AN: I have mixed feelings on latest chapter :/ K+K = yay. K+C = hmm, looks similar to bully guy

Chapter Forty Seven

I know that everyone is whispering about me and it would be strange for them not to be. I was once a very social actor, very charming, and I always wanted to be kind and treat my fans respectfully and with gratitude. It was something people knew about me. People knew that even as Tsuruga Ren, I would always take a moment to thank the crew for their work on the drama or movie. Now I just sit here, with Kyoko somehow able to protect me with just a shake of her head or a few whispered words to help me calm down before being approached.

Kyoko places a hand on my shoulder again and I sit upright before seeing Dad approach with the drinks and pastries in hand. He passes me the decaf tea. Kyoko has also selected a decaf green tea and I wonder if that's just to help me feel better for not being allowed caffeine yet.

I look around and see that everyone is sneaking a look at me, I smile and try to breathe slowly. It's okay. I'm doing okay. "Th-Thankks," I smile to Dad who sits down but squeezes my shoulder in doing so. I look at the pastry and smile. "A-Aft-tter…ca-cann we…ggo bb-a-ck" I smile to them and they both look at me to really see how I'm reacting. Seeing that I'm calm and happy, they both nod.

Kyoko squeezes my hand, "I am so proud of you for just coming out today," she tells me. I know that she has the walker in the back in case I get tired but Dad has also told me that if I get tired before we reach the car, that I can put my arm around his shoulder and he'll help me. They are both trying their best to give me as much independence as they can whilst also voicing their concerns and support.

"Excuse me," a couple of college-aged girls say as they approach us. One of the girls holds up a Polaroid camera. "We really love your work, can yo-"

Dad looks around nervously. Everyone knows how he's respectful of fans especially younger fans and how he will often accommodate a picture or autograph. I also notice other people are looking at us.

"I'm really sorry," Kyoko begins to tell them before I shake my head.

"Y-Yes" I nod, "bb-utt…out-t-side"

Kyoko puts a hand on my shoulder and Dad nods. He's worried about me getting hounded by people as well. He gestures for the girls to follow us to a very secluded spot and he takes the camera from them. I make sure that the hat I'm wearing is covering the part where my head is a little caved in. I still have scars on my face but I don't think they'd sell this picture to a magazine or something.

"Thank you so much," one of the girls tells me. "I really really hope that you feel better soon. I cried for days when I learned about the accident. That was so sweet of you protecting your wife who you love so much."

"If it's not too much," one of the girls says as she holds up a Sharpie and I pale. My signature is extremely different than it once was. My writing has improved a lot but it's still messy.

"Itt's n-nott go-going…to ll-okkk…gg-oodd," I struggle and they shake their heads not believing me. I sign each one and the young ladies look so excitedly at them. I smile weakly but it doesn't seem to matter to them that I look different or that my signature looks like crap, they are excited to meet me as an actor and as a person. I can tell in their expressions that they don't look at me with anything other than excitement at meeting me.

I turn to go back in but see Kyoko bringing the drinks and pastries out as well as the bags. We turn to her and then see a crowd of people are at the table. Yes, I shouldn't have singled people out but all of them could get a little bit stressful for me. Kyoko hands Dad some of the drinks and then kisses my cheek.

"I thought it might get a little overwhelming in there," I tell him and I thank her before gesturing that we should go back to the car. Kyoko kisses my lips and then starts to lead the way. Dad uses his free hand to give my shoulder another supportive squeeze.

"We really and truly are enormously proud of you," he tells me.

KyKuKyKu

I smile as I gaze down upon him. He's sleeping so peacefully and I just feel so honored that for the past decade I have been able to be near him, to touch him, to watch him shine and sparkle, to see him achieve his dreams. I'm usually not lucky when it comes to things like love or I wasn't. I had so many people leave me and break away from me but when it comes to him, he has done whatever he can to prove to me a type of happy life.

I push back his hair, looking at his scars. They don't bother me. I know that they bother him and I know that he's not going to be acting for quite some time if he does have these imperfections but he got them risking his life to give me mine. I know that the girls would have been brought up in the best way were I to have died in that accident, he might have even been a better single parent than I could have been but I'm just so happy we got to stay together.

