Julies eyes widened slightly when they pulled up to the restaurant. Kyoko felt a brief pang of worry that it wasn't up to the standards of someone of Julies calibre, but Kuu loved her food so she focused on that.

Inside she hugged Okami hard and introduced the two. She introduced Julie as a friend.

"I'm going to put my bags in my room, would you show Julie-san to the sitting room please?"

"Of course. This way please."

They both smiled at the sound of Kyoko charging up the stairs.

"So how do you know Kyoko-chan?"

"She's worked for us for a few years now and one day she came up to us after her shift and asked if she could rent our spare room. She'd be willing to work extra shifts to cover room and board she said and she wouldn't be a bother. I told her she was no bother and seeing as she already worked for us it was no problem. She's a very special girl."

"She is that. Quirky is another word for it."

Both women laughed. Okami opened a door and Julie saw it was the sitting room and that Ren and Kuu had beaten them here. They looked up at her.

"Who's quirky?"

"Kyoko-chan."

Ren snorted while Kuu chuckled.

Kyoko came round the corner.

"What's so funny?"

20 minutes later Kyoko was in the kitchen with Taisho. The others were alone so they could have a private moment.

Kyoko had gotten the industrial pans out, the ones Taisho used around festival and holiday times. Taisho had given her a curious look considering she was only cooking for 4 people. She had just smiled and started cooking.

When done she tried to pick up the pot that contained Kuu's dinner and realised it was too heavy. Without a word Taisho picked up the pot and nodded to indicate Kyoko should grab the rest and lead the way.

She loaded up a serving trolley and pushed it to the room. Kuu's eyes lit up at the sight of the trolley but Kyoko shook her head. Kuu pouted. She pointed behind her at Taisho. He clapped with glee. Taisho raised an eyebrow.

Ren answered the unspoken question.

"He's a bottomless pit Taisho. I actually don't know if that pot is big enough."

The trio at the table just laughed. Taisho placed the pot in front of Kuu, cast him a glance and nodded at Ren and Julie. He left as Kyoko began serving.

She was surprised that Kuu didn't just jump into the pot when they dug in.

Julie was eyeing Ren carefully and was pleasantly surprised to see Ren actually eating. Curious as to what Ren was wolfing down she took a bite.

Kyoko watched her reaction over her miso bowl. Julie calmly put her chopsticks down and pointed them at Ren. Feeling safe-ish Kyoko took a sip of miso.

She nearly choked on it when Julie opened her mouth and loudly announced,

"You must marry this girl for her cooking skills alone."

Kuu snorted before bursting into laughter. Kyoko blushed while coughing and Ren just put his head in his hands muttering 'mother'.

"What? It is really very good and you'd be silly to let her get away."

She gave him another point of the chopsticks before returning to her food.

They were enjoying tea with Okami and Taisho when they heard a commotion outside. Ren shot to the monitor for the security system and saw 2 figures outside.

He and the other men were outside before Kyoko and Julie even got to the door. They made it outside seconds after the men and Kyoko was stunned to see Sebastian.

"Is the President here?"

"No Mogami-san, there was a problem with the guard assigned to watch over you tonight. I am working the shift in his place."

"What kind of problems?" Ren asked while Kyoko bowed and thanked Sebastian.

"He appears to have eaten some bad food. As lame as the excuse sounds, it is true. We checked."

The second figure Sebastian was holding by the collar struggled and moved into the light.

"Shotaro?! What are you doing here?"

"You know. Why do you think I'm here?" he slurred.

She realised that Sebastian wasn't stopping him from getting away, he was holding him up.

"Shotaro, are you drunk?"

"No." His ears burning red with the lie.

She sighed and turned to the others.

Okami and Taisho nodded and went back inside, he'd been here before and they recognised Sebastian.

Ren made a move toward Sho but Kyoko placed a hand on Rens arm and shook her head. She looked at Kuu who placed a hand on Rens shoulder and took him inside. That left Julie who was looking at Sho like he was something she had trodden in, and Sebastian who was still holding him up.

"So what do you want Shotaro?"

"Stop calling me that!"

"It's your name. Has been since you were born and still is now you're a brat and will always be until you grow up."

He was turning red.

"Plus I think you like that I still call you that. That I use your proper name instead of Sho."

"Shut up you stupid bitch! What would…"

He was cut off as Julie slapped him across the face. The smack echoed around them.

"How dare you speak to her like that! You should be on your knees begging forgiveness from her. They way you treated her, the way she was treated because of you! You're not worthy of being anywhere near her. She's a beautiful, loving, caring girl and you threw her away. You don't deserve to even look at her!"

She finished, pointing a finger in his face, breathing heavily. He opened his mouth to ,no doubt, say something stupid but she waved her finger in his face.

