recently proven so by wearing his ring while overseas.

She laughed at the most recent tabloid article about him. They were now complaining that he was dating some mysterious foreign woman, and asking why he wasn't with a Japanese woman. They didn't care who as long as it wasn't one of those overly-hyped Hollywood actresses. She sat at her computer fingering the matching ring on a chain, while reading the newest piece that demanded that the mystery woman release him from her enchantments and give him back. She giggled at that one. What would they say if they found out it was me. She smiled a little mischievously. She sighed, and groaned audibly.

"Something wrong, Princess?" Ushio asked as he sat on the sofa behind her and sipped his after dinner coffee. He leaned forward and saw the article she was reading. "Ah… I see he's wearing it. You planning on wearing yours?"

She sighed out again. "I don't know. Do you think it would be a good idea?"

He sat back and crossed his legs. "Hmm, I think you should if you want to, but I also think that it's something that you should feel confident and comfortable with. You need to be ready to explain what it means to you if someone asks."

She nodded and leaned back against the sofa behind her, still staring at the computer on the coffee table before her. "I think I do want to wear it…where people can see it. I want to at least once before I start filming."

Ushio smirked. "That's my girl. Just be sure to let Lory know."

She groaned and he laughed.