AN: I hope you enjoy this chapter. It has a little bit of dirty humor going on but nothing requiring an M rating.

Chapter Eighteen – A Breakfast Question

Kyoko had been thrilled to learn that she was going to be interviewed on one of the most popular morning talk shows in Japan. She was also happy that she wasn't going to be alone. She and Kuon were talking about their lead roles in the new drama. This would finally be the time to build up hype for 'The Lake in the Park' and she was hoping she would do her best to represent the cast and crew. She had phoned Kuon the previous night and he had told her that he would pick her up. She wanted to be waiting for him so that the Darumaya couple didn't interrogate him over his short visit to the police station.

As she put her shoes on and gave a twirl to look herself in the mirror, she grinned. She was wearing a pink shirt, white skirt, and white cardigan with cute white boots that she had bought on clearance. Hopefully her outfit wouldn't clash with whatever Kuon chose to wear.

As she held to her bag, she gave a deep bow to the couple once she had headed downstairs and went outside to wait by the restaurant for the car. She knew that the couple really didn't hate him and she had done her best to explain the situation fully, but she didn't want to risk Kuon any discomfort.

Kyoko looked up and down the street excitedly. When she heard a car pull up, she brought her body to attention by straightening her back even more than usual and saw the window go down.

"You need a ride?" Kuon grinned to her as Kyoko nodded. She opened the door to the back and climbed in. "Good morning, Yashiro-san" she said as she gave a small seated bow. "Kuon, have you eaten this morning?" she asked as Kuon laughed.

"That's the first thing you say to me?" he laughed softly. "Well, at least we know that you're looking out for me."

"Kuon's just acting this way because he gets to do an interview with the woman that he loves," Yashiro teased his client and Kuon smiled.

"I do get to do an interview with the woman that I'm in love with. I get to talk about working with my father and how he is a good director and is taking to the craft. I get to talk about how supportive Kyoko is and my plans of going to the United States. Are you saying that I should find something to be sad about?" Kuon asked the manager who held his hands up in defense.

"I'm not saying that," he said quickly. "Nobody can tell you what to do anyway," he laughed, "I'm just saying that Kyoko gives you many reasons to smile. She has a light inside of her that touches you."

Kyoko paused before looking down feeling her cheeks turning red. She held up a hand before saying directly, "Could you please not discuss me in third person?" she pleaded. "If you want to refer to me then please include me in the conversation. I would be happy to state the case for myself."

Yashiro turned to her, "My apologies, Kyoko," he told her as she smiled and nodded. "I can't wait until the two of you get married and start having children."

"Yashiro-san, please don't say that" Kyoko said as she looked down trying to make sure her face didn't go a darker red. "We haven't discussed having children yet."

"Yet?" Kuon asked with a smile, "You mean there still might be a chance of the two of us having children?" he asked before grinning and Kyoko looked up before being blinded by that smile.

"Kuon Hizuri, I don't think that I can go any redder in the face than the two of you have made me," she said bluntly and Yashiro smiled at that as Kuon laughed. "So with respect, I need to turn my normal skin tone before the interview."

"We still have time," Kuon said as he looked at the clock in the car, "So, may I be the first to say this morning, Kyoko Mogami, that I love you entirely and unconditionally."

Kyoko smiled as she looked down, "You're going to make my face melt," she said teasingly, "but yes, Kuon Hizuri, I love you too."

…..

…..

As the two of them sat opposite the two female talk show hosts awaiting the time when the director would call action, Kuon held Kyoko's hand and brought it to his lips. Kyoko smiled before telling the two other women, "Kuon is really affectionate. He's a great boyfriend," she said as she kissed his cheek. "He's so supportive. Thank you for giving us a chance to be here together to talk about the drama."

"Of course," Rori said as she smoothed down her skirt, "If Naomi and I say any questions that you don't understand then please forgive us."

"I can speak perfect Japanese," Kuon tried to say, "I'm just the same as I was when I was Ren Tsuruga, only changes are the name, my hair color, and my eye color," he tried to tell them as they whispered between them.

"And the fact that you're an American?" Naomi asked as Kuon shrugged.

"I don't think I've ever lied and said I didn't have any foreign blood in my body. I've always been an American, well American-Japanese-Russian," he told them as Kyoko smiled.

"I love each part of him the same," Kyoko told them as she blushed slightly and Kuon pulled her in for a side hug before releasing her when action was called.

As the music played and the camera focused on the two talk show hosts, Kyoko felt her back straighten again and she took a deep breath in.

"Good Morning Everyone," Naomi said with a wide grin, "Welcome to Good Morning Tokyo where we have a special pair of guests today." She said a look with Ruri and the two giggled.

"Yes, we welcome Kuon Hizuri and Kyoko into the studio today," she said as there was a loud round of applause from the studio audience with people yelling 'I love you, Kuon'. "Yes, we're very excited. So, let's start out with a breakfast question," she said as Kuon looked confused and Kyoko smiled playfully at him.

