AN: Thank you for your patience with this fic and the uploads, I'm trying a new thing to update most of my fics at least once a week. I'm glad that so many people like this fic 😊 I'm currently rereading this fic because there are things that I forgot so please bear with me. I'm trying hard to differentiate this fic from 'The Lake in the Park'. Anyway I really hope you enjoy 😊
Chapter Twelve – Kimagure Rock
Ren turned to Kyoko and smiled softly as he looked out onto the stage. They were setting up for Kimagure Rock and Kuon had arrived earlier than the hosts had expected him to. Of course, they did think that this was talking with Kyoko as a friend.
Kyoko grinned as she waddled out to where Ren – soon to be Kuon – stood in his very fashionable shirt, tie, and slacks. His hair had even been styled to look more elegant. Kyoko however was in a chicken costume.
"So, Tsuruga, you really didn't…" Kyoko paused as she saw Ren break down laughing. "I guess we can't keep up our old repertoire," Kyoko said as she took the head off and smiled as he pulled her to him.
"I'm sorry," Kuon smiled at her, "I'll pretend that you're Bo, if you want," he said as Kyoko smiled. "I'm nervous. I'm scared of what the world will think of me and I'm getting a little possessive because of the way the lead host is looking at you."
Kyoko laughed, "Hikaru-san is like a big brother to me, all of the Ishibashi-san's are. You really can't be scared of him," Kyoko smiled as she gazed up at her boyfriend. "I can't believe that very soon the two of us will be in America with your mother and father hosting us. I'm so excited," she said before seeing Kuon's nervous expression.
"It's actually three of us," he said as Kyoko tilted her head to the side.
"You mean that it's going to still be Ren and Kuon even in America?" Kyoko sighed and put a hand on her forehead, "Okay, I can manage it."
"No, that's not what I'm saying," Kuon said with a smile, "Just know that your role there isn't as a substitute manager but it's as someone who can learn from the teachers that the president has set up for you to meet."
"You mean that," Kyoko grinned, "Yashiro-san gets to travel with us?"
"He's been with me on international shoots before, but there were some commercials that got booked as well, some modeling shoots, my schedule is filling up and he's both the man who can handle everything and the man who can schedule in enough time for us to be together," Kuon smiled before looking to his manager who had just come out from backstage.
He saw Kyoko grin as she approached him and then he saw Yashiro's surprised expression at the lower half of what she was wearing. "Yashiro-san, I'm so excited that you are coming with us. Thank you for making such a sacrifice for my boyfriend," she told him as Kuon laughed seeing the expression on Yashiro's face as he attempted to decipher the half bird and half Kyoko creature in front of him.
Kyoko paled slightly, did Kuon know that Yashiro knew his true name? Could she pass this off as an accident? She didn't know whether to say anything but she was glad when Yashiro did.
"You know, I've had several surprises pushed on me lately," Yashiro smiled to the couple. "Kuon told me his true identity just before he said that he'd say it on the show. I've really had no time to get any of the proper papers sorted. I think that this goes beyond my position as a manager."
"Well…" Ren smiled, "I've considered you more of a friend than a manager anyway."
Yashiro nodded, he had to admit that that was true but he was still a little awkward that Ren had seen him become a Kuu Hizuri fanboy. Yashiro had also searched the web for all the information he could pull up for Kuon Hizuri and there were some varied results. Fortunately, Kuu had hired a legal lawyer to take down any bad web results. He needed to keep his son safe after all of this.
"Fine, but next time I'm not letting you off that easily," Yashiro commented before looking at Kyoko as the lights blinked and Kyoko put on her head piece ready for the show to begin. "If I didn't consider us friends, I might not be going abroad with you but I'm excited for what it'll mean for you as an actor."
"You're a great manager, Yashiro," Ren smiled, "and an even better friend."
….
….
"So, our guest for tonight is Ren Tsuruga," Hikaru smiled as he looked aside to Ren sitting on the chair and smiling his very glamorous smile. "So, it's been a long time of us trying to get you on here but because of your busy schedule you've always declined so respectfully before. How do you feel now you're here?"
Ren smiled, "Well, we are all part of the same agency so I do apologize that it's been such a long time. I also heard that you're going to let me share some private information here tonight," he said as the guests screamed and tried to move in closer as if he was just about to whisper secrets.
"Sure thing, so what's first on your mind?" Hikaru asked.
"I bet it's about some fantastic new project that you're working on," Shuuhei said and Yuusei laughed.
"My feelings are it's about this mysterious girl that you've been reported to have been dating."
"It's actually about my father and my real name," Ren said with a deep breath in. "It's a secret that I've never brought to a TV show or an interview before. I think it's only because we have the same president that he's allowing me to give you this information."
"So it's a super hot scoop!" Yuusei grinned with a wink
"This does make us feel very lucky," Hikaru smiled whilst trying to handle his nerves, he wasn't expecting for Ren Tsuruga to try to hijack the show with personal stories. Wasn't he a professional who could understand what live TV meant? "So what is this behind the scenes scoop."
"Hizuri," Ren said as his eyes met Hikaru's as if challenging him. "That's my family name, my first name is Kuon but I prefer to use my stage name of Ren Tsuruga."
