I'm goin' home, gonna load my shotgun
Wait by the door and light a cigarette
He wants a fight, well now he's got one
And he ain't seen me crazy yet
Slapped my face and he shook me like a rag doll
Don't that sound like a real man
I'm gonna show him what a little girl's made of
Gunpowder and lead
- Gunpowder and Lead (Miranda Lambert, 2007)
Kuon was pleased that tonight is a full moon. He's waiting for her in the same place where they first met, and for the first time, he regretted that he married Kimiko. Even though he knew that Kimiko was cheating on him, he still believes that one day she will realize her mistakes and will change for the better, for the sake of Maria.
Kimiko indeed changed, but she's not Kimiko.
Kuon sighed. How he wished they will stay like this forever. He didn't mind if Kyoko is living under his wife's face, but having Kimiko's means trouble. How many men she previously met in past? Or women she has animosity with? He doesn't want Kyoko to be troubled by those people.
He was admiring the moon when he finally made a decision that he will continue filing for divorce if the real one will come back. Maria will be better if she has Kyoko as her mother.
"R-Ren..."
Kuon smiled hearing her calling him, he slowly turned at her. It would be weird for her if he will address her as Kyoko-chan with that face.
He looked at her strangely.
"It's me Kyoko!"
He needed to act surprised. "I remembered Kyoko-chan's face, and she's prettier than you." He said, frowning at her.
And as he expected, she told him everything about the agreement she has with Kimiko and Fuwa Sho.
He gasped at her. "You are really Kyoko-chan?" Kyoko nodded at him. "Kyoko-chan, I miss you!" He exclaimed, hugging tightly.
He was surprised when Kyoko pushed him and stared at his face, and he got nervous.
There's no way she will recognise me, right?
"Ren... are you... Hizuri-san's relative?" She asked nervously.
His lips twitched, wanting to smile widely. He decided to have that excuse.
"Yes..."
Kyoko covered her mouth as she gasped. "Oh no!"
"Calm down, Kyoko-chan..." He patted her head. "We are distant relatives and I haven't met him for a long time now, and I never have a glimpse of his wife."
Kyoko sighed in relief. "That's great..." Kyoko's heart was pounding on her chest.
He's here... Ren is really here! Her mentally exclaimed happily.
"By the way... How are you?" Kyoko asked.
He told her about the divorce of his parents, his work, and his failed marriage.
Kyoko froze. "Y-You're married?"
Kuon can see the disappointment in her eyes.
"In the middle of divorcing my wife."
Kyoko step back. "T-Then... until it was approved, you are still a married man."
Kuon caught her arm. "Kyoko-chan, please... It doesn't mean we can't be friends, right?"
Friends... Kyoko smiled bitterly. "Of course, we can still be friends."
They were catching up with their lives and talk about random things when Kyoko's phone went off.
"Hello? Yes, mother... I'm sorry I didn't notice the time... Yes..." Kyoko heaved a sigh and looked at him. "That was Hizuri-san's mother and she's looking for me. I need to go."
Kuon hummed. "I'm sorry to keep you late." He apologized. "If you want, you can have my number and we can meet at another time."
"What? But your wife –"
"Kyoko-chan." He cut her off. "She's in a tryst with her lovers right now." He reached out his hand, asking for her phone. "I'll save my number."
Kyoko reluctantly gave it to him. He saved his number in her phone and gave it back to her.
"Let's go."
Kyoko blushed when he held her hand as they walked thru the forest. When they saw the street to the town, they parted ways.
"Where have you been?" Julie sternly asked she was waiting for her in the living room.
"I went out for ice cream."
"You left for two hours just for ice cream?" She raised her eyebrow in doubt.
"Yes. I am in the dilemma of choosing a flavour."
"You can't fool me." Julie pointed her finger at her. "Kana and I went to the convenience store and we didn't see you there."
Kyoko mentally widened her eyes.
