Chapter 10

She groaned internally. Reino was definitely not someone she wanted following her around constantly and Sho, even less. One was a confirmed weirdo that would not stop calling her "Princess", and the other was an ass that wanted to remind her that she was less than dirt to him. One extreme to another. She just wanted a nice balanced happy medium. Was that too much to ask for? Well, at least she could enjoy her surroundings. She always loved being close to nature. It calmed her mind and made her think of beautiful streams, forests and lovely gardens.

There had been a small clearing behind the Fuwa Ryokan that she used to play alone in, but it had been so long since she'd been there, she'd almost forgotten what it had even looked like. Then there had been the faded memory of a grand, elaborate garden that seemed to go on for miles, with little ponds filled with fish, flowers that she'd never seen before, trees that were as tall as some of the buildings in downtown New Tokyo, and the most exotic birds she'd ever seen in her life.

Maybe I'll spend a little time exploring later. She thought as the makeup artist applied the scar on her temple for Mio. What she truly wanted, was to go to that garden in her fantasy and stay there forever, alas that would not happen without her closing her eyes and dreaming of it.

Momose Itsumi gasped a little when she entered the small trailer to have her makeup done. Kyoko's runes were exposed and she looked so completely serene. "Wow Kyoko-chan, I've never seen so many beautiful runes before." She commented in shocked amazement and watched the little "elf" blush brightly.

"Please don't tell anyone." She asked. She didn't want to draw attention to herself in such a way. She wanted to be seen for her talents. Her markings were her own private little achievement.

Itsumi nodded. "I won't say anything." She smiled. I wonder if she's an Elite. Surely they're the only ones that would have that many. She thought as she glanced at her co-worker and acquaintance.

He only had a few free days for this segment of the test. Seven to be exact. The same amount that Kyoko had been allotted for it. The training for this segment was what had drastically changed his life. He certainly understood that it was necessary and he was now seeing the horrific mistakes that had been made. The epiphany didn't make the reality any less damaging. Rick had still died protecting him in a situation he had no business being in. The proctor of the exam would still have pulled him out, as he did and he wondered what would have happened had he been present for Kyoko's trials. Would he have reacted as Rick did? Would they have allowed him to? He really didn't think so anymore.

They had changed the rules because of that incident. Parents and protectors were now only optional observers. Uesugi-dono had made it clear that his overprotective parents would be forbidden to witness his trials and Yashiro would be sent ahead to watch over Kyoko in Karuizawa, while he spent the week releasing the being within, named Kuon. It was something he wasn't certain he was comfortable with.

A sharp pain raced down his legs and another piece of the black chitinous armor formed as the make-shift pieces fell away in the darkness of the small cave he'd settled into for the night.

It was the perfect vantage to stay aware of his surroundings, and protect. The blue flame of his cooking-fire wouldn't be seen and there was only one opening to the small cave. When he had found it, he'd been more than a little surprised by the bits of clothing that appeared to be torn into bandages, the pair of damaged, pink, feminine sneakers, and a knife that had been sharpened and shaped from a dragon's tooth.

He'd wondered if this had been her little sanctuary and if it was, how fierce did she have to be to rip the tooth from a dragon's mouth? There were none around that were dead, that he could find. Although, he had noticed one that eyed him a bit warily, as if it had encountered a powerful humanoid before, judging by its avoidance of him. He smirked and chuckled quietly at the thought of the small waif of a female subduing the large beast, and ripping a tooth from its great maw. The implications were staggering. He internally made note to never piss her off again. He certainly didn't wish to be on the receiving end of that kind of ire. Fuwa should be very careful in the future around her. He thought as he shook his head. She could easily erase his existence. He quietly chuckled as he weaved a curtain of shadow to conceal the opening to his den. A couple of more days and he would be finished, if Uesugi-dono didn't pull him early. He would then be on his way to do his scenes in Karuizawa with Kyoko and the rest of the cast of Dark Moon.

If it weren't one thing, it was another. The two idiots were now seriously wearing her patience to the nub. When Reino wasn't being his usually sycophantic self, Sho was on the opposite end of the spectrum, bringing her to the brink of her self-control with his arrogant asinine attitude. There had been many times she was tempted to spread her wings and make a break for the training grounds close by, to slice up a few Sho-gols. Although, slicing through the real thing was steadily becoming more of an appealing thought than it had been in recent weeks.

"Are you and Fuwa-san close?" Itsumi asked innocently and immediately noticed a dark void forming around the individual that she'd sincerely thought was an elf, like her. She shivered at the revelation and wondered exactly who her friend really was. She had heard as a child about those of her kind with those sorts of dark talents, but had never dreamed she'd actually meet one. Perhaps her friend was a daughter of one of the elite, maybe royalty? "S-Sorry Kyoko-chan. I didn't mean to upset you." She told her, and the darkness ebbed away.

Kyoko blushed then slightly panicked. She sighed inwardly. I did it again. She groaned. "It's okay Momose-san. He's just an annoyance. We grew up together, but that's as far as it goes." She wasn't about to reveal that he thought of her as a servant her entire life or that she was an orphan. She was trying to step away from all of that and didn't want pity for it.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize." Itsumi apologized, vowing not to broach the obviously sensitive subject again, not when it elicited that response from her friend, who was quite possibly one of those legendary Dark Elves that could rip out your soul with a single brush of their fingers. Yes, better to leave that subject alone. She thought as the hairdresser quietly continued to style her hair.

"It's fine, he doesn't bother me as much as he used to. Why do you ask?" Kyoko was trying to stay as still as possible so the SFX artist could apply Mio's scar.

Itsumi winced a little, not wanting to experience that oppressive dark aura again. "Well, it's just that he's been waiting for you in the break area." She had a little bit of a worried whine to her voice when she said it.

Kyoko sighed in resignation. She rolled her eyes. "I suppose I should send him on his way, so no one gets the wrong impression again. I really hate dealing with him. He can be such a annoying child." Kyoko grumbled.

"Kyoko-san, all finished. You only have your costume left." The makeup girl told her, while removing the protective cape from her.

"Thank you." She sighed and ducked behind the changing screen to finish getting ready for the day. She really didn't want to deal with him and his venom spewing mouth right now. Her morning had been going so well and Ren would be there later in the day. She absolutely refused to allow him to pull her true form from her. She wasn't ashamed anymore, by any stretch of the imagination, but it was not something she wished to reveal or share with that parasite.