There was silence within most of the audience with the other people having to explain the significance of this despite Kuu being considered a hero or guru in the acting community. The three Ishibashis looked completely stunned as well.
"That's amazing that you're from a family like that," Hikaru said as he tried to get back on track, "Does that mean that you're only half Japanese?" he asked and Kuon shook his head.
"I'm half American, one quarter Japanese, and one quarter Russian. I do really enjoy living in Japan as that's where my significant other is," Kuon said as Yuusei grinned.
"So it really is Shou Fuwa, well that's a good combination right there," he said with a thumbs up.
"I'm really glad that you can act so mature and progressive towards the stunt that we decided to pull to show our support for gay rights," Kuon smiled, "I do have many friends and a couple of family members who don't follow a heterosexual style of relationship. However, I do have a girl that I love dearly."
"Are you going to tell us who it is?" Hikaru grinned not expecting the weight that was going to fall on him from the impact of the answer.
"Kyoko from LME," Kuon smiled as Hikaru choked and Shinichi looked over at where Bo was entering. "She is my muse and my inspiration. I've never met anyone like her," he said with a controlled smile as the audience members and the host seemed to be melting around him. "Sorry, did I say something wrong? Was that supposed to be a big reveal later? I'm sorry if that's the case."
"I…uh…" Hikaru said looking like a fish who was trying to breath in a bowl. Shinichi and Yuusi both stared at him as they attempted to laugh the issue off.
"So," Shinich said quickly, "Any projects, are you finishing one up?" he asked
"Yes, I have a few projects that I've schedule for the future and a couple that I'm wrapping up at the current time. I always like to keep myself busy, I don't know but I feel that even if I'm lucky to live fifty more years I will still want to be working in the acting field. I think by that time though, I would want to be a teacher. I've also been motivated to start writing," Kuon said as he revealed information that he hadn't even told Kyoko.
"You must have a great inspiration to be writing, plus with all the projects you've worked on you've had a lot of experience with scripts. I think anything you do will be amazing," Shinichi grinned.
"Well, I can't help myself since I'm with such a beautiful woman." Kuon smiled as he thought about Kyoko. "I'm really apologetic if that makes any of my fans feel awkward and I promise you that I care about all of the people who support me. I ask you to spread your support for me to her again. It is because of her that I have my strength as an actor and as a person."
Hikaru continued to stare at him in bewilderment.
"Well, let's hear from our sponsors," Yuusei grinned.
Once the commercial break was called, Kuon leaned forward so he could take a look at Kyoko. "Is everything okay?" he asked as Hikaru stared at him not sure what to say. "Are you -"
"He's had a crush on Kyoko for a while," Shinichi commented as Yuusei shot him a harsh look. "It's like knowing that the girl you like is with someone so much better than you or at least perceived by popular audience opinion."
Kuon shook his head, "I'm sorry, I don't consider that true though. I don't feel as if I'm better than anyone else. I just have had more personal and private time with Kyoko and that usually leads to a relationship. I didn't mean to cause any ill will," he apologized as Hikaru laughed.
"Sorry, it was a shock but I'm glad that if Kyoko has a boyfriend, it's someone with your kind of kindness."
….
….
"So," Kuon said as he stood backstage with Kyoko dressed completely as Bo. "Is this the part for your main section?" he asked with a grin. "This is what I've been looking forward to the most."
"Really, Hizuri" Kyoko said in the Bo voice. "I'm not going to go easy on you. This is a game of twenty questions and I want to know everything about you."
Kuon dared himself to try to wrap his arms around the rooster as best he could. "I love you, I have a lot of painful memories but I trust the person that I love to accept me for most of my past transgressions."
Kuon paused as he saw that Hikaru was approaching them with a weak smile.
"I'm sorry that I froze like that on the interview," he said as he dropped into a bow.
Kuon paused and shook his head, letting his arms move out of Bo as Kyoko stared between the two of them stunned but through her Bo head she couldn't show any expression especially her surprise from what had just happened.
"Please don't feel that you need to apologize Ishibashi-san," Kuon said as he dropped down into his own bow. "I dropped a lot of information on you and it wasn't planned. I knew that you wanted to ask about my significant other but I only had a suspicion of your feelings towards Kyoko. I will tell you though that if it was on the other hand and that I found out you were dating Kyoko, I would feel that my heart would break on screen. I love her and I don't want to apologize for loving her, but trust me, I don't want you to feel bad that you feel the same towards her."
Hikaru looked at Bo, "Well I'm glad she has someone who cares about her so much."
"I care about her more than anything," Kuon smiled before hearing Bo sob and looked over to the rooster, "Are you okay?" he asked as Bo put a wing up to his chest.
"I just feel so thankful for you," she said before Kuon laughed again. So, he now felt like he had relations with both Shou and a giant rooster. Was this really his life?
AN:
So the next chapter is twenty questions between Bo and Kuon and Kyoko's interactions at the end. I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me in this fic and give a special shout out to Ashenvale, blackystevens, DreamIdol, Guest, ladygraywolf, and paulagato all of who reviewed the previous chapter. I'm so grateful for you guys 😊