"Now tell me, where have you been? Or I will tell Kuon that –"
"Tell me what?"
The two spun around and saw Kuon descending from the stairs.
Julie glared at Kyoko. "Your good wife here went out for two hours just for ice cream."
Kuon raised his eyebrow at his mother. "And?"
"Kuon, two hours! Who will buy ice cream for two freaking hours!" She exclaimed, angry at her son's lack of reaction.
"Mom, may I remind you that you spent more than two hours when you buy a dress?"
"That's different!"
"It's the same!" Kuon exclaimed, exasperated.
"We went to the convenience store but she wasn't there." Julie said. "I bet she only used that an excuse to meet with a man!"
Kyoko nervously gulped. She was right after all.
Kuon sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "There are lots of convenience store out there, you can't say she wasn't there when you only look in one."
Julie gasped at her son's attitude. Since when did he start protecting her?
"Sweetheart, it's late. Go to bed, I'll talk with mother for a while."
Kyoko bowed at Julie and head upstairs.
"Kuon..."
"Mom, I thank you for your concern but what you did today is a little excessive." He said, taking a seat on the couch.
"Kana was right, she wrapped you around her fingers."
"I don't care what Kana told you." Kuon sighed.
"She told me you finally considering the divorce!" Julie exclaimed.
"That's right." Kuon nodded.
"Then what are you waiting for?!"
"The right time." He answered directly. "Now is not the right time to divorce her."
Julie groaned, rolling her eyes. "You spoiled her too much."
Kuon softly chuckled.
"I'm about to spoil her yet."
Julie was frowning at the way her son treats his wife. They are having a barbeque party on the beach, and his son, who hates PDA, is flirting with Kimiko.
People often stop to admire them.
"I thought he's going to divorce her!" Julie hissed, crossing her arms on her chest. "Why the hell he acts lovey-dovey with her?"
"I told you, auntie, Kuon changed."
Julie huffed. "A cheater will always be a cheater."
"Indeed." Kana concurred.
The two women watched as the couple enjoyed grilling their food, and they didn't notice Maria went to water.
"You smell so good." Kuon sniffed her. Kyoko immediately blushed.
"Stop it." She playfully slaps his chest. He was topless, wearing only his swimming trunks, and the women can't help but drool at his well-toned body.
"Why aren't you wearing your swimsuit?" He asked, looking at her T-Shirt and shorts.
"I don't want to get tan." Kyoko stated. Knowing Kimiko, she's the type of girl who will flaunt her figure to everyone, but Kyoko wasn't like that.
She already prepared that excuse when they are still in the mansion, in case Kuon will ask her.
Kuon smiled at her. To her surprise, he wore his T-Shirt back.
"I don't want to get tan too."
Kyoko huffed to hide her blush. Kuon chuckled at her reaction.
"Lifeguard! Call a lifeguard! There's a kid drowning!"
They snapped their heads when they heard the commotion in the shore. Kuon turned his attention to his mother who was chatting with Kana in the cottage.
"Where is Maria?" He asked them.
The two women looked around but couldn't find the kid.
"She's just here..." Kana mumbled.
Kuon clicked his tongue in annoyance and ran to the shore, but he already saw Kyoko swimming over the kid. He rides one of the speedboats and went at them.
Maria was struggling in the water, she coughed every time saltwater got in her mouth.
"Mom!" She cried, flapping her arms. "Mom, help!"
Kyoko swam faster and reached her hand. "I'm here! I got you!"
Maria cried in her chest. She was scared, and the first person who appeared in her mind was her mother.
"You are safe now."
"Kimi! Maria!" Kuon slowed down the boat. He took Maria first before helping her up.
In the shore, Kana was calming Julie down. The woman almost breakdown when she saw her granddaughter drowning.
"Auntie, calm down."
"It's Kimiko's fault! She's busy flirting with her husband and neglected her child!" She exclaimed.
