Chapter Ten – Other Than the Two Of Us

"You know," Pandora said with a playful smile on her lips as she walked her fingers down Officer Nobira's police jacket. "You are really getting yourself into too much trouble these days," she grinned as she looked up at the very sweet man who had chosen to protect the law for his profession. "A lady such as myself…well…" she laughed, "I'm glad to see that someone like you is here to protect us," she laughed and then pulled Nobira closer only to push him away again, a mixed look of emotions in her eyes, a lust that could easily turn into deceit.

As she walked away, Nobira placed a hand on his chest and exhaled deeply. He was troubled whether to go after her or return to his duties as an officer. "You sure you'll be alright?" he called after her only to receive a smile as a response and he grinned before walking away.

"And that's a wrap" Kuu smiled as he saw the two actors stand together and smiled at the two people he called his children. "Do you two want to…"

"I think that Kyoko's performance was amazing," Kuon grinned to his girlfriend as she looked around at them. It had been a full week of acting this role for her now and they were able to film very early on. It hadn't given her a lot to define the character but everyone said she was doing amazing and this role would be seen as much better than Mio or Natsu. That made her feel awkward and she hoped it wasn't just Kuon's acting with her that had led to her performance quality.

Then again, inside she really had felt that she had delivered the scene in the way that they had wanted to see it. This was going to be hard but she had the feeling that Kuon would just do whatever it was that she felt was best. He worked hard not only for himself, but for her too. She nodded with a smile.

"I feel good with how that went," she said with a bow, "Thank you," she said as both Kuu and Kuon smiled whilst watching her. Kyoko stood up and straightened her back again with a smile.

"Thank you for your hard work today," Kuu said, he pointed behind him to where a beautiful woman was standing. She didn't look like any celebrity that Kyoko could place, she was sweet and cute but not in the way a model would be. She hadn't appeared in any advertising or TV shows that Kyoko had seen and that would mean she wasn't a reporter either.

"Is that?" Kuon asked nervously as he looked at his father, he stared down. It was true that the news of his identity had spread a little online and that there would be some interviews the next week but Kuon was not ready to see this woman. He looked down and felt a sickness wrap around him. "Excuse me," he said as he came over to the woman. "Hello," he said very weakly as she looked away.

"That's all you can say to me," she said before looking down, "I'm really sorry, can we talk?" she asked as Kyoko took a deep breath in and looked over at Kuu.

"I shouldn't wait for him, should I, father?" she asked as Kuu turned to her. "It's alright. I'm sure that whatever is going on between the two of them is important, I'll be fine." She turned to Kuu and then looked down, she felt guilty saying this. "I'm not allowed to know what they are talking about, am I, father?"

Kuu shook his head, "I'm sure he'll tell you eventually."

….

….

Kyoko had felt so refreshed and positive after she had performed the scene with Kuon. Even though she had first thought that she was untalented and unsuited for the role, it seemed to bring her some happiness to know that everyone around her considered her a good actor. She just had to find some way of becoming a good girlfriend as well.

She would have felt better if she had been able to spend some time with Kuon or at least with Moko after the shoot. She knew that although she loved getting ice cream and neither of them did, they would both give into her wishes and would order something small. It was refreshing to know she had people around her who loved her in the ways that they did.

However, it also made the times that she had to spend by herself so much more chilling and lonesome.

It was nice to know that she had a good friend who would secretly do anything to make her happy and a boyfriend who had been such a source for support and love ever since she was a small child. It was nice to be surrounded by loved ones, but she didn't know who that woman was that Kuon had met and she worried. Kuu had seemed to know who she was, but then again maybe she had contacted Kuu so that she could get on set to do an article for a magazine.

Then again, why wouldn't Kuon share that with her.

Kyoko sighed, maybe she could ask him about that but she knew she wouldn't have the guts to do so.

Kyoko was so swept up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice someone very familiar, as well as extremely annoying, approach her. She looked up blankly before her eyes narrowed and she drew in a tired breath. "Hello, Shoutaro" she said at a level that only he could hear.

"Guess what day it is," Shou told her and Kyoko rolled her eyes.

"Monday," she said with a bored expression on her face, "I should have known that you'd be too ignorant to learn how to read a calendar" she toyed with him before shaking her head as she watched him getting annoyed as well. "Tell me, what day is it today?" she asked as Shou tried to hand her a bullet train ticket.

