AN: Thank you for your patience in the update of this fic. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Thirty Two – The Ideal Role

Kuon knew how the lights in the studio shouldn't feel this bright and that talk shows in America weren't that different from talk shows in Japan but suddenly it felt like he was bridging a huge divide between the two nations. He was already an established actor in Japan and so many people gave him an easier time because they wanted to have him on their shows more but here in America he was just coming out as a new actor. He had no room to boast or anything that was anchoring him.

He was just stuck in between America and Japan and he had to make this work.

"So, we wanted to introduce our new guest," Rebecca, one of the hosts of the talk show smiled as she gestured to Kuon. "This is new star, or at least new star for us in the US, Kuon Hizuri. Kuon, a lot of people are probably linking you to the star Kuu Hizuri, I understand that Kuu is your father?"

"Yes." Kuon nodded, "I was always inspired by my father to be an actor. I tried it before as a kid but I didn't really make it into the industry. I actually became a somewhat popular actor in Japan and then have recently decided to try it again in Hollywood."

"And may I say," Ryan, the other host grinned, "When you say a somewhat popular actor, you're actually talking modestly. According to our research, not only are you one of if not the most popular and successful actor in Japan right now, you have a large fanbase over here with those who are interested in Japanese culture. Is that true?"

"You could say that," Kuon grinned, "I worked under the name of Tsuruga Ren for so long and now this is something new and different for me and I'm enjoying it a lot. I hope that with the role that I've been given, I'll be able to show the US audience what kinds of roles I'm capable of performing."

"Well," Rebecca laughed, "Seeing some of the clips of your acting which, unfortunately right now we are under contract not to show, I can tell our audience that they will be swept away by your acting. So, would you say that acting over in Japan is the same as acting here?"

"Not the same at all, it's much more competitive here and even veteran Japanese actors will comment on how Hollywood acting is at a higher level, not that I don't love the work that I've been doing in Japan. Also, in Japan, until you reach a certain age you can have a manager take on a few of the duties of a guardian in the way they will travel with you. I know that here, unless you have a family member as your manager, you are pretty much left to stand up for yourself," Kuon told them and they nodded slowly.

"Are you saying that there's more competition for young actors in America?" Rebecca asked and Kuon nodded.

"Though that's not exactly what I'm saying, it is something that I deeply agree with. I think that a lot of people from around the world have dreams of acting in Hollywood or on Broadway depending on your skillset. I think that makes it a little bit rougher of a competition in America with perhaps greater rewards as well. If you make a movie in America, a lot of times people all around the world are excited to see it but if you make a movie in Japan only a niche market watches you in America."

Kuon looked down. This was going a little smoother than he thought that it would have. He wondered if perhaps it was the curiosity of everything. A lot of people in America didn't know about the cultural status of many other countries. It always seemed to be fascinating to Americans when he talked about how he was only half-American and they would ask him questions he didn't know the answers to about Russia and Japan. That had started in elementary school.

"So, would you say you'd prefer to be a Hollywood actor?" Ryan asked and Kuon nodded.

"I've always wanted to act on screen in America and I'm not ashamed of my work in Japan and I'm definitely not the only Japanese actor interested in pursuing an American career. I want to work internationally. There are a number of things in Japan that I don't want to give up so it would be difficult to move my career here but I'd love to spend some of the year here acting in American television and film."

Kuon smiled thoughtfully. Maybe things would work out for him, it was already starting to feel much smoother than he had believed it would be. He was starting to see things broken down more simply and he was coming up with a game plan for his work in the country.

There was just one variable that made the difference to him, one variable that determined everything.

Kyoko.

….

….

Kyoko paused as she looked at her phone, the news still sinking in. She had been requested for what had been projected to be the top drama in Japan for the following year. She had already had the role of Mio in Dark Moon but this one was different. She would be playing a princess from fairyland who found herself in the real world. It was supposed to be similar to the Disney movie Enchanted and they had asked her if she could play the main role.

This was as if she had won the lottery in terms of roles. A fairy princess was two of her most dreamed of roles knocked out at once. She couldn't have turned it down even if she was being offered millions of dollars to do so. There was a catch though. The director wanted to finalize everything when she went to see him in person and he wanted to do that as soon as possible.