Kana watched how Kimiko swim to rescue Maria. The woman frowned.
When did she learn how to swim?
The bystanders cheered when they arrived, Kyoko was still carrying Maria when Julie suddenly strode at her and grabbed her hair.
"It's your fault, you bitch!"
Kyoko yelped in pain, she's still carrying Maria, thus she couldn't defend herself from her sudden attack.
"Mom, stop it!" Kuon yelled, protecting her wife and daughter from his enraged mother. "How could this be her fault?!"
"That bitch is flirting with you and didn't watch her carefully!" Julie shivered when Kuon glared at her.
"May I remind you that the woman you called bitch is my wife!" He screamed. "And what's wrong with her flirting with me, it's none of your business! And didn't you and Kana volunteered to watch over her? What happen?!"
Julie almost has a heart attack hearing her son screamed at her.
"Kuon, auntie –"
"Shut up!" He glared at Kana. "You are just an outsider! You want to become Maria's mother? In your dreams! You might kill my daughter before I knew it!"
The people on the beach were discussing the drama unfolded in front of them.
Kuon grabbed Kyoko's hand and went back to the hotel.
Kuon let Shoko clean Maria up, while he took Kyoko in their room.
He comforted her when she saw her crying. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Kyoko cried harder on his chest.
"Do you want us to go home?" He softly asked, and Kyoko nodded.
"Alright. Take a shower first, then we will go back to Tokyo."
Kyoko wiped her tears and went to the bathroom.
Kuon knocked on her daughter's room. Shoko opened the door.
"Maria-chan still on the shower." She informed him.
Kuon nodded. "Tell her we will head back home to Tokyo later."
Shoko bowed at him. "Yes, sir."
When he returned to their room, Kyoko was wearing a bathrobe while drying her hair with a towel.
She occasionally hissed in pain.
"Let me help you."
She sat down in front of the mirror while he wrings her hair.
Kyoko observed him in the mirror, and he looked sad.
She internally sighed. He finally regained his love for Kimiko-san...
He then blow her hair. Kyoko giggled at the sight.
"If you are not a CEO, you could be a good hairdresser."
Kuon chuckled. "Really? Maybe I will put up a salon next?"
"And who will manage it? You?"
Kuon smiled at her. "You."
Kyoko's eyes widened. "Ha! If it is a restaurant I might reconsider."
"Oh?"
Kuon mentally noted to build a restaurant for her.
The supposed to be relaxing vacation was cut short after Maria's accident. When Julie finally calmed down, she realised her mistake from suddenly attacking Kimiko in front of many people.
When they arrived home, they were surprised when they didn't see Kuon's car.
"They went out?" Julie asked the butler.
The man shook his head. "Kuon-sama and Kimiko-sama already went back to Tokyo."
"WHAT?!" Julie and Kana both exclaimed. "Why would he do that? And without saying goodbye to me?"
The butler sighed dejectedly, he tried to stop the young master from leaving without informing his mother, but the man was angry from what his mother has done to his wife.
"Auntie, I should head back too." Kana stated.
Julie looked at her, gripping her hand softly.
"Kana... Just wait okay? Wait until Kuon divorced that woman." She tucked a hair behind her ear. "And we will finally become a family. Kuon will no longer call you an outsider."
Julie was hurt from what his son called Kana earlier.
Kana smiled bitterly. "Seeing how Kuon protected Kimiko, I wonder why he finally decided to divorce her."
Julie snorted. "I bet he is just acting. For me, you will always be my daughter-in-law."
Kana smiled at the woman.
In Tokyo, Kuon was pleased seeing Maria starts warming up to Kyoko. It seems the accident is a blessing in disguise to make the two closer with each other.
Inui smiled warmly as she saw the three in the kitchen, preparing for dinner. She never thought that there will come a time where the three are getting along well.
"Hello~~" They turned at the voice boomed in the living room. "Smells good!"
A man suddenly showed up in the kitchen. "Father!" Kuon exclaimed.
