Chapter 32

After a good night's rest, things didn't seem as dismal as before, for any of the parties involved. It wouldn't be a situation where the younger couple just jetted off and flung themselves into the arms of the older couple, forgiving everything. It would take time to get to that point. Not as much as one would think, but it certainly wouldn't take the six long years that Kuon took initially. He had someone with him to navigate the arduous path, and Juli was more aware of the circumstances this time.

She'd never really thought of Lory as an ally in all of this until now. Thinking of everything her son had been through over the years, without killing himself with drugs and alcohol, she supposed that her family was really fortunate to have Lory as a family friend. Last night had washed away all of those hard feelings she'd had of him taking her baby from her. One could say that she was partially a new woman, and as Lory had said to Kuon: Rome wasn't built in a day. Juli would need time to adjust; Kuu would need time to cool the anger that still nibbled at him caused by the new information, Juli, and her family; Kuon would need time to accept that his parents would always see him as their little boy and would have difficulties accepting that he wasn't that lost little teen anymore, and Kyoko would need a tiny bit of time to adjust to the problems that a woman in love with a man that had a very possessive mother would have. Not that she could ever relate to something like that in the first place, at least until she had her own children. Which probably wouldn't happen for a very long time, if ever.

Kuon chuckled at Kyoko's shock when they arrived at their intended destination. The place where they would be staying wasn't as extravagant as she had expected from Lory. Kuon was familiar with the place. He had stayed there for a couple of nights before his initial trip to Japan and his change to Ren Tsuruga, so he absolutely knew about the uncommonly normal abode.

It was a nice little well-kept home, similar in size to his apartment in Tokyo. The only difference being was that it was a house with a front and back yard, a two car garage, and a gated security system in a relatively quite neighborhood. There was a little grocery store a couple of blocks away, a park at the end of the cul-de-sac, and a little church just past the grocery store. It was shockingly not Lory.

"Yashiro-sama and I will be staying at an apartment complex in the city. Takarada-sama asked me to inform you that the kitchen has been fully stocked and the keys to your transportation are included in this envelope with your house keys, along with the code for the security system." He turned to Kuon. "The system is identical to the system at your apartment complex."

Kuon nodded as he took the manila envelope from Ruto. "Thank you. Would you like to stay for a little while?"

Ruto shook his head. "I have my own arrangements. I'm only here to make sure that you and the miss are settled in properly." He told him, helping to carry their luggage to the door.

"Thank you, Ruto-san." Kyoko smiled, still a little overwhelmed by the past couple of days.

It was still before noon and they were finally settled in. The pair had eaten breakfast at the hotel before they had been picked up. All of their belongings were in their appropriate places and the pair were now enjoying a nice quiet mid-day in the backyard while studying their scripts.

Kuon glanced at Kyoko and lay his own script in his lap. "So… Cedric is going to be your lead?" She could hear the concern in his voice.

She snorted a little half-chuckle, remembering the day before, then nodded. "If the casting director and producers decide to keep him." They didn't tell her exactly what they thought of him the day before, but they had implied that his position in the film was tentative after his mediocre performance with his other co-stars.

Kuon turned and gave her a confused look. "Why is that?" He asked out of curiosity. He was sure that with Cedric's familial background, no one would be bold enough to just drop him.

She sat up in her chair and lay her reading material in her lap. "Well… I may have used one of the techniques that I picked up from you on him." She told him a little sheepishly.

His brow furrowed and he shook his head. "What technique would that be?" He honestly didn't know what she was talking about. Everything that he did just came naturally. He honestly had no intention of ever being a "co-star killer".

She nibbled her lower lip, hoping that he wouldn't take offense. "I forced him through the part, and they said that his chemistry with me seemed better than the others we would be working with."

"Well, that's good isn't it? It means they're going to keep you for your part as the main female lead, right?" He asked, maybe a little worried that her part in the film hadn't been as secure as they initially believed.

She nodded emphatically. "Oh! Yes, they definitely want to keep me for Mary… It's just, they aren't too sure about Bennett-san anymore. They said that I portrayed her wonderfully and were looking forward to the new Mary…" She paused. "I was a little worried about it at first, but once I thought about everything, I don't really care if he keeps the part or not." She had an evil little smirk on her lips with that statement.

Kuon's eyes narrowed. "What did he do to you?" He ground out.

She squeaked a little. "Don't be angry Kuon, he didn't do anything that I couldn't take care of myself." She sighed as his look got darker. "He didn't touch me, Kuon. If that's what you're thinking. He only said something the irritated me."

Kuon frowned, recalling how venomous Cedric could be. "What did he say?"

She snorted with a smirk. "He expressed his opinion that I would be perfect for the part because I didn't seem so Asian." She laughed and now Kuon was scowling. "I said thank you and basically told him that I was impressed that someone so out of shape, that got by on his family's graces, was able to hold on for so long."

Thankfully Kuon hadn't been drinking anything or he would have choked to death. He enjoyed the laugh she was able to provide him with. He stood up, leaned down and kissed her. "Just be careful around him. Okay?" He stroked her hair.

She nodded. "Okay."

"Do you know where they're staying?" She asked a little worried. She didn't want for them to run back to Japan before she had the chance to make it up to Kuon.

Kuu nodded. "I have a hunch. Why?"

Juli pouted a little. "Did it ever occur to you that I might want to apologize?"

Kuu cocked a brow. "Not really. Juli, I know how you are. You're stubborn. You may be sorry for treating Kyoko-chan like that, but you have ulterior motives. I can easily see her as our future daughter-in-law, and if you do something like this half-assed, you are going to make him even more angry than when he ran out with her."

She plopped roughly on the sofa with arms crossed and a pout. "Fine..." She sighed out. "I won't argue any more on that point. You've been right before and you're probably right now." She begrudgingly admitted.

Kuu gasped and held onto his chest. "OH MY GOD! Dial 911! I think I just died. My wife admitted that I was right about something!" He bellowed melodramatically, before she smacked his arm.