AN: Half for my own sanity and half so I can update more fics. I'm trying to go for an update a month depending on the number of unique hits a story has. If a story gets a really high amount of hits or I feel energized writing it I might come out with two chapters for each month. I hope you continue to enjoy my work 😊

Also, there is some serious things brought over from Repeat (car accident, fear of cars) this will fade out in future chapters but I feel it's needed to connect the two

Chapter Two

Yashiro glanced behind him as he came to the stoplights. He had recently been rehired to take care of Kuon's accounts in Japan whilst also being part of the LME company. Kuon had had different management teams in the US, more work than for just one person, but at least the one person here was a friend who cared deeply for the whole family. Yashiro was driving Kuon to LME where they would be sitting down first of all with the president to discuss the next steps for Kuon.

However, ever since the fatal car accident, Kuon had had a crippling anxiety and fear about being in a car, let alone driving one. So that's why Yashiro looked behind him at a man who was bowed in half with his arms wrapped around himself, well himself and a 'travel pillow' designed like a pig that Aurora had once picked out for him.

"Are you okay?" he asked the blond actor and Kuon nodded. "We're nearly there. Will it help if I play music?" he asked and Kuon shook his head still terrified to be in the car since he felt even his presence in the vehicle might lead to someone getting hurt. First there was Eric and now the boy, Riku, who had died. The coincidences were startling but tragic and Kuon was having trouble recovering from that.

"Does it help me talking to you?" Yashiro tried again and Kuon nodded. "You know, I believe that you're going to get better and we're going to help you through this. I mean, I've always been envious of your talent to attempt every challenge and to perfect yourself. I do believe that Ren Tsuruga was too perfect though. Kuon Hizuri is a little bit more….he has more personality."

"I didn't have personality as Ren?" Kuon asked in a weak voice as he still clutched to the pig. He straightened his back a little but still kept his head bowed, his eyes were wide as he tried to focus away from the fact that he was in a car and he could potentially be responsible for another fatal car accident.

"What was the most important thing to Tsuruga Ren?" Yashiro asked and Kuon paused.

"You're referring to before Kyoko came to LME or after?" he asked and Yashiro smiled.

"See there's the difference. Ren Tsuruga was a name that you were able to use to focus on work without feeling any nepotism in either good or bad ways. Ren Tsuruga was a class actor and he had amazing punctuality and was seen as some sort of legendary figure. Kuon Hizuri cares most about his family and then also his friends before his work. If you had the choice between being retired with Kyoko and Aurora as compared to being alone but working."

"Without a doubt I'd pick my girls," Kuon said as he raised his head and tried to look around before he started shaking. He bowed his head again before whispering to himself in Russian. "vse normal'no. ya v poryadke. Yse normal'no. ya v poryadke." (everything is fine. I'm fine)

"Just relax, we'll go slowly," Yashiro tried to encourage him before sighing. He never thought that Kuon would be scared of being in a car. Kuon had been amazing at stunt driving but now was terrified of even being in the back seat but was doing his best to conquer his fear. Yashiro looked to the front again as he remembered what Kyoko had told him. When Kuon got really afraid he would start talking to himself in Russian but if he just started yelling in Russian, he needed help to calm down. At least he wasn't yelling yet.

"Are you sure you don't want a little more time away from the set. I mean, you are a very in-demand very important person but I don't think people would blame you if you took another month or so off," Yashiro said and Kuon smiled weakly.

"I want to show that I'm better than that. That I'm more dependable than that." He continued to look at his knees. It had only been a few weeks ago when he had received the encouragement of Riku's parents to go back to acting and he had felt guilty that they were so giving to he who had been in the car which had taken Riku's life. Still, they had allowed him to start building a charity organization to remember Riku and give money to people who had lost their children and spouses and other family members who had died in car accidents. That was his way of apologizing to the family.

"I want to be an actor and I don't want Aurora thinking you should run away because you're scared when the thing you're running from is your dream you've been working hard for," Kuon said as he thought about his little girl. "I am grateful to you though. Without you I wouldn't be able to go anywhere, I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to drive a car again. The idea makes me want to throw up."

"Let me know if you need me to pull over," Yashiro said before looking back at Kuon. "I'm really glad you're feeling better. I've been a little lonely since my closest friend didn't seem to want me around him."

"I'm sorry that I was an asshole," Kuon whispered before looking up with a puppy dog look. "Forgive me?"

"Are you trying to manipulate me like you do with Kyoko? I won't be swayed by you. I've known your tactics far longer than Kyoko has. Still, yes, I do forgive you and I do understand you didn't mean it, let's just…let's move on," Yashiro laughed and Kuon nodded.

"Thank you, though, for everything that you've done for us," Kuon said in a very genuine manner. "And thank you for having patience with me. I am trying to get better but -"

"I know you can do it," Yashiro laughed. "Come on, you're Hizuri Kuon formally known as Tsuruga Ren, you can do anything."

2.2

Yashiro held the door open for Kuon where they were going to be discussing Kuon's next options for working. Lory had already told him that he would be meeting with the three of them, himself, Ogata, and Yashiro, and he was to speak honestly about what he felt he could and could not do in terms of returning to work.

"Tsuru-Hizuri," Hiroaki said as he stood and dropped down into a deep bow. "It's good to see you again. I just feel so responsible for…" he stood up. "Are you okay?" he asked and Kuon nodded.

"I will be, thank you," he said before dropping into a bow of his own.

