AN: I do have to agree with a lot of what some reviewers said about the last title not being the best chapter title 😊 I hope that you guys are still enjoying it though. I also want to thank you guys for your patience whilst I'm trying to figure things out in my life
Chapter Twenty Two - Jealousy
Moving day. Even when it was just a relocation a short distance away or even if it was just moving one of your possessions of yours, say a bookcase of a computer, to an entirely new space, moving made you think about the possibilities and what could happen in the future. Moving in with someone was scary as well, not only could you think of your future but you could think of the future with that person but you could also think that if this didn't work out, you'd be stranded.
Kyoko was trying to keep her thoughts from carelessly running around in her head but the idea of living with a man for the second time in her life was giving her chills. She had thought when she and Sho had first been living together that they had been happy. She had woken up very early in the morning to provide food for him, she had worked herself past the point of exhaustion numerous times to pay for the apartment building, she had kept his secrets of pudding and comedy show addictions to herself.
He had still left.
He had still opened Pandora's box and now her initial thoughts of being unconditionally attracted to Kuon were leaving her stumped. She did have conditions for their relationship but it was as if what she could never forgive was locked inside of a safe that was coated with fiberglass. She didn't believe that this relationship would be like that.
"You pack light," Kuon said with a laugh as he put the final box on the ground without Kyoko noticing. She looked around to find that whilst she had been thinking about moving in, he had actually been doing the work. Well, him and Yashiro since they needed someone to stand by the car and make sure none of the boxes got taken.
Kyoko smiled as she turned to her boyfriend, "It's not like you have a lot of things here," she told him and Kuon rubbed the back of his neck as he looked around. She was right. Relative to the size of his apart- their apartment he really didn't have that many possessions.
"We might just have to go shopping together," Kuon sighed as he looked up and then grinned to her. Kyoko looked at him and then looked away as she started to laugh, covering her mouth with her hand.
"I hope that my sunglasses were in one of those boxes," she told him, "I'm going to need them if we're going to be living together."
"If they're not then I'll buy you some," Kuon replied quickly and Kyoko walked over to him.
"No, no I'll buy the glasses, and I'll…" she smiled up at him as he pulled her into his chest.
"Anything that you might need, let me know and I'll take care of it," Kuon told her as Kyoko bit her top lip not to argue with him and to try not to inconvenience him. She nodded, taking a moment to inhale his natural smell. She really was looking forward to being with him all the time. She just didn't want all of her hopes to be invested in this relationship, she should be thinking about how she could grow and improve as an actress.
She was about to speak when she heard another voice at the doorway and her back straightened as she turned his way. "Yashiro-san," she said before bowing quickly, "Thank you so much for helping with the…with the boxes. I'm so sorry that I wasn't more of a help. Please accept my gratitude. I am in your debt, whenever you have a pro-"
"It was Kuon who moved all the boxes," Yashiro told her, "Oh, I heard about the offer from Sawara-san, what do you think you'll do with…"
"Offer?" Kuon asked as he looked at her and Kyoko blushed. She really had meant to tell him but she was a little uncomfortable given one of the scenes. She had been offered a leading role in a drama but there were a few steamier scenes which required her to have partial nudity. In the past she would have never considered anything like that She always felt that she should be an upstanding, reserved, Japanese woman but the role had gained a lot of press already and the exposure was only a tiny part of it.
"I….well…everyone's so excited about The Lake in the Park," Kyoko said as she looked away, "and there was some leaked footage of my work as Pandora and they asked me if I wanted to play the lead in the drama, Silk Moon. They said that they were interested in me and two other actresses so they haven't made their decision just yet, I was just waiting for the best time to tell you."
Kuon looked at her before nodding slowly, "That would mean that…."
"It means I'd have to do a scene without wearing a shirt," Kyoko said as she turned a bright red. She had been told by Kuu that many roles in acting would include things that she wasn't looking forward to. She had heard the story of a young male actor playing an old woman and had heard that she might even have to kiss another actress one day, but she hadn't expected this. She didn't know how Kuon would be if she acted like that across from anyone else.
"Are you comfortable with that?" Kuon asked her with a strained smile.
"I want to be. I want to prove that I'm a good actress, that I'm good enough to be with an actor like you. I don't consider myself near your level yet though so it's probably going to take a lot of work until I can stand beside you," she said with passion in her eyes and Kuon sighed. He pulled her into his arms.
