In Lorys office
The angel of beauty sat on Lorys home office sofa had a look of cold fury on her face. She was studiously ignoring the Emperor sat behind the desk, who was looking imploringly to the Shogun in the chair for help.
Kuu just shrugged at Lorys predicament and continued through the snack pack Julie had made him.
"You stole my son."
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Did not."
Kuu watched from the chair, amazed at the childish argument going on between the President of one of the biggest talent agencies in the country and the force that was his wife.
He wished Julie had packed popcorn.
"I just gave him a choice. One he needed before he entirely self destructed! Look at how well he has done and is doing! He found love."
Julie just looked at him.
"I'll give you that he is happy and healthy."
And she smiled and men for thousands of miles sighed.
It was gone in an instant as she turned back to Lory and let rip.
All the frustration and anger of not being able to help her own son poured out.
After a while, and with Lory looking suitably chastised, Kuu turned to Julie.
"Do you feel better now love?"
She settled back into the sofa and huffed.
"For now anyway. It's almost time for the party and I am looking forward to seeing our children."
Lory looked at Kuu, who leaned forwards.
"Love, you remember that he is Tsuruga Ren tonight don't you?"
She gave him a look that plainly said 'do you think I'm stupid?'.
She threw another filthy one at Lory when he opened his mouth.
"And go easy on Kyoko. She doesn't even know you're attending the party tonight. From what I surmise from what Jelly has told me, she's actually terrified of meeting you and is afraid you will hate her."
Kuu and Julie looked shocked.
"From what Kuu has told me, you have told me, from what I've watched, why ever would I hate her?!"
Lory sent out an apology to Kyoko before turning to the couple and giving them a brief history of Kyoko. He began with Saena abandoning her, Sho and how it had left her with very warped views of love and relationships.
"It's only recently I've been able to get her to do something as simple as accept a ride and stop her apologising for everything."
Kuu chuckled.
"However did you manage that?"
"I'm afraid I had to stoop to threatening her."
Kuu's face darkened and Lory quickly explained.
"She was in a hospital bed, out of emergency surgery for appendicitis, bowing to me and apologising for being a bother and that she would get back to work right away. I'm afraid… I'm afraid I raised my voice to her. I told her that if she couldn't have more confidence in herself and stop apologising I would put her on hiatus."
Kuu burst out laughing while Julie looked appalled.
"That sounds like Kyoko-chan. Bet it worked though. She was born to act."
Lory smiled.
"It did. She has gained immense confidence and stopped apologising quite so much. She also takes compliments with little problem now."
Julie still looked appalled.
"But I've seen her. She's so bright and bubbly. What on Earth happened?"
"Her mother hated her, rejected her and abandoned her. Her first love used her and she was bullied relentlessly. Repeatedly put down and told she was worthless. It's taking time but she is healing."
"The poor girl."
She held out her hand to Kuu, who moved over to the sofa next to her. She clutched his arm as if holding a life raft.
"Additionally…"
Julie cut Lory off, looking horrified.
"There's more?! Isn't it bad enough?"
"I'm afraid it gets worse. I assume you will be staying in the country a while?"
They nodded.
"At least two weeks."
"Kyoko is in danger and I feel you should be aware of it if you are going to spend more time with her."
So Lory explained the events of the past months. When he finished Julie had gone pale and Kuu was pacing the room with a thunderous look on his face.
"Who?"
"I do not know but I am working on it."
Kuu nodded. He walked back to Julie and put an arm around her. They both jumped when Lory clapped his hands.
"Now. Enough doom and gloom. The party has begun so I believe our entrance is due soon. Kyoko will already be in the main room and Ren will be here soon."
This brightened Julie up immensely and she shot up off the sofa to the nearest mirror and adjusted her make up and hair.
She held out a hand to Kuu.
"Lets go see our children."