"So, the president isn't here yet," Yashiro observed and then sat down with Ren on the sofa in the room, he noticed an extra chair and pointed to it. "Are we expecting somebody else?"

"Well, yes," Hiroaki said before pushing the tips of his index fingers together a little nervously. "The president said something about giving you the option of having him sit in here with us. He was a little worried about how you might see it and I suppose it's not a VIP guest for you," he said and Kuon sighed with a slight smile.

"Can't stop them worrying about me can I?" he asked and Yashiro looked between the men. He studied Ren as if he couldn't figure it out and Ren looked up at him. "My dad," he said before smiling and chuckling slightly. For five years he had been without his father and as soon as he and Lory had given him access and welcomed him back into Kuon's life, Kuu had been attempting to be the best father he could and to make up for when he might not have been the most amazing father figure in the world.

Still, his father didn't leave him. Even when times got incredibly dark for him, both of his parents were cheering him on. It made complete sense for them to be doing so now. And he should have expected it anyway since both of his parents were there to celebrate Aurora's birthday with her. He had felt guilty when he had turned to Kyoko since even though his parents had welcomed her into the family and her mother had attended the wedding ceremony (but left before the reception), there was still this difference in the structure of their two families.

"I still have trouble thinking sometimes how closely related you and Shuuhei Hozu are," Hiroaki said and Kuon laughed weakly.

"You mean, it feels as if we're father and son because if that is the case, I am truly thankful." Kuon smiled thoughtfully. He was a daddy's boy at heart. His father had always been his hero and he just knew that his dad had wanted to be there during their time of separation. It was too late to make up for that time now but there was the future where hopefully a day like that would never come again.

Hiroaki inhaled deeply before leaning forward, "I'm taking an indefinite hiatus from the drama," he said as he looked to Kuon. "I'm going to start shooting something else but I was asked to wait until Takarada-san arrived. Still, I'd like you to consider the leading role."

Kuon turned to Yashiro and saw that he wasn't sure what the new drama would be about as well.

"There's a possibility of multiple seasons as well but they're not going to greenlight it without seeing the first few episodes. You would be playing an international business leader who has settled down in Japan to run the newest branch and there's some company espionage involved." Kuon smiled as he saw how excited Hiroaki was about this. Since it just seemed to be coming into fruition, there was a lot of time between announcing the drama and getting everything into place but it seemed doable.

Kuon bowed his head, "I appreciate the offer but please don't tell me that I was chosen since you felt guilty about what happened. I don't think that there was anything that you could do."

"He said it was an international business leader," Yashiro tried to remind Kuon. "With your looks of course most international parts are going to be offered to you and you're a well-known name in the industry with the professionalism that people know from Tsuruga Ren. I would consider it as an insult to you were you not to be considered."

Kuon turned back to his friend and then to Hiroaki, "Depending on how this meeting goes, I'd like to say yes but I want the president's blessing on it. If he doesn't think I should then I won't but it sounds fun."

"What sounds fun?" Lory said as he finally entered and all three men bowed to him. "So, was it decided that he could join the meeting?" he asked and they nodded so Lory left returning a moment with Kuu. Yashiro and Hiroaki bowed again and after giving a smaller bow, Kuu walked over to Kuon and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm really relieved that you're doing okay."

2.3

Kyoko held Aurora's hand as they walked through the high-end grocery store. From the many years in which she had been with Kuon, she was surprised that most people who grew up rich had no idea of the best deals to get on things such as protein or produce. It was good for her that she knew how to cook very well to be able to get the bargains.

She saw Aurora pointing at different things in the store around her and then the girl paused. "Mama?" she asked as she looked up at Kyoko and Kyoko turned to her, she crouched down to her level.

"Is there something that you'd like to try?" she asked with a smile. Sometimes Aurora would see something that she wanted and whilst Kuon had a problem with preventing himself from spoiling her, Kyoko would buy treats for after dinner or if Aurora did something scary or helped out as a reward.

"Can we get Daddy something?" she asked and Kyoko grinned but then tried to think about what kind of food she could get Kuon. After meeting both of his parents, it was easy to see why he had anxiety around eating. She hummed.

"Of course," she replied with a nod, "What should we get for him? Daddy's been working so hard for both of us. We should get him something that he really enjoys." She paused as she thought about the alcohol and shook her head. No, they needed to get him something which hadn't become a dependency recently.

"Hmmm," Aurora thought before grinning, "Tea. Green tea. Daddy says that green tea can be very soo-soo-soothing and that's why they drink it in the movie." She said, referring to one of Tsuruga Ren's films that was child-appropriate.

"Yeah, let's go get Daddy some tea," Kyoko grinned knowing that Kuon would be extra enthusiastic about it if Aurora gave it to him. It was also something manageable for him. "And how about some fish for dinner?"

"Yummy," Aurora grinned before holding Kyoko's hand. "Is Daddy really an emperor?"

"Yep," Kyoko nodded as she thought about how special her husband was. She blushed a little as she thought about how she could be sadly married to Shotaro right now but Ren had rescued her from the darkness and then he had turned out to not only be Ren but Kuon and therefore Corn as well. He was magical. She loved how her daughter could see that in her father.

"We love Daddy," Aurora said with a smile.

Kyoko nodded, "Of course. We definitely love Daddy because Daddy definitely loves us."

End of Chapter Two

Thank you for reading

Thank you to those who left a review on Chapter One

Black neko hime, H-Nala, Kaname671