"If it's something that you want to do," he told her, "then I'm going to be supportive. I will even practice with you in the role. Don't forget about the role that we're doing this time though. We have to play a couple where I am completely in love with you and you betray me."
Kyoko laughed at that before getting up on her toes and kissing his cheek. "We don't need to practice for that because I'm not the kind of person who would betray you."
"I know, don't worry I'm sure that the scenes will be easier to shoot then you think, that is if you get the role," he winked and Kyoko's back straightened again.
She really did want this role because it was told that it would be broadcast on some Asian-focused networks in both North America and in Europe. She would need people in those countries to witness her talents so that she could help Kuon with his dream of working in America and living near where he had been brought up.
"I'll do my best," she said and Kuon nodded, his eyes showing her how much he loved her.
…
…
Lory, this day dressed like an astronaut without the space helmet, was looking at Kuon with a bored expression on his face. He could tell what the secret motives were behind any of the actor's requests but this one was too boring for him to want to play along with. He had a feeling that this would happen and his prediction was spot on. That was why he had put together all the information he had about who would be playing Kyoko's love interest if she got the role. That was what he needed for this love idiot in front of him.
"You want to audition for this role? You haven't auditioned for a while, Kuon," Lory asked and looked at him. "If Yashiro phones them, tells them you're interested then they'll cast you in the part. Everybody knows your level of acting and your work ethic."
"Which is why if I audition for a role they won't know until the part has been cast," Kuon told him and then looked down, "I want to create another persona, have that person act opposite Kyoko. I don't want people to think that she only got the role because she's my girlfriend but I don't want to have her that way in front of any other guy. Who knows how they'll affect Kyoko."
"And you're saying that you want to create another personality so that you won't have to show how jealous and unstable you can be," Lory attempted to reason with him. He looked down and then shook his head, "Do you want my advice, Kuon?"
"Do I have to do anything to get it?" Kuon sighed as he looked at his hand. It was only Kyoko who could make him feel like this. He couldn't imagine getting this jealous over any other woman. Was it just her naivety that he was afraid of or was he actually wondering if he could compete with another man in her life or was this another side of love that he hadn't realized he'd developed.
"Not this time, this time it's free," Lory said as he leaned forwards, "Let another actor take this role. If you want roles, Yashiro can hunt down roles for you. You have more talent than anyone in this agency and I will make that bet as many times as I need to. I admire Kyoko-san's acting skills and her passion but you know that you could have acted in America for a few years now. Let her have this to herself and support her in it. You never know, a little jealousy might even be good for your relationship."
Kuon sighed and then nodded, "I suppose you're right but if she gets hurt after this."
"You'd be hunting me down either way," Lory replied. "I'm not going to let one of my top female actors go out and get hurt. There are multiple legal forms that we have all of our stars sign including her. Now, how about you think more on promoting this movie for your father and I've got my own little assignment for you."
"Might I remind you that I'm not dressed in hot pink," Kuon asked with a raised eyebrow and Lory laughed again.
"Might I remind you that I happen to be president of this agency, Kuon," Lory said as Kuon felt a cold chill down the back of his spine. He didn't know what was about to happen next but he did know that he wasn't exactly looking forward to whatever it was that was coming.
…..
…
Kyoko had tried to think of what was the best meal that she could prepare for Kuon. After going through a list in her head, she had decided on salad and soup. She could make both meals light and easy on the stomach and it would be the first of hopefully many times that she would prepare a meal for Kuon whilst waiting for him to get home.
She heard the card key swipe in the lock and turned down the heat on the stovetop. She rushed out with a huge grin, "Welcome home," she said before pausing and looked at an American girl a few inches taller than her and what Kyoko considered much more beautiful. She actually looked like an American version of the girl that Kijima had dressed her to be.
"Hi," the girl spoke in flawless Japanese, "I'm Alisa."
End of Chapter Twenty Two
Thank you for reading
So, on another one of my fics, I was told how people like to get personal replies and I love giving them so I hope you can allow me the thrill of doing so.
So, with that being said, thank you to those who reviewed Chapter Twenty One
Brennakai: Women with negative emotions can often make things hard on couples but Kyoko still truly loves Kuon
Blue Sky of Love: Hope that I didn't disappoint
Erza: You're right, I didn't phrase it right but she does really really love him 😉
Guest: Glad that you liked it 😊
MWEH: Yep 😊 big step
Timeless Existentialism: I should have thought of that 😉 Nope, only with magic is healing instantaneous
Undertheskys: Neither do I 😉 she definitely loves Kuon enough to want to be in bed with him