This was her dream role, it was something that she truly wanted and yet she was hesitant, nervous…

What would this mean for Kuon? Was he steady enough if she were to leave? How could she even question her sempai like that? Even though she was concerned about him as his girlfriend. He was still her sempai, he still had far more years in the industry than she did, he had four more years of life as well.

Still, he knew how important this would be for her and would feel guilty were she, in any way, to jeopardize it for him. She just needed to make sure that she didn't come back to something that needed her here. Then again, was it worth being in a relationship where you felt so needed and was she just nervous because of Kuon's reaction with Rick.

She sighed and then stood up, she grabbed her phone and texted Yashiro. Maybe they could talk about this. He knew the entertainment industry well and she wouldn't be too uncomfortable talking about her judgments of Kuon with him. Maybe he could even help her figure out which words to use when telling Kuon.

After receiving an address for a small diner that Yashiro had gone to in order to work on some paperwork, Kyoko made her way out the door. She had no idea that Yashiro had also agreed to meet Kuon at the address.

…..

…..

As Kyoko finally arrived at the address, she paused nervously as she saw her tall, blond, emerald-eyes boyfriend excited to see her. She didn't know that he would be here. Did he come here looking for her? Maybe she should just tell him face to face, explain that it was her dream role, something that she had always wanted.

"Hey," Kuon grinned as he approached her. "I wasn't expecting to see you until later," he said before putting a hand on her cheek to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. She smiled looking up at him and got onto her tip toes to kiss him, he leaned down deepening the kiss.

"I wanted to talk to Yashiro about something, ask his advice. I wasn't sure if you were busy or not," Kyoko said and Kuon blinked at her.

"I'm never too busy to help you. Is it something that I can help you with?" he asked and Kyoko paused nervously.

"I got offered a role in a Japanese drama for next year, it's really exciting," she told him and Kuon nodded slowly. "I have to meet with the director in person in order to confirm the role."

"Well, is it a role that you're looking forward to doing? You said it was exciting," Kuon commented. He saw Kyoko tense and then tried to study her, he wasn't sure what was going on through her head. Usually he could read her but for some reason it seemed that she was scared of him and he was really and truly hoping that he wasn't scaring her. He would be a terrible boyfriend if that was the case.

"Yes, it's the role of a fairy princess," Kyoko told him.

Kuon laughed happily, "That's what you've always wanted to do," he told her. "Isn't that the dream role for you?" he asked but Kyoko stepped forward and placed a hand on his wrist.

"I don't want you to not feel stable," Kyoko told him as she looked to him and Kuon stared at her in shock, his emerald eyes widening as he took her in. "I don't want to -"

"I promise you that I'll be fine," Kuon told her as he looked at her affectionately. He didn't want to tell Kyoko how it had hurt him how she felt that she could give up on her dreams because she was scared of how he would take it. He never wanted for her to see him in the same way that she viewed Fuwa. "Please don't worry about me," he told her before kissing her hand, "Listen to me, don't worry about me because I never want you to put my feelings above your dreams."

"You're an idiot," Kyoko whispered though she had a grin over her face and Kuon tilted his head to the side.

"I'm an idiot?" he asked and Kyoko nodded, "Wow, I mean if you're truly tel-"

"I love you," Kyoko grinned. "I am so happy to be your girlfriend, Corn, but I will always consider your feelings. I just have to. I have two types of dreams and you're one of them, you're my dream of a future, a happy future with the two of us."

"Really, a happy future?" he asked and Kyoko looked at him with her hands at her side.

"I love you," she repeated, "I can't think of anybody else that I'd want to have a future with. You've been such a big part of my life and I'm not ready to let that stop so please don't lose your head whilst I'm gone. If you feel bad then you can call me but -"

"I think I'll be fine," he smiled to her and then looked down nervously. Kyoko now knew something was bothering him. "I think I might look for a therapist when we get back to Japan," he told her.

End of Chapter Thirty Two

Thank you for reading

Thank you reviewers of Chapter Thirty One

Kris XD, misherukuro, Paulagato,

Response to Reviews

I'm glad people enjoyed the flashbacks and the focus on Kuu 😊 What happens with Rick will be part of the next chapter but I thought that some joy would be good too.