"Julie-san. Julie-san." Kyoko took a deep breath. "Julie."

The woman herself spun round with a glorious smile on her face.

"You dropped the formalities! No going back now!"

Kyokos head spun and she nearly got whiplash from Julies mood change but she no longer looked like she was going to crush Sho under her shoe. They could hear faint laughter coming from inside.

"Julie-san."

Kyoko received a huff and a pointed look.

"Let us go inside. It's not a threat and I'm sure Sebastian can handle the situation."

The man nodded and bowed while keeping a tight grip on Sho, dragging him into a bow too.

"I shall inform the President of the situation and that it has been resolved. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

He half pulled, half dragged Sho down the road and bundled him into a car.

Julie turned to Kyoko.

"I'm sorry you had to see that Kyoko-chan."

She was waved off. Kyoko knew first hand who aggravating Sho could be.

As they re-entered the restaurant everyone burst into applause. Kuu swept Julie up into a hug.

"Who's a protective mumma bear?" he said sweetly, smiling at her. Julie blushed and swatted his arm.

"Mother that was hilarious!"

Ren was wiping tears from his eyes. Julie turned to Taisho and Okami and apologised. Okami waved her off and Taisho just smiled. In his opinion the boy had gotten off lightly with a slap. He had heard what the boy had called Kyoko. He had knives.

Okami ushered everyone back to the sitting room and served more tea. Julie remained out in the corridor. She poked her head through the door, one hand covering her phone.

"What was that obnoxious boys name again?"

Kyoko gave her a bemused look but replied. Julie smiled, and went back into the hallway to finish on the phone. When she came back into the room and sat at the table she had a small, yet sinister looking, grin on her face.

Kuu looked at her. Ren asked the question.

"What did you do?"

"I may have simply mentioned to my agent that I will never work with him and my entire line is not to be associated with him in anyway. Ever."

Kyoko was gobsmacked as Kuu and Ren burst out laughing. Taisho and Okami look puzzled until Julie explained that she was a model and designer, quite big on both sides of the planet. If her clothing line was doing a shoot and Shos name was attached, they would now drop him from the list.

Kuu got a gleam in his eye and dug his own phone out. He began texting furiously.

Ren raised an eyebrow,

"Let me guess. You may or may not be telling your agent that Fuwa Sho is never to be associated with one of your projects."

Kuu put on a look of mock indignation.

"Would I do such a thing?"

Kyoko looked horrified.

"You can't do that Otou-san! It will effect your work!"

"Kyoko-chan. If a director had to pick between Hizuri Kuu or Fuwa Sho who are they more likely to pick?"

Kyoko just stared. He had a point. World famous actor, versus a singer. Kuu put on a puppy dog look.

"Unless you think your old father here is no good?"

"That's not what I meant! At all, I just meant.."

She trailed off. They were laughing at her.

"That's not nice."

"It's what we do for family. I'm certain if Julie hadn't slapped him then he would have had to deal with the 3 of us. Taisho has an impressive array of sharp things and both me and Ren are proficient in combat."

Taisho winked at her. She went over to him and hugged him. After a brief second he patted her on the head.

"We told you. The only thing that stops you from actually being our daughter is a piece of paper. For all other intents and purposes you are our daughter."

He started fidgeting, uncomfortable in front of the newcomers and with the emotional things. Kyoko released him and he grunted something about an early morning. He bid goodnight to everyone and disappeared to bed. Okami followed not long after but not before giving Kyoko an extra big hug and one for Julie to.

When they'd gone Kuu pulled out his wallet and extracted a half inch wad of paper. He ignored all of Kyokos protests that he didn't have to pay and slipped the money into a bill fold with a note. He left it in the kitchen for them to find in the morning.

A car was waiting for them outside.

"We'll see you for New Years yes?" Tea ceremony during the day, party at Lorys after. You'll wear that lovely little thing we picked up."

Julie was holding Kyokos hands, shaking them to emphasis the point.

"Yes Julie."

"Good. Now we must go! If I don't get to sleep soon I may die!"

Kuu rolled his eyes and gave Kyoko a huge hug.

"We'll see you in a couple of days."

Kyoko waved them off until they turned a corner.

"I should go to Kyoko."

Ren looked apologetic. She beckoned him to the side of the building, closer to his car and away from any prying eyes. She crooked a finger to get him closer. He bent down.

She kissed him.

"Thank you for everything." she said, resting her forehead against his. He straightened up and pulled her close.

"Always and forever Kyoko."

He kissed her again and said goodnight.

Up in her room she debated whether to put away her new clothes. It was late and she would be moving soon.

She decided not to but pulled her New Years outfit out and hung it up to drop out any creases.

As she lay in bed she thought of the last few days and that it was a great way to end the year. The next few days would just be icing on the cake.

She slept peacefully that night.