Kyoko was able to set up the dinner three days before Kuon was set to leave. She spent one afternoon beforehand with Kuon instructing him how to eat a fish properly, and was thankful that he was such a quick study. She knew that part of the dinner might go well, but she couldn't account for the Taichou's mood otherwise.
As she was setting the table before Kuon arrived, her heart was in her throat. She wanted to be able to keep her good relationship with her found family, and she also wanted to move in with Kuon and make him happy. She wasn't sure if after tonight she'd be able to do both.
"Kyoko-chan." She looked up from the table to find the Okami giving her a sad smile. "Are you all right?"
She nodded. "I'm fine, Okami-san. I'm just… thinking."
The Okami nodded. "I'm sure you have a lot to think about. I imagine that Tsuruga-san has asked you for something very important, and that's why he's coming here tonight."
A shiver ran up Kyoko's spine. "He's asked me not to say anything. He wants us to do this together."
The Okami smiled. "I figured as much. We'll just see what's happening over dinner then." She disappeared into the kitchen.
The front door of the restaurant opened, and Kuon stepped in. He was dressed in a tailored dark gray suit. Kyoko met him at the door. She bowed. "Tsuruga-san."
He returned the bow. "Mogami-san." He looked over her shoulder for any sign of the Darumaya couple and then added in a whisper. "Relax. You look beautiful."
She blushed. "If you follow me this way, we have the table set." When they got to the table, they found the Taichou and Okami already seated, and the food already served.
"Good evening, Tsuruga-san! Welcome."
He bowed. "Thank you, Okami-san. The food looks amazing, Taichou. Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me tonight."
The Taichou was eyeing him like yesterday's fish. He jerked his head toward the empty seat across from him; that was Kuon's cue to sit.
They sat down, and Kuon swallowed the lump in his throat as they started to eat. He could feel the Taichou's eyes on him the entire time he carefully picked his fish apart and ate it. He had auditioned for the best directors and producers in Japan, he had worked with some of the most high profile names, and had even done his own dangerous stunts. Nothing had made him more nervous than trying to seek the approval of the man across the table.
When he finished, he bowed his head toward the Taichou. "The fish was delicious, thank you." Something in the Taichou seemed to soften, though he didn't verbalize it. The Okami smiled at Kuon.
"So, Tsuruga-san, I was led to believe that you wanted to talk to us about something?"
Kuon straightened up. "Yes, very much. I'm sure that you've both noticed that Mogami-san and myself have been spending a lot of time together. I wanted to have this dinner tonight to make my intentions with Mogami-san known. Mogami-san values your opinions and sees you as family, and so I wanted to honor that. I do not want to come between you."
The Taichou straightened up and crossed his arms. "Say it plain, boy. What do you want?"
Kuon looked him in the eye. "I have asked Mogami-san to move in with me, and we would like your blessing to do so, sir."
The Taichou narrowed his eyes on Kuon. "I don't see a ring anywhere, Tsuruga. That's usually how these things are done, isn't it?
Kuon nodded. "If Mogami-san would take a ring, she would have one. She has expressed a desire to wait a while longer."
The Taichou turned his eyes on Kyoko, who was doing her best to blend in with the furniture. "Is this true, Kyoko-chan?"
She bowed her head. "Yes, it is. Tsuruga-san has been nothing but serious about our relationship, but I'm not ready for marriage yet." She frowned. "I don't want to lose your respect, sir. You and the Okami have been so good to me, and I don't want you to think that I haven't thought this through, or that Tsuruga-san is bullying me into doing this."
The Taichou turned his attention back to Kuon. "And are you planning to provide for her?"
Kuon nodded. "I am actually leaving for the US in a few days and I will be gone for several months. Kyoko will be living in our apartment by herself for the foreseeable future, but I will be paying the rent. Not that I do not trust that your home is safe, sir, but my building has several layers of security between Kyoko and anyone who might want to harm her. With her fame increasing, I want her to be as safe as possible while I'm gone."
The Okami nodded. "That makes a lot of sense."
The Taichou considered this for a moment and turned his attention back to Kyoko. "Is this really what you want?"
She nodded. "Yes."
He sighed and then extended his hand over the table to Kuon. "Do not mess this up, boy."
"I won't, sir. You have my word." They shook hands.
The Okami wiped her eyes and chuckled. "I guess we're going to be looking for a new tenant."
Kyoko smiled brightly. The relief coursing through her body was euphoric. "Actually, Shotarou is looking for a place. That's another reason I wanted to do this."
The Okami nodded. "We would be happy to rent to Sho-kun. But Kyoko-chan," she added, "If you ever need a place to stay, you are always welcome here."
Kyoko bowed to them with tears in her eyes. "Thank you both."
