AN: I really really hope you enjoy this chapter 😊
Chapter Three: Trial and Error
Kuon rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he heard someone ringing the buzzer from the front gate. It was far too early for anyone sane to be awake and the only reason why his parents weren't here was that they had stopped being sane a long time ago. Maybe he should try to go back to bed and ignore the idea of entertaining company. He could always try and read a little bit more about burgers or try different recipes but first he had to pay attention to that damn buzzing.
"Hello," Kuon said as he pressed the intercom button, "Hello, who's there?"
"Are you going to let me in you little brat," a cheery voice was heard on the other end of the phone line and Kuon smiled. He had no idea why Rick was here, usually Rick would say that he wouldn't come out in the sunlight because it was uncool and he had to preserve his image. He would never come out of the house at any time earlier than noon and this was a lot earlier than noon.
The twelve year old hoped there wasn't a problem but even if there was, usually friendships would strengthen over problems. He waited for Rick to come in and opened the door, wheeling himself out of the house so that he could see the black haired guy bounding over the grass.
"Are you actually aware of what time it is?" Kuon asked with a grin and Rick rolled his eyes.
"I'm so cool now that I can be out this early and people will just follow my lead," he said and Kuon laughed softly. "I mean, how could I not come over and see my best friend when we have those rumors floating around that there is some girl with a crush on the Kuon Hizuri," Rick said and Kuon blinked back before laughing lightly.
"So, there are a lot of girls that have told me they like me," he shrugged, "plus, they don't really know me. It's probably their own imaginations that they're in love with," he said as Rick made a scorching sound.
"Burn," he said before shaking his hand as if he were trying to cool it down. "But I know what you're referring to, a normal girl being in love with you is just…well whatever, this girl is a gymnast so you know that she's flexible," Rick said with a thumbs up and Kuon looked at him. He paused before starting to wheel himself into the house.
"I've had enough of this foolishness, goodbye," Kuon said bluntly before he went back into the living room but Rick followed after him.
"Dude, you've really got to start claiming those hearts, just be like this really cool monster who goes through the wood and eats hearts from beautiful maidens," Rick suggested as Kuon started to laugh. "I have to live through you because I mean…I do have a date with someone tomorrow, I'm going to start trying to figure out better ways of drawing the women I desire to me."
"My dad says that you just have to be honest with your feelings and treat them as people and try to show how much you care about them," Kuon said and Rick stared at him.
"That's what your dad says?" he asked with a wooden expression on his face, "That's what those freaking knights did in Carmel,"
"I think you mean Camelot, Rick," Kuon said before shrugging, "I mean, I always thought that that was a great way to sweep a woman off of her feet. It'll be a long time since I'm riding any horses but to just impress a woman and have them fall in love with you. Give them jewelry or chocolates or promises that you don't intend to keep," he said before pausing. No, that last one didn't sound right at all.
"Don't you get it, that's really really old, like hundreds of centuries," he tried to explain as he stretched his arms out. "I'm taking about being the candle and having the moth fly to you. I mean that's the best way because you're not putting additional effort in, you have to match the partner but you don't have to stalk her."
Kuon blinked, "Can we agree to disagree on this?" he asked before Rick ran a hand through his hair. "How's…therapy going for you."
"Dude, don't get me down from this high I've got going on, this great mood," Rick sighed, "I have to be slick and concentrate on how I'm going to work on my natural energy for my babes. I need at least one good looking girl to go out with me and then Tina will get interested in me again."
Kuon sighed, he knew that the two of them would most likely be going out together were they actually talking about it. Maybe childhood romances never worked and Kuon did like the idea of them being friends more than them dating because it would most likely help Rick be happier in the long term, but talking was always best. Still, he would do anything for his friend and if this was what Rick needed to believe then Kuon would make an attempt to believe it as well.
….
….
Kyoko grinned as she rushed into her bedroom after she and Kanae had come to the Takarada home after Kanae had finished her acting classes. Apparently Kyoko had made something or found something that had made her start chattering away like a chipmunk. It was some kind of story or writing or journal and it was something that she wanted to share with Kuon. Kanae had no idea why she was going to be shown this.
She sighed, she'd look at it anyway. Anything that made her happy was worth it even if it was some dramatized love thing between Kyoko and her prince Corn. She saw the girl excitedly rush back holding up a paper and she smiled. At least Kyoko was happy, that was the most important thing.
"I've found it Kanaaaae!" Kyoko smiled and Kanae stared at her. "I mean, I finished it. I found the ending!" she said whilst almost jumping on top of her friend and tackling her to the ground. Kanae smiled as she pushed Kyoko back just a little bit.
"Okay, explain," she said and Kyoko jumped up and down a little before taking some calming breaths.
