Chapter 9

The sai she were using were dripping with the blue glow of being infused with ice, freezing everything they touched as she carved through the training golems and shattered them. Her shuriken burst into flames as they sliced through the air to their targets and she danced gracefully around the training area like a goddess of death.

Kotetsu glanced at Lory as they watched her train on the monitor. "What happened today? Why is she so angry?"

Lory's brow furrowed and he sighed. "You saw the cut on her face... Correct?"

Kotetsu nodded.

"The young man that she grew up with did that. My nephew informed me that the little barbarian hit her." Lory groaned.

"What?! Why isn't anything being done about it? Why haven't I heard anything about this?" Kotetsu ranted and the teacup on the counter rattled.

Lory placed his hand on his old friend's shoulder and shook his head. "She wants to deal with him in her own way. I helped her knock him down a few pegs not too long ago, but I'm not really sure it did anything as far as teaching him a little humility. She used a pseudonym while doing it. I think she's going to have to be more obvious in putting him in his place, and if I tell her parents they will annihilate him and his family on the spot, I'm almost certain of it. It would do her no good. Not for the lifetime of pain he's put her through." Lory sighed again and took a drink of his tea. "Kotetsu, the boy used her as a slave... Literally... and he makes it a point to let her know every time he sees her. It appears that he goes out of his way to goad her when he's in the same building and she won't allow me or anyone else to step in." He chuckled, remembering the dressing down she gave Reino for pulling her out of the TV station, and shook his head.

Kotetsu looked at the monitor pensively and sighed. "Well, I suppose we will just need to step back and allow her to do as she sees fit. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to allow her extra access to the training rooms every now and then." He smirked at Lory, pressed a button on the console and a training golem that was enchanted to appear as a living being entered the room. He pressed a blue button and murmured "Fuwa Sho..." and grinned at Lory.

Lory chuckled and shook his head. "You old dog." He rolled his eyes and took another drink as they watched her take the golem apart little by little, and in such a painstakingly sadistic way.

He had suspected that she was hiding something from him. She claimed that the cut on her face, along with the bruise was something of her own doing, but to him it appeared as though someone had hit her. He'd seen injuries like that before and she was acting skittish about it when he asked. He decided to let it be for now. It wouldn't do any good to ask her anyway, she would only lie about it.

She didn't need to know, later on when they finally met on the set, that he had listened in on the little conversation that she had with that ass, who was trying to get on her good side. He thought it might be interesting to see where she would decide to take the matter. Although, he really wanted his own pound of flesh from the vermin. Would it really be so bad to remove a little of his soul? Just a bit to scare him? Kuon shook his head. At the moment, this was her battle and he didn't want to stand in her way. He now had an almost full understanding on her desire for vengeance, and most certainly agreed with it. No matter how things went, Fuwa Sho was not going to escape unscathed.

He sat, practicing on the portable keyboard for his scenes, and pondering a few truths. Perhaps I should ask Uncle Lory if it would be okay for me to continue my training and trials. I don't want to be unable to help her if something like that has the potential to happen again. She needs protection and she was obviously caught off-guard with the little parasite. He thought deeply and with that, he made the decision to pick up where he had left off so many years ago when Rick had suffered his untimely demise.

"Is everything okay, Tsuruga-san?" He heard the sweet voice of the girl he was unable to resist falling for.

He glanced up at her and smiled softly, then nodded. "I'm fine." He rolled up the keyboard. "It's almost time. Shall we?"

She sighed in relief that he wasn't going to ask her about Sho or his little visit. She smiled brightly. "Of course." She took the keyboard from him. "I'll make sure this is put away."

He watched as she lay the instrument on the shelf and wondered if she was concealing her appearance or if she had actually cut her long hair and caked on the makeup to hide her markings. He wondered if it would be too much to ask. "Did you cut your hair?"

She smiled and giggled, when she turned back to him. "No. It's something that Uesugi-dono taught me last time."

He chuckled as they left the room. "I suppose that could come in quite handy."

She nodded. "Right now, I can only change my hair and hide my markings. He said that it was for the best to hide them. He said I should for my safety." She made a cute little frown. "I really don't understand though, but if he says so, I guess I should. He's been right so far."

Kuon nodded in agreement. "Uesugi-dono is a very wise man. It's very good that you listen to his advice." He commented.

She looked at him a little surprised. "Tsuruga-san? Do you know him?"

He gave her a genuine smile. "You could say that." Yes, he was definitely going to pick up his training again.

Lory looked at Kuon with surprise. His request was not something he had expected. Unexpected definitely, but he certainly wasn't going to deny his request. He'd been waiting for years for the boy to pull out of his self-made shell and jump back into life. What had caused him to make this decision? The thought of the acting test he imposed on Kuon during the first week of Dark Moon flashed in his memory. Ah, it must be her. He groaned a little inwardly. Why does he always have to make things worse before making them better? Lory knew the boy was going to have a difficult time wooing the little princess. Especially after how he'd treated her in the beginning. He was definitely going to make it a point to be around when Kuon decided to explain to her the nature of that little blue stone she was so fond of. He chuckled inwardly at that particular thought.

He shook his head once again and made the call to Uesugi Kotetsu. It was time to get the ball rolling once again. One of his favorite little birds needed to flex their wings and finally learn to fly. The boy had some serious catching up to do, if he wanted to be on the level that Kyoko was quickly surpassing.