"So, when are you planning on moving?," asked the Taichou.
Kyoko bit her lip. "I haven't really thought about that part." That was a lie. She had. Her bags were packed and waiting in her room, but she wasn't sure if it would be improper to take them that night. "I guess as soon as possible since Sho needs somewhere to stay."
Kuon nodded. "At the risk of sounding over eager, I was hoping to move Kyoko-chan in within the next few days so we could have everything settled before I leave."
The Okami, who had seen Kyoko's bags packed earlier that day, smiled. She had a feeling that the night may end this way. "Well, Tsuruga-san has his car handy right now. There's no time like the present, is there?" She put her hand on Kyoko's shoulder. "Not that I'm trying to get rid of you, dear."
Kyoko giggled. "Of course not. But I suppose this would be up to Tsuruga-san."
Kuon was doing his best not to jump up and kiss the Okami. He bowed. "I would be honored."
The Okami stood up. "It's getting late, if you want to get some things unpacked before you go to bed tonight, we should get a move on. I'll help you get your things."
Kyoko followed the Okami upstairs.
The Taichou went to a nearby cabinet and took out a bottle of sake. He poured a cup for himself and for Kuon. He handed the cup to Kuon, who thanked him.
"Tsuruga," he started, "That girl is special. She is a good girl, with a good heart." He took a sip of his sake. "I'm going to drink to her future, in the hope that you will do right by her."
Kuon nodded and raised his cup. "I'm going to drink to the fact that if I were to do wrong by her, I assume I would wake to find a horse head in my bed."
The Taichou cracked an uncharacteristic smile. "Too Sicilian. But an entire barrel of fish heads? I could make that happen."
Upstairs, the Okami shouldered one of Kyoko's bags. "Are you taking your futon, dear?"
Kyoko shook her head. "Tsuruga-san has a guest bedroom with a bed in it, so I won't need it, and I think Sho might actually need one." She was not about to tell the Okami that she likely wouldn't be using the guest bedroom. The Okami patted her cheek. "We're going to miss you, you know that?"
A single tear slid down Kyoko's cheek. "I'll miss you, too. But I'll still be in to work!"
"And thank goodness for that! Let's get these downstairs before your young man gets eaten by my old one, shall we?"
When they got downstairs, the men finished their drinks, and Kuon hastened to take the bags from the Okami. Kyoko hugged the Okami.
"Thank you for everything."
She then turned and hugged the Taichou. The old man's eyes became misty as he hugged her back. He then peeled her off and shooed her toward the door. "Go on, we'll see you at work tomorrow."
She bowed. "I'll see you then!"
The couple watched them go to Kuon's car and toss everything inside.
The Okami wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "She's going to be okay, right?"
The Taichou nodded. "She'll be okay, because if she's not, I have a whole barrel of fish heads with that boy's name on it."
When they got to the apartment, Kuon unloaded all of her bags and carried them to the elevator in the parking garage. Kyoko followed behind him, laughing. "You don't have to carry it all! Let me get one!"
He shook his head. "Nope. Push the button for our floor, Princess."
She pushed the button, and it took them up. When they got to their floor, she followed him to the door. She opened the door, but before she could go in, he scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder. "Kuon!" He carried her into the living room with all of her bags and shut the door behind him with his foot. He set her down on the floor, and she was laughing. "What was that for!?"
He kissed her. "Just seemed like I should carry you over the threshold if you're going to live with me." She turned bright red.
"I-we aren't married!"
He laughed. Not yet, anyway. "Come on, we need to get your things unpacked."
She followed him into his room. When he opened his walk-in closet, she found that half of it had been emptied. "Where did all of your suits go!?"
He shrugged. "Somewhere, I don't know. Yashiro got rid of them for me. I emptied out a couple of drawers for you in the dresser, too." He helped her hang all of her clothes up and put away the few pairs of shoes she had. She was in the middle of putting her underwear away in a dresser drawer when he reached for a pair of black lace maneater panties. He hung them off of his finger.
"I didn't know you wore these."
She snatched them from him, steam threatening to pour out of her ears. "I-I don't. Setsuka did."
He laughed. "That's interesting. Cain didn't wear anything."
She shoved the panties to the back of the drawer. "Could you behave yourself!?"
He hugged her from behind and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry, Princess. I'm just in such a good mood, I can't help but tease you a little." He turned around and opened the next bag to put things away and froze.
"...Uh… Kyoko-chan, why is there a tiny Ren in here?"
Kyoko's mouth gaped in horror as she turned around to find Kuon holding her Ren doll. He was looking it over and then reached into the bag and pulled out a small plastic baggie. "Are these… faces?"
She threw herself on the floor. "I'msosorry!"