Kyoko mentally shuddered, her hand starts trembling, remembering Kimiko's description of the man.
"Hizuri Kuu, my father-in-law." Kimiko smirked seductively staring at a picture of a famous Hollywood actor. "He is such a stud! It's no wonder where Kuon got his skills in bed."
Kyoko's eyes almost fell out from their sockets, her words make her skin crawl.
Kimiko laughed at her reaction. "Come on! Every family has a little dirty secret."
"B-But!"
Kimiko flicked her hand. "He will only visit once in a while, and it's usually to check up on their company."
Kyoko wanted to back out when Kimiko showed her more pictures of men she has fun with.
Kyoko jumped when Kuon touched her shoulder.
"Are you alright? You are pale." Kuon asked in concern.
"Y-Yeah..." She stuttered. "Let's... have dinner?"
"Sure." He smiled at her.
Inui, Shoko, Kyoko, and Maria set the table while Kuu and Kuon were talking about business in the living room.
Inui called them to the dining hall.
"Wow, I haven't seen you for months and Kimi-chan already became a good cook!" Kuu exclaimed, ruffling her hair.
Kyoko got goosebumps from the simple touch.
Setting their selves on the table, Kyoko suddenly becomes nervous when her father-in-law sat next to her.
They were having their meal when she suddenly felt a hand on her thigh.
She coughed. She wanted to throw up.
"Are you alright?" Kuon asked her in concern.
"Y-Yeah..."
Kuu looked at her innocently.
She immediately stood up when she felt his hand on her thigh again. "Maria, do you want me to peel those shrimps for you?"
"Yes, mom. Please." Kyoko was fast to reach her side.
"Father, can I have my plate, please?"
Kuu raised his eyebrow at her odd behaviour. She never tried to avoid his touches before, and now she acts disgusted?
Kuu mentally scoffed before he handed her plate at her.
As she helped Maria on the shrimps, Kuu saw his son's fond expression watching his wife and daughter.
Kuu stared at Kimiko harder. What is she playing innocent for? He mentally smirked. If she wanted to play that kind of game then I'm on it.
After dinner, while preparing for bed, the couple heard a soft knock on their door, Kuon opened it as saw Maria, bringing her own pillow.
"C-Can I sleep with mom?" She asked meekly.
Kuon smiled at his daughter. "Of course."
She entered the room and Kyoko smiled at her.
"Come here." Maria jumped on the bed and settled beside her. "Why is my baby girl wanted to sleep with mommy?"
Maria hugged her. "I'm scared..." She whispered.
"Don't worry... I will always be here." Kyoko said, kissing her head.
Kuon's chest warms up seeing the sight, this is what he's been dreaming of all these years.
He joined them on the bed. "What about me?"
Maria grinned at him. "Daddy is like a hero and mommy is the heroine!"
"And you are our little princess!" Both of them exclaimed. The two looked at each other in surprise before they laugh.
"You are sync!" Maria giggled.
For the first time, Kuon felt like having a complete family.
They both kissed Maria goodnight, but the slightly frowned.
"Daddy won't give mommy a goodnight kiss?"
Kyoko mentally blush. Dear child, please don't suggest such a thing.
She gulped nervously when Kuon looked at her with his puppy eyes.
"Our little princess suggested it." Kyoko's heart went boom at that.
"Mommy, you don't want to kiss daddy?" Maria pouted at her.
"Of course, I want to." Kyoko's lips twitched. "But you have to close your eyes, got it?"
Maria nodded and immediately covered her eyes with her small hands.
Kyoko slowly glanced at her 'husband' who was grinning at her.
She leaned forward and kissed his cheeks. "G-G-Good night."
But Kuon wasn't satisfied with that, he grabbed her head and kissed her deeply in the mouth, leaving her breathless.
"That's how you should do it." His smile grew wider seeing her red face. "Good night."