I snuggle into him, smiling as I hear those little snores that he doesn't think anyone has ever heard. I close my eyes and just try to rest before I fall asleep myself. The girls will be home soon but Father is still here. He said he wanted to cook for us tonight. I can allow myself to sleep if only for a few moments.

I don't know where I am. I haven't been to this place before but somehow it feels familiar. The wooden boards under my feet remind me of an older Japanese style inn. Wait, this might be the inn which Kyoko was given to her by the Fuwas as part of the settlement. I can hear the girls playing down the hallway and look to where the sun is shining from the window. I smile as I realize that my legs are working well again. I smile. I place my hand to my throat, "Hello, princess Kyoko," I hear myself say clearly. What is this? I can speak again, I'm not clumsy on my feet. I look around and then hear the sound of clinking pots and pans. Breakfast. Of course she expects me to eat breakfast.

I go to the kitchen and see that she is standing behind a large bowl of udon. Udon for breakfast? Well, I suppose that could be possible or maybe she's making it for lunch. She's going to need about four times that amount if she expects to serve it to Dad for lunch. I grin as I go to face her. "Can I help with anything?" I ask her and she looks at me as if I'm some demon from the woods.

"Get away from here! Get away from my house and my family!" she screams at me and I look at her and blink. I'm confused. Yes, maybe she has more right to this home but family, I know there are some people who say that a mother is a more important parent but Rose and Ana are my kids too.

"Kyoko?" I ask but as I speak, I hear an echo that sounds like a dying animal. I reach out to her but find that instead of a human hand there is a bloody claw. I try again, scared this time. "It's Kuon. I'm Kuon," I try but all I hear are the sounds of a dinosaur.

"Get the hell away from me!" she yells as she throws the hot water at me. "As if I could love you after the transformation." I blink, wait, what? "You have always been a monster inside, some rat type creature but to expect that I'd still love you no matter what. Your voice causes agony and you even being here…leave! You get more disgusting the longer that I look at you!"

I feel myself getting smaller as she grabs me and soon the world is suffocating and she's twisting my neck, turning me and shoving me into a pot before I am only a creature on the stove in front of her and she touches the stove top to turn on the flames. "You are returning to hell!" she laughs.

KyKuKyKu

I am gasping for air as I push my back against the wall. I find it hard to catch my breath because it seemed so real. Being a monster, being hated and people trying to kill me. Her hating me and wanting to kill me. No. What if that's true? What if she hates me. What if she's just too good a person to tell me otherwise. Please don't hate me. I see her watching me in panic as I try to take deep breaths.

I try to focus and finally my breaths are back to normal but Kyoko has a hand over my forehead and as I cover my face to focus on what is really going on, she takes my hand. "Sweetheart, Corn," she says nervously. "Corn, what is it? What's going on? Are you okay?"

My body seems to move on its own as I grab her and pull her to me, she gasps at first and looks to me concerned but then tries to calm down, her head resting on my chest. "Corn?" she asks after I finally manage to calm again. "Are you okay? Do you feel okay? Your head? Is your head okay?"

"Ba-dd…dd-re-amm," I tell her as I still hold her close. It's not one of my worst dreams, this one doesn't even make the top twenty but it gave me a sharp kick into reality. The fact is that I can't speak very well. I don't move very well. I look ugly because of the scars and the wounds that are reminders of the way that I've been hurt. I have disabilities. I have to take medication. I can't speak very well.

"I'm sorry," she whispers to me before kissing my cheek and nuzzling my neck. "I wish I knew a spell so that you would never have to feel any pain. Do you want to tell me about it?" she asks and I look at her before closing my eyes.

"Yyo-u..ss-aww me…..as I..m-mmigh' be," I struggle to tell her and she puts a hand on my shoulder, moving herself so that she's making eye contact with me and as I look at her, I can feel a couple of tears. "As a…m-mon-ss"

She shakes her head before kissing me again and I find that I can't complete that thought. She pulls back. "You're not a monster. You're a brave and true knight or fairy prince," she nods to me before embracing me closely once again. "And even if some enchantress came and turned you into a beast then you would be my beast. I love you, Kuon. Even if you were cursed to look hideous, then I would never see you as that way. You're my perfect Corn," she smiles to me and I nod.

I really hate to think about what might be said by that dream.

End of Chapter Forty-Seven

Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated

Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Forty-Six

Kaname671, kyoko minion