He knelt down beside her. "You don't have to apologize. I'm just confused."
She sat up with her eyes shut tight. "I made a tiny Ren doll so that when you weren't around to bully me, I could use it to bully myself." She heard him start sniggering and opened her eyes. He had the doll in one hand and his other hand over his mouth. His whole body was shaking. He took his hand away, tried to take a breath, and failed miserably. His hysterical laughter rang through the bedroom. He tried desperately to pull himself together. He picked up the little baggie full of Ren masks.
"You've got one for every occasion! I really was awful to you, wasn't I?" His eyes zeroed in on one of the masks. "This one doesn't look angry though. This one looks… sexy."
Kyoko blushed and snatched the baggie out of his hand. "You're imagining things." She kicked herself for ever having made the Emperor mask.
He hugged her. "I'm sorry for laughing, Princess. It was just so unexpected. If I had the talent to make a tiny Kyoko and keep her in my pocket, I probably would have done the same."
"R-really?"
He nodded. "Of course. A tiny Kyoko to yell at me when I'm not eating enough. A tiny Kyoko to tell me off when I'm not getting enough sleep. A tiny Kyoko to chastise me when I'm out drinking too much with Kijima. A tiny Kyoko would be very useful." He released her and went back to looking at the Ren doll. Then he did the unthinkable and pulled down the doll's pants. He frowned."Poor, incomplete little fella."
Kyoko snatched the doll from him."That's enough!" Kyoko shoved the doll to the bottom of her underwear drawer and shut it with an authoritative snap. Her cheeks were burning. Kuon took a breath to compose himself.
"Kyoko-chan, I'm so–"
"No, you aren't." She took her empty bags out to the guest room. Kuon watched her go and cringed.
Shit.
He followed her to the guest room and found her sitting on the bed with tears running down her face. He knelt on the floor in front of her and looked up.
"I shouldn't have made fun of the doll. I'm sorry I embarrassed you. How do I make this right?"
She shook her head. "You don't have to. Having the doll is weird. I'm weird."
He took her hand. "No, you're not weird. If you're weird, then I'm weird, too, and we're going to just have to be weird together, and people are going to have to put up with us being weird, because I'm in love with you and I plan on being weird with you for the rest of our lives." She sniffled and he sat down on the bed beside her and hugged her. "Can you forgive me?"
She nodded.
He kissed the top of her head. "It's getting late, and we have the R'Mandy shoot tomorrow. We should get some sleep and worry about the rest of this later. Is that okay?"
"Okay."
They took turns showering and getting dressed for bed in the bathroom. When they curled up together in bed, Kuon kissed the back of her head. "Are you okay, Princess?"
She paused for a moment, then nodded. "I'm just worried about what everyone will say. I'm scared that all of this will leak to the public."
He hugged her tight. "We don't have to tell anyone until I'm in the US. The only ones who will know for now are you, me, the folks at the Darumaya, and… Fuwa." He took a breath. "Do you think he can be trusted?"
Kyoko frowned. "I don't know. He said he wouldn't tell anyone about you. He heard me call you Kuon when you got knocked out."
Kuon swallowed. That wasn't the best news, though he supposed it could be worse. With Sho signed with LME, if he were to leak anything about Ren's identity, it would reflect poorly on his career. Kuon only hoped that would be enough to keep Sho's mouth shut. "We're going to be okay, Kyoko-chan. I promise. No matter what." He felt her shiver, and he rested his forehead against the back of her head. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
The next morning, Kyoko's phone alarm went off. She turned it off, stretched, and went to roll out of bed when Kuon's arm closed around her waist.
"Five more minutes."
She smiled. "We have to get up and get ready to leave. I have to make breakfast."
His arm tightened. "Mm-mm."
She laughed. "Kuon!"
He rolled overtop of her and pinned her wrists to the mattress. The Emperor looked down at Kyoko, and her breath caught. "Are you sure we don't have five minutes?" He bent down and kissed the spot just beneath her ear and trailed kisses down the side of her neck. "Hmm," he growled, "Better make it 10."
She wriggled underneath him. "I-We don't have 10! Five is fine!" He tucked his chin so she couldn't see his face, but she saw his shoulders shaking. She pulled one of her wrists free, grabbed her pillow, and smacked him with it. He looked at her aghast.
"A pillow fight? This early?"
She twisted her hips and flipped him onto his back so she was straddling his midsection. "That's what you get for misbehaving."
The corner of his mouth quirked up, and before she could do anything about it, his hands were under her tank top, tickling her sides. She tried to push his hands away, shrieking with laughter. "K-KUON! AHAHA-STOP! NO!" She tried to run from him and almost fell off the bed, but he pulled her back by her forearm and hugged her from behind. She collapsed against his chest, breathless from laughing. "Bully!"