"Not in front of Maria!" She slapped his chest.
"Yes sweetheart, noted." Kuon nodded. "I will do more than a goodnight kiss if Maria wasn't here."
Kyoko groaned in embarrassment.
Maria giggled.
And Kuon was beyond happy.
In the guest room, Kuu wasn't asleep yet. He was waiting for Kimiko to sneak in the room in the middle of the night to have some quick fun like they always do, but it is already past midnight there's still no Kimiko to be found.
"That bitch!" He growled. "Did she make a fool out of me this time?!"
He decided to sleep and punish that woman for making him wait.
Kuon woke up first around four in the morning, beside him are his wife and daughter.
The sight warmth his chest. He wanted to wake up like this forever.
"Sorry baby, but I want to have some time alone with your mommy." He whispered before carefully scooping the kid up and sending her back to her own room.
Going back to their room, he re-joined his wife on bed and brought her to his arms. His body reacted at her warm breaths on his neck.
And it took all of his courage not touch her aside from kissing.
Great! He mentally groaned. A cold shower first thing in the morning!
In Greece, Kimiko watched the video that Ruriko sent to her. It was when they were on the beach, the video showed how Kuon yelled at his mother for hurting her.
"Ha!" Kimiko exclaimed happily. "Serves you right you two witches!"
Are you sure that Kyoko won't fall in love with your husband? Ruriko messaged her. Kuon is now very protective of you!
So? What Kuon sees is me. It is useless for her to seduce my husband. Kuon is mine and mine alone!
Alright~ If you say so... Do you want me to monitor her?
Yes, please... And I will give you a hot stud in return. The one I met here~
Kimiko glared at the screen of her phone. "There's no way I will give Kuon to anyone else."
In Japan, Kyoko was surprised at the auburn-haired girl who was looking for her. She knew she's Kimiko's best friend, but why did she decide to meet her now? Did she know about her agreement with the real one?
"Kimi!" Ruriko squealed, hugging the girl. "It's been a while~"
Kyoko mentally took a deep breath. "Ruriko-chan!" She squealed in return. "Yeah, it's been a while indeed."
Kuon snorted softly. That's not how Kimiko will react whenever she saw her best friend.
"Maria!" Ruriko squealed and hugged the kid. "Look at you, such a big girl."
The kid smiled at her. "Yeah."
"Have you eaten?" Kyoko asked. "Come join us for breakfast."
Ruriko grinned at her. "Okay." The woman was surprised seeing Kuu on the table. She greeted him politely. "Hizuri-san."
Kuu only nods at her.
"Matsunai-san, thank you for letting my wife studied Culinary Arts with you."
Kyoko coughed, glancing at the woman. Ruriko smiled at him. "It's not a big deal. We just used our spare time to do something more productive."
Kuon hummed and took Kyoko's hand, kissing it. "I now feel being closer to her."
Ruriko's eyebrow twitched at the gesture.
What the heck?!
"WHAT?!" Kimiko exclaimed on the phone. "Are you sure? The Kuon who hates PDA did that to that girl?!"
"Yes, dear." Ruriko sighed. "I guess you seriously need to learn how to cook. It seems that your replacement is a good cook, and your husband likes it~" She chimed.
Kimiko groaned in annoyance. "That girl did something unnecessary!"
"Indeed. And guess what, your father-in-law was there~"
"Hmph! I'm getting bored with Sho..." Kimiko mumbled. "I will book a ticket as soon as possible."
Ruriko laughed. "Do you feel threatened?"
"What?! Of course not!" She exclaimed. "She is just a girl Sho picked to my replacement if Kuon falls in love with her, its because she's wearing my face! Whom Kuon loves is me!"
"Yeah, yeah... Whatever~"
"I still want you to monitor her, okay?"
"Okaaay~"
After her call with Ruriko, Kimiko booked a ticket online, gritting her teeth, she mentally mumbled.
I won't let you take what is mine.