"Kyoko-chan," Naomi said as she leaned in, "How is Kuon's sausage?"

Kyoko paused as she waited for the end of that sentence and Kuon looked at them with confused eyes before pulling back completely knocked off his guard. There was another pause.

"Is it that short?" Rori asked and Kyoko blinked before getting what they were attempting to say.

"Decent sized," she said as Kuon tried not to look at her and figure out how she was able to tell that. "Much better than average."

"Oooh you sound like a playful girl, Kyoko-chan" Naomi giggled.

How do you even know what average size is? Kuon asked as he stared at his girlfriend, still weirded out by how they had started off with that 'breakfast question'. He took a deep breath in and tried to figure out what to say which would move the interview on to the drama in the best way.

"Are American sausages really bigger than Japanese though? It's not like they're German or Polish," Rori mused to herself as Kuon sighed.

"Not to interrupt your discussion about healthy foods," Kuon said with the Ren Tsuruga smile, "but you ladies seem to be very interested in the type of relationship that I have with my girlfriend. Whereas we'd love to discuss the chemistry between us on stage, might I hijack the conversation and tell you why I love my girlfriend so much," he said as people were blinded by his false smile but Kyoko watched him with interest.

"Ye-Yes, that should be okay," Naomi said as she was caught under his magic.

"It's because she brings out the most talented actor in me. It's because when I talk with Kyoko about my dreams and passion for acting, she is there to cheer me on. Despite how much energy I put into my work, I am sometimes critical of it, but Kyoko supports me. Kyoko cares more about my heart and soul than my body, even if I was completely disfigured, I have trust in Kyoko." He looked at them with one of his adorable pouts which caught everyone off guard. "Don't you think you could look at me like that as well, even just a little?"

Kyoko rolled her eyes as memories of Guam entered her mind again, You can just be soooo manipulative, she grinned as the two women paused.

"We're so sorry," they said together.

"Of course, we value as an actor, we'll stop discussing the things about you which don't matter," Naomi said as Rori nodded in agreement.

"Please let us talk about the drama, we got carried away. We really are interested in your work," Rori tried to explain and Kyoko shot Kuon a playful look. "So, can you tell us about your characters?" she asked and Kuon turned to Kyoko.

"Well, I play the main woman, Pandora-san and she's a very professional woman," Kyoko smiled. "She has Kuon's character, Nobira-san, fall in love with her and things get complicated. There's a lot of psychology involved and Kuu-sama is directing the drama very well," Kyoko said. She looked at Kuon unsure why he had said she should speak first. Weren't most people interested in what he had to say?

"As most of you know, The Lake in the Park, is an adaptation of the book which led to the first drama all those years ago. It follows the story of Nobira, a police officer who is investigating some crimes and on the list of suspects is Pandora. It follows a romance and mystery type of storyline and I'm sure that if you enjoy those things, you will enjoy this work."

"And speaking objectively, how is Kuu as a director?" Naomi asked them.

"Well, speaking entirely objectively, he's doing his best to master the craft and you can really see it in the work that he's produced. There is some room for improvement, and I don't think he'll get angry at me for suggesting that, but he's doing very skillful work which I think will gain an audience following. He is also not holding any bias towards either of us. I have asked him to go harder on me if he feels that I'm not performing to his expectations but he says I'm doing well. I hope that the critics will also share that sentiment," Kuon said and Kyoko smiled.

"Kuu-sama cares about everyone involved and that does include the crew members as well. He's doing a lot to bring us together as a team and because everyone knows his professionalism, it's as if we're a family instead of coworkers. Also, from his experience being an actor, he knows what it's like for us actors and can make accommodations easier." Kyoko smiled as she tried to talk Kuu up. She felt that, though they were the lead actors, Kuu's stature should be elevated.

"We are really enjoying working on it and hope the audience will enjoy it too," Kuon grinned.

"So, now that you have a girlfriend that it's obvious you love, are you still willing to work with other actresses in romances?" Rori asked and Kuon smiled.

"He is," Kyoko said as Kuon's eyes widened, he hadn't even had a chance to say a word before she had jumped in. "Kuon is all about professionalism and I trust him with my whole heart. I know that Kuon would never let another woman take advantage of him. Only I get to touch him."

Kuon chuckled before pulling Kyoko to him, he kissed her cheek before whispering in her ear. "I love how protective you are of me. It's adorable," he smiled as Kyoko blushed again. It was true though, she couldn't bear to think of anyone else touching her Kuon for real.

End Chapter Eighteen

AN2: Thank you to everyone who reads and supports this story. Though I am thankful for reviews, even a hit on this story means a lot to me so thank you. However, that being said there is the special shout out to reviewers of Chapter Seventeen: brennakai, Dream Idol, EmmaLasagna, ktoll9, and paulagato