"Time for you to return home to work forever for my parents in Kyoto," he said as Kyoko raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so?" she asked with a roll of her eyes, "and what reason would I have for doing that. One of us is the female lead in a drama that all of Japan is excited to see. One of us is going to have bigger and better offers in the future and trust me on this, I haven't stroked your ego for years."

"I know, I was missing it," Shou said before he waved the ticket in front of Kyoko's face once again. "So, you told me that you felt nothing for Ren Tsuruga and that if you were ever to start dating him, you would return back to Kyo-"

Kyoko's laugh caught him off and she crossed her arms, "I'm not dating Ren Tsuruga," she said as Shou rolled his eyes.

"I've had someone tell me from the shoot that you're doing that you and Ren were seen kissing one another and laughing together and I'm sure you've seen his bedroom," Shou said as Kyoko took a deep breath in.

"Yes, I've seen his bedroom, but I've never done anything in his bedroom and Ren doesn't even have a bedroom…not technically," she tried to argue. "So, I'm not dating Ren, but I am dating somebody and if he found out that you were stalking me."

"So, you're at least cheating on your new guy with Ren Tsuruga, I suppose he'll be happy to hear about that. I should have known that you would have become a slut after you realized that you could never get me back."

"Excuse me!" Kyoko snapped seeing the cockiness in the blond's eyes, "You really think that I'm like that! Might I remind you that it's you who has always been sniffing around where you don't belong! You're just like a dog with a bone and as fun as it is for me to see you beg, you really have lost it. Get yourself a girlfriend who you actually love and grovel at her feet although even that might be impossible for you."

Shou frowned again, "At least when I juggled two ladies I never took them seriously," he announced and Kyoko looked down.

"I'm just going to say this one more time so make sure your ears are clear to hear it. I am dating one person. I am loyal to that one person. I am not dating Ren Tsuruga."

"Then who are you dating?" Shou asked as Kyoko paused, she opened her mouth to say but was interrupted by the presence of someone tall behind her.

"She's dating me, Fuwa" Kuon said as Yashiro approached the three of them. It took Shou some time before he managed to match the face as the one of his rival. However, he was standing there with these emerald eyes and golden hair that put his hair stylist to shame. Who was this guy going to? Where was he getting those contacts that looked so real?

"So you are dating Tsuruga?" Shou said as he pointed a finger at Kuon.

"No, I'm not Ren Tsuruga. Pay attention to the news, Fuwa," he said before looking at Kyoko. "Were you two in the middle of some meaningful conversation? Did I disrupt something?"

"You didn't disrupt anything at all, you know how much I dislike this guy," she said before taking Kuon's hand in hers. She looked down, "In all seriousness, Shou, move on with your life. I'm worried about you ever growing up. I know that you have a lot to offer the world if you just matured. Just move on and go away."

Shou's eyes widened. Had she just pitied him? Hadn't all of this started because she was being used by him. When they had 'been together' she had been unknown and now she was acting as if he was far less of a star than she was. What kind of nerve did she have where that was an option?

Shou took a few steps forward and reached out to grab hold of Kuon's arm and the actor gave Shou a very annoyed look. "So, you got jealous of my appearance so decided to look more like me. Well they do say that imitation is the highest form of flattery, so I am very flattered that you are highlighting my gorgeous looks, Tsuruga."

"Hizuri," Kuon said boldly, "as for my appearance. I've come to understand that the natural approach is really better, but you still have four years to learn all about that. I hope by the time you do go back to being a brunette, your hair hasn't completely fallen out."

Shou bristled as Kuon let go of him and walked away with Kyoko.

Kyoko smiled as she said a quick hello to Yashiro as well. She finally felt safe in regards to love when she was with Kuon, but it was almost as if this was the calm before the storm. Everything that was happening was too perfect. She needed to calm herself before her entire world was pushed into chaos. Still there was one question that was haunting her mind.

"Kuon, can you tell me who that woman was?" she asked as Kuon closed his eyes.

"Not yet," he sighed, he was having a hard time with what had occurred after the scene as well. He needed to figure out a way of explaining it to himself before he explained it to Kyoko.

"She didn't cause you any trouble, right?" the actress asked nervously.

"No." Kuon shook his head, "She came to apologize and to forgive me for things that should never ever be forgiven."