He kissed her cheek. "I have to do a year's worth of bullying in the next two days."
She sighed. "We really do need to get up though, or we're going to be late."
He rested his forehead on her shoulder. "They can do it without us."
She giggled. "And miss my modeling debut? Never!"
At that, he looked up at her and smiled. "When you put it that way…" He released her, and she crossed the room to the closet. She disappeared inside of it.
"What should I wear!?"
"Something easy to take off."
"Shouldn't I dress up, though?"
He laughed. "No. Jeans and a t-shirt, Kyoko-chan. When we get there, it won't even matter. They're going to strip you and put you in R'Mandy."
She reappeared with a Bridge Rock t-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans over her arm. She went to the dresser. She rummaged through her underwear drawer. "Do the underwear matter?"
"I'm rather partial to those black ones from last night. Is there a matching bra?"
She turned bright pink. "You really are in rare form this morning."
He shot her a grin as he went to the closet to pick out his own outfit. "You can't blame a man for asking. Anyway, no. They're probably going to put you in R'Mandy lingerie, too."
She blinked. "Really? Even the underwear!?"
"They always put me in their briefs. Sometimes several pairs depending on the color of the outfits they need me to wear." He came out of the closet with a gray t-shirt slung over his bare shoulder and light jeans on. He zipped his fly up as Kyoko stared at him. When he caught her, he walked over to her and gently pressed upward on her chin, closing her mouth.
"You'll catch flies, Princess."
She turned away from him, muttering darkly about him being a playboy. He laughed and pulled his t-shirt on over his head. He grabbed a pair of socks from his dresser drawer and sat down on the edge of the bed to put them on. When he looked up, he stopped dead.
Kyoko had removed her tank top and was putting a bra on with her back to him. He forgot to breathe as he took in the soft, bare skin of her back, the curve of her spine, and the soft curve of her hips that rose out of her pajama pants.
She got the bra hooked and slid the straps over her shoulders. When she turned around, she smirked.
"You'll catch flies."
He crossed the room and caressed over the straps of her bra, causing a warm tingle to run the length of her back. He pulled one of the straps down and kissed her shoulder. She shivered.
"Kuon, behave yourself. I still haven't made breakfast."
He nipped her earlobe. "We can get breakfast on the way."
She stepped away from him, though it was almost painful to do so. She put her strap back into place and pulled her t-shirt on. "No. No fast food." She pulled her pajama pants off and stepped into her skinny jeans. When she looked up, he was pouting. She laughed.
"You're the worst!"
He pulled her to him and kissed her lips. "I'm getting it out of my system before we get to the shoot so I don't slip up." His hands settled on her narrow hips and he looked into her eyes. "You make it very hard for me to behave, Mogami-san."
She blushed and reached up to cup his cheek with her hand. "I know the feeling, Tsuruga-san, but we have a job to do."
He kissed her nose. "You win, I'll behave."
She opened her tiny jewelry box on the top of the dresser. Inside, nestled beside Ren Tsuruga's necklace, was Princess Rosa. Kyoko pulled it out. "Would it be okay if I wore this?"
Kuon smiled. "I don't see why not. Any particular reason?"
Kyoko blushed. "I think I could use some of Princess Rosa's magic today."
He took it and clasped it around her neck from behind. "I don't think you need Princess Rosa's magic, but as it's a gift that I gave you, I approve." He kissed the back of her neck. "It says you're mine without actually telling everyone you're mine."
They went to the kitchen where Kyoko made a quick breakfast of tamagoyaki. As they finished, Kuon's phone vibrated. He picked it up to look at the text. "Yashiro is waiting downstairs."
Kyoko cleaned up the dishes, and they went to the front door to slip their shoes on.
"Kuon?"
He turned around and Kyoko stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him down for a kiss. He pulled her off of the floor when she slipped her tongue into his mouth and pressed her back against the wall. When they broke apart, she nipped his bottom lip.
"You're not the only one who needs to get things out of their system."
He rested his forehead against hers. "Last call to cancel this and stay home."
She laughed. "Come on, Tsuruga-san. Let's go."
He sighed heavily and followed her out the door into the hall. "As you wish, Mogami-san."
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE COOL REVIEWS, GUYS! :D This week was a little less fruitful for Bo (Bo is currently applying to so many jobs... -headdesk- ) BUT, I did manage to get like... a third of a chapter written. So there's that. I'm hoping to have this story wrapped up before the end of the year. (Not all of it necessarily posted by the end of the year, but written at least.) SEE Y'ALL NEXT WEEK FOR THE R'MANDY SHOOT! :D - BO