Chapter 21

He snuck out, once again. He definitely didn't tell Shoko where he was going and he'd certainly left his driver behind. The man would probably narc to Shoko on his whereabouts, so he took a taxi to LME. He knew of ways to sneak into the building without being caught right away. Slip into the employee entrance with his sunglasses and a hat, and act like he belonged there. None would be the wiser of it or so he thought. The only problem was, he really didn't know exactly where to go or who to ask to find her if she was even there.

It wasn't long before he heard exactly what he was hoping for.

"Mo, I still can't get used to you like this, Kyoko. It's more of what I expect of a proper rival." Kanae laughed a little. She couldn't have been more proud of her best friend's evolution.

"Mom just gave me a few pointers." He heard a familiar voice and the tapping of women's heeled shoes on the tile. Then he saw a dream or it could be considered a nightmare, pass the hallway he was hiding in. He froze when he saw the vision and froze. He'd failed miserably in pulling himself together. The way she looked in that short, tight, sweater dress and boots, while wearing makeup, stunned him. He'd never thought she'd turn out this way. Then he saw another of his nightmares come to fruition.

"Hey Babe… Time to go up." Kuon approached from the opposite side, cooing to her in Russian. It was nice to be able to say what he wanted without those around them knowing what they were saying. He could only thank his mother for that one. Well, and Kyoko's sharp brain and ability to learn quickly. Possibly her prior knowledge of those languages too.

She nodded to him and turned back to Kanae. "I'll shoot you a text later, bye." She lilted in a playful tone that made any male's ears go up in flames and made Kanae roll her eyes.

"Whatever. Later." These two were going to be a handful now and she wanted no part in it. Poor Yuki.

"Do you think he's angry with me for being gone for so long?" She asked a little timidly.

Kuon chuckled. "Even if he is, he won't be for long. You and Mom worked really hard while you were with her." He consoled.

What the hell are they saying? Sho groused as he sneakily followed. Well, not exactly very sneaky or Kuon, Kyoko, and Ruto wouldn't have actually seen him.

"You don't think he'll follow us up do you?" She asked quietly as she shifted her eyes in the direction her stalker was following from.

"Even if he does, I'm sure the boss may have a few things to say to him." They stopped at the elevator and were greeted by Ruto.

"I was told by Takarada-sama to escort you three up." He informed Kyoko and Kuon.

"Hold the door!" Sho called out and slammed his palm into the door after they'd entered, preventing it from closing and not really caring where they were going. The only thing that stopped him from starting yet another argument with the pair was Ruto's presence. Otherwise, he would have given Tsuruga a piece of his mind (not that he could afford to give away much of it) and dragged Kyoko back to Kyoto after making her change her clothes and take all of that makeup off. Not that she was wearing much to begin with. The way she looked now made him uncomfortable and he was sure that his mother wouldn't approve. As if Kyoko would actually give a crap about that at this point in her life, after Juli's intensive therapy.

Kyoko and Kuon both groaned audibly in unison. They could hardly wait to see what that idiot had planned if he had the nerve to actually show up at LME and stop the elevator that they were riding up to Lory's office. Thankfully Ruto had been there or Kuon would have maimed him and Kyoko would have most assuredly held him down for him while doing so.

"I'm sorry, Kuon." She murmured.

He shook his head. "Don't apologize for him. It's not your fault he's an idiot. Some people are just born that way." He ended with a smirk.

She giggled. "I suppose you're right."

"It'll take a couple of hours to dye my hair. Wait for me after your meeting and we can catch lunch together before we go home?" He suggested, hoping that she would agree.

She nodded. "I'll wait in the LoveME Section for you."

Ren lifted her hand in his and kissed her the ring, that Sho now noticed on her finger, that matched Ren's. He was beyond his boiling point long before due to their little foreign exchange that he couldn't have deciphered even if he'd tried. He only knew English and a little bit of Korean, and he only knew what he needed to, to get by with of both. If the weirdo, dressed like a dessert nomad, hadn't been there he would have completely gone off on both of them the second he'd realized that Kyoko hadn't even protested an iota at the hand holding or the kisses. What happened to the Nadeshiko Yamato his mother raised… for him?

He suddenly felt a little sick to his stomach and lightheaded at those thoughts. They had just hit him out of nowhere. He had been aware of the fact that his mother had been training Kyoko, but not once did it ever occur to him that she really didn't have much of a choice at that age. She had a choice now and dear lord… she was incredible. He'd never seen her so… cuddly? Beautiful? Glowing? As if she could walk into a room and completely light it up and leave everyone speechless. His mother didn't teach her that. He froze solid at that little realization.

Not Lory, as he sat observing, not Ruto, as he stood by as an alert guard, and certainly not Kyoko, as she sat stunned with Sho in dogeza before her, expected that Sho Fuwa would take the opportunity to apologize. Apologize for everything he'd ever put her through and if Kuon had not been with Jelly Woods, he would have been horrified at Sho's spontaneous confession to her.

Flashback:

Juli was shocked and saddened after she was able to get Kyoko to open up to her. In her opinion, the girl had never had a real childhood and she was treated like a slave by the one she thought she'd loved at some point. The poor thing had practically given up just being a girl. Not that it would have really made a difference to the woman that raised her, if that's what one could call it. Not allowed to wear makeup or perfume, hand me down and thrift store clothing while their own son had only the best, and finally, training her to be a wife at such a young age. An age when she should have been exploring makeup, fashion, boys, and friends. Her school life wasn't much better.

Juli could feel the heat behind her eyes and the cloudiness of sadness in her mind. This perfect little fairy had been abandoned by everyone. She needed a real mother, and Juli was more than happy to fill that spot. "I want you to call me Mom." She stopped Kyoko from protesting. "I want a daughter and you are perfect for that spot in my life. No arguments." She insisted. "I want you to stay with me until you are comfortable with the decision when you decide to go back to Japan." She pulled Kyoko into a hug when she noticed her tearing up. "We are going to travel, sight-see, shop, and play until we are satisfied." She told her as they sat in their posh hotel room in New York. After that conversation, travel plans were made and soon the wild journey around the world, to see the places where different fairy tales took place, began. During that journey Kyoko matured and evolved, and Juli finally had someone to completely dote on.

End Flashback.

She sighed out, rubbing her temple. "Sho… Please get up. I forgave you for all of that stuff a long time ago."

He looked up in surprise. "So, why are…"

She shook her head. "It's the more recent stuff I have a problem with. Rumors of you telling everyone that I belong to you, like I'm one of your guitars or a piece of furniture. You calling me at all hours leaving those rude messages, the calls to LME, and visits to my places of work."

"I just…" He started, wanting to explain in his convoluted way.

"No, Sho. I'm sorry, but I can't accept your feelings. I only think of you as a friend, a brother at most. I really don't feel that way about you. I don't think I really ever did. I thought I did, because that is what Yayoi-san told me I felt, and expected of me. I know the difference between the two now." She explained to him with a bit of sadness in her voice. "I'm so sorry, Sho. I don't love you like that. I will never be able to." She confessed.

He froze a little then slowly stood and straightened his clothing. "I see…" He said with an expressionless look on his face. He'd never felt so completely wretched in his entire life. "Then… I'll see you around, Kyoko-chan." He turned and left.

When he boarded the elevator, he called Shoko. "Shoko-san… I need some time away… Just time to get myself together. Time alone to think." He explained.