AN: I think that I'm going to have to just spend a day reading to get some ideas flowing because I just couldn't write this chapter, it was really hard for me to get it out and sometimes I get writers block feelings when I haven't read enough. I apologize for it being short and would really appreciate that not being commented on, it is hideously short.

Chapter Ten – Independence

This was going to be an interesting day for Kuon.

His father had heard about a casting call for a stage play that was asking for someone of Kuon's age to play a role in an upcoming stage play. Despite Kuon being hesitant about applying to audition, he had pushed himself to do so. The role that he would be playing would be of a foreign student who got lost when coming to Tokyo who was helped by a young Japanese student.

Kuon was auditioning for the role of the foreigner because with his blond hair and green eyes he didn't think he'd be cast in the role of the Japanese natural. He was worried about the same thing happening in Japan as it had in America. He was scared he wouldn't be able to live up to his father's example, the guy was a legend here.

"Excuse me," one of the crew members said as he approached Kuon, "Some of the paperwork got left behind and I need to take down your name as you'll be going on next."

Kuon stiffened as he looked down and tried to close his eyes, he thought about birds whilst trying to keep calm and felt the thump of his heart as he remembered his dad talking about birds in relation to different parts of Japan, "Ren…" Kuon said slowly, "My name is Tsur-ru-Tsuruga Ren."

"Ren, okay," the crew member said in response before going on to talk to another person who was auditioning. Hopefully this wasn't a bad sign, paperwork didn't get lost as much as some people might think. Kuon didn't want this to become a situation that he wanted to hide from his father.

Soon it was time for Kuon to start performing and he walked onto the stage, dropping down into a formal bow as he stood in the center. He managed to calm his nerves before looking up at the people who were casting the parts, "My name is Tsuruga Ren, this is what I've prepared for you," he said as he started his audition.

…..

…..

Kyoko entered the Kotonami residence and looked around. It didn't seem like such a bad place, run down a little sure but not a very poor place. From the way that Kanae had been talking about it, she had made it sound like it was something out of a child's nightmare and that she was disgusted by this. Sure it wasn't a mansion but there were many things that made Kyoko feel it was a comforting home, one full of opportunity and love, one where you could return back to ride out the storm.

"Wow, Kanae" a woman smiled as she came over to them with a baby in her arms, "I haven't seen you for such a long time," she smiled and Kanae looked over to Kyoko.

"This is my older sister," Kanae gestured to her, "This is Kyoko, she's my friend. It's her father who is helping me with my acting classes."

"Oh wow," sister said as she rocked the baby in her arms, "Thank you so much for helping Kanae with that. I know that it's her dream to be an actress and coming from a background like this there are more than enough obstacles. Thank you so much for helping her with her dream."

Kyoko tensed as she heard that and nodded slowly, "That's okay," she said with a smile. "I support my friends dreams and obstacles are only things to make you stronger once you climb over them. I think that if you had life easy you might not be able to act properly."

Kanae nodded, "True, you have to imagine different situations to be a good actor and take what you can from your past."

"Exactly," Kyoko smiled before seeing a man enter the room.

"Darling, you might want to tell your parents to be careful," the man said as he came over to the sister and kissed her forehead whilst looking down at the baby. "Where are the other kids?" he asked and Kyoko looked around trying to see where they might be.

"They're safe and you really shouldn't listen to those news reports," the sister laughed as she patted her husband's shoulder. She turned to Kyoko and Kanae, "I'm sure that Kanae has told you that we have siblings of different ages," she said and the man leaned down to look at Kyoko and Kanae.

"What have you two heard about the princess keeper?" he asked and Kyoko shook her head though it did sound like some intriguing fairy tale thing that she'd have liked to hear more about. She looked at Kanae who was sighing as if she was exhausted by this story already.

"Yes, but that's only been happening to rich young girls in Tokyo who are walking by themselves," she said as Kyoko looked between them. Was she one of the people that this horror movie character had been looking for? Well, they wouldn't want anything to do with someone like her.

"Umm, that's okay, I'm more aware than you'd think," she said with a smile. "It's nice to meet you," she bowed respectfully and Kanae grabbed her arm, pulling her over to an unoccupied area of the small house.

"Sorry," Kanae apologized when it was just the two of them, she sat down on the floor and brought her knees up close to her chin. "It's hard to sidestep people in this house," she commented, "hard to avoid them but I really wanted to show you my house."

"It's amazing," Kyoko said with a smile and Kanae rolled her eyes, "No, it really is, it really feels like you come home and it's so warm and comforting. Sometimes my house still feels kind of massive but my dad takes really good care of me. I don't really see my brother too much but it sounds as if you have a lot of different family members."

"Too many," Kanae sighed and Kyoko shook her head.

"That's not a thing," she commented and Kanae looked at her hoping that they would be able to have some fun that afternoon.

…..

…..

After about two hours, Kanae's sister had gone to see the two of them and told them that dinner would be ready soon. Kyoko however didn't want to intrude and since she had wanted to hear about how the audition went and prepare some food with Kuon, she had asked to be excused. At this point she was just getting ready to leave when Kanae stopped her at the door.

"Hey, you want me to walk with you?" she asked and Kyoko quickly shook her head.

"No, I'll be fine. I told Kuon that I'd meet him back at the house but I'm really excited about how his audition went so I think that I'll go and surprise him but thank you so much for everything," she bowed again and Kanae frowned.

"Maybe my sister's husband can give you a ride there?" she asked and Kyoko looked at her in shock before shaking her head very quickly. She really didn't want to intrude especially since Kanae would be missing out on her own meal if she came and the same for her brother-in-law.

"I'll be okay," Kyoko grinned before throwing her arms around her friend, "but thank you so so much. I had such a good time today. Please call me so that we can spend some more time together but I'll see you after acting class in two days," she said as she held up her fingers and Kanae nodded.

"Thank you, Kyoko," she said before frowning as she hummed again, "Do you really think that you're going to be alright? Are you sure that I can't walk with you?" she asked and Kyoko shook her head.

"I'm good," she said before scampering off to get her shoes and coat on. In her bag she had her money, key, and phone plus some other things that little girls like to keep with them. Before Kanae could keep her in the house, Kyoko had dashed off and Kanae had lost track of her. Hopefully nothing bad would happen to her.

…

…

As Kyoko waited outside the building where the auditions were being held, she was approached by an older man who looked a little like somebody's young grandfather or older father. Kyoko was standing with her arms around her bag whilst just waiting with her back pressed against a wall. She hadn't put it together how unsafe it was for an eight year old to do that.

"Cute bag," the man said as he looked at her and Kyoko smiled politely before nodding.

"Thank you," she said as she let her hands press onto the hot pink butterfly that she had glued on, "I worked on it myself."

"I can see that," the man nodded, "It's beautiful and so much glitter," he said and Kyoko nodded politely. She looked down as she tried to avoid the way that this strange man was looking at her. After a moment the man spoke again, "Takarada," he pointed and he looked Kyoko over, "Wow, are you really Lory Takarada, one of the kings of the entertainment industry, are you really his daughter?" he asked and Kyoko nodded as she eyed the man suspiciously.

"Yes, I'm…" she said before the man leaned closer to her and Kyoko felt odd as she could feel his breath on her neck. She squirmed inside as he said very slowly,

"Take off your panties."

End of Chapter Ten

Thank you for reading

Thank you for reviewing Chapter Nine

(I will put more of the Kotonami household in a future chapter, promise)

Brennakai, kaiirine, KetriaTM, Kris XD, ktoll9, misherukuro, PaulaGaTo, Undertheskys, zeynel