"I wrote a drama for Kuon," she said as she showed Kanae the script and Kanae looked at it. It was called The Lonely Prince. Kanae stared at the cover where Kyoko had drawn a picture of Kuon looking into the distance. Kanae would say that the picture looked cute, maybe if they just focused on the picture then they wouldn't have to even discuss what the contents were.
"Nice, it's so cool that you wrote that," Kanae said with a smile and Kyoko hugged her again.
"Thank you, will you read it with me?" she asked and Kanae took a step backwards. She didn't know what to say. Kyoko had stressed that Kanae had free choice over her decisions and they wouldn't do anything that Kanae didn't want to do but with the president helping her, would that mean she would never be able to argue with the girl oppo-
"I think you should read it," Lory said as he stood in the doorway, "Now where's my hug," he said and Kyoko giggled before jumping into her dad's arms. She had grown to love this man, the man who adopted her when he really didn't have to, so much. He was always trying his hardest and there were so many things that they had in common.
Kanae's back straightened and she nodded quickly, "Of course. Of course, I'll do anything that Kyoko wants to do," she said with a smile, "I really like Kyoko and as a frie-"
"You don't have to do everything that I say," Kyoko said, "I thought that you were my friend for real," she had tears in her eyes and Kanae panicked.
"No no no, that wasn't it at all, I really do like you Kyoko," she said. She hated seeing this girl with this amazing heart and amazing soul have anything other than happiness and joy in her expression. Kanae didn't want to feel as if she had caused this heartache.
"And it wasn't what I meant either," Lory said and Kanae looked at him, "I'm not bribing you or paying you to be friends with my daughter, I would never do something like that. However, you say that you already carry the passion that a working actress twice your age would have," he said and Kanae nodded slowly, "then why wouldn't you want to perform any part?"
"I…" Kanae paused, "I'm not really interested in love," she said and Kyoko sighed and shook her head, putting two fingers to her forehead but Lory continued to talk.
"When it comes to love, you don't have to think of it as some strange idea," he said, "you could say that Kyoko loves you and you love her," he said and Kanae bit her lip before nodding and Kyoko started to skip around excitedly. "The idea of love isn't something you know in your head, it's something you know in your heart and you can't be afraid of exploring new ground," Lory smiled and then laughed. "But at the age and level you are with your acting, I don't think that the Japanese public will need to feel raw love from you."
"So, will you read with me?" Kyoko asked as she held the script up again and Kanae nodded.
"You want me to read the part of the prince, right?" she asked and Kyoko nodded quickly. "Okay, but my love confessions are going to suck," she commented and Kyoko giggled.
"That's alright, Kanae-chan," she said with a smile. "It's not a love story, it's about friendship," she giggled and Kanae's smile grew stronger.
"Okay," she said with real passion in her voice now, "Let's do this thing."
…
…
Kuu smiled as he ate his lunch by himself whilst looking over a book. He didn't bring anything that could be linked to Kuon with him to work but he didn't really enjoy socializing with the cast and crew in the way that he once did. He paused, his body straightening as a woman approached him and he smiled to her. "Hi," he recognized her as one of the casting agents.
"You have a son who is a teenager, right?" she asked and Kuu smiled as he thought about Kuon, a topic he loved to discuss.
"He's twelve, not a teenager yet but give him one more year," he smiled before grinning. "Why?"
"How would he like to audition for a small role? I heard that he's in a wheelchair and that will actually be to his advantage since the character has to be in a wheelchair," the agent said and Kuon nodded eagerly. He hoped that it would be okay for Kuon to get this role because a woman was…..wasn't this the opposite of what Kuon wanted?
"Can I ask him about it first, see how he feels?" Kuu inquired, "He's never done any acting in his wheelchair, I don't want him to feel unco-"
"He hasn't done any serious acting anyway," an actress said as she approached the two of them. "He's not an actor, he's just some kid who wants to ride on his parents coattails. If he actually put in some work then he might make it but he's a spoiled and lazy brat whose biggest claim to fame is that he made Julienna Hizuri miss wor-"
"How dare you insult my son," Kuu said as a fire burned in his eyes. "How dare you trample his dreams just to get your own kid whatever it is you want him to get." Kuu looked down, "I have all the belief in the world for Kuon's abilities and know he'll be a great actor one day. It's people like you that I feel sorry for, I don't know the fate for unethical witches."
Kuu stood up and thanked the casting agent before going to sit at a different table. How dare they try to hurt his son.
End of Chapter Three
Thank you for choosing to read
Thank you to those who reviewed Chapter Two
AmbersandEmeralds: Different life challenges for them and a lot of plots and subplots so we'll have to see what is going to happen.
KrisXD: I think that sometimes Kuon and yes, Ren, too have their adorably silly moments tentekomai
Mainaru974: Hope you enjoyed
Misherukuro: I do get what you mean and your review made me feel all sparkly and special 😊
Paulagato: Well they will continue to think about one another 😊