Chapter 11

Being somewhat of a vampire prince, not really but he did think of himself as one, he was the one to be admired, loved and often feared. However, this was just not the case as he stood frozen in the little clearing that he'd followed her into, where she was talking to that freak of nature Reino. He wanted to know what she was talking about with his enemy. Wasn't it enough that she was working with Tsuruga? She had to cavort with Reino too? Another freak like her, and Tsuruga, that chose to hide what they were?

He most certainly didn't expect the oppressive aura of the general area and the wave of heat that came rushing towards him. He then opened his eyes and saw it. The armor-clad, winged female, with a skeletal helm, claw-like hands and feet, flowing white hair, four enormous wings covered in blade-like feathers, a brutal whip-like tail, and glowing golden eyes, with an elegant crown of horns like those he had once seen on Kyoko.

Sho was speechless, but Reino was not. He was awestruck. "Princess, you are magnificent!" He smiled euphorically.

She hovered before them both, severely irritated that it had come to this. That she'd completely lost her control. She couldn't help, but think that Takarada-san and Uesugi-dono were going to be very disappointed in her.

"It's a pity you're already betrothed." He sighed out. "Uncle didn't warn me about that. He only implied that there was an interest."

She and Sho both, looked at him in shock. She was speechless, but Sho managed to voice his opinion on the matter. "Pfft. What a load of crap. No one in their right mind would want to marry that. She's a freak! Just look at her." He scoffed arrogantly.

Just as she was about to retort with anger, Reino did so for her. "Not for something as lowly as you are Fuwa." Reino laughed. "A being, such as the Princess, is far beyond your grasp. I suggest that you leave her alone, for your own safety. Her mother and father would not be pleased with such a lacking suitor as yourself. She is far more deserving of her nobility than a lowly vampire such as you."

Kyoko was stunned. She didn't have a mother or a father, and she had been told all her life that she was unworthy of Sho or anyone like him. What did Reino know that she didn't? She brushed off the conversation between the two and decided to leave them both. She decided that Reino was a little touched in the head, and Sho was just being an annoying ass. Perhaps Reino was telling him these things just to piss him off. It wouldn't be the first time one of Sho's rivals spewed nonsense just to try to piss him off, and make him feel inferior. Not that she was going to complain about it this time. She honestly really didn't care about the little rivalry the pair had.

She alit immediately when she heard the rustle of leaves in the distance. Someone was approaching, and she definitely didn't want them seeing her like this. This was her secret, and it wasn't like anyone would believe either of the idiots if they'd said anything. She'd never displayed this final form to anyone other than her boss and her Sensei. Shoot, my dress is damaged. She frowned as she felt Director Ogata's approach.

"Kyoko-san? Are you okay?" The frail director asked worriedly, and short of breath when he noticed her ripped costume.

She nodded quietly, trying to think of a way to fix this mess that the two idiots pulled her into, and her own loss of control over the situation. "I'm fine Ogata-san. Unfortunately, I was dragged into the rivalry of these two. Could we please go back to the set. I'm deeply sorry that I've held up filming."

Hiroaki just nodded. If she wasn't willing to expand on the situation, he wasn't going to push her. It seemed as though the two singers were harassing Kyoko. Fuwa-san had been making his presence known on the set for days. Hiroaki wasn't aware that he was an unwanted visitor until now. "I'll let security know that they aren't welcome on the set."

"Thank you, I really appreciate your help in this. I'm sorry I've been so much trouble." She apologized once again. She hated having this kind of attention brought to her, and she could hardly wait until everything got straightened out. She could barely wait until she could talk to Tsuruga-san again. He always had the knack for calming her.

Finally he was all caught up with his testing, and the training that Uesugi-dono had given him. He still had more to study, but at least he was at the level he felt he should be at. Maybe a little beyond that. He was stunned and amazed at the changes his body had gone through, and was thankful for the spells that Sensei had taught him to conceal his appearance. Using them was far less painful than the ones he'd been forcing on himself since he was sixteen.

He no longer had the ringing in his ears, his sight was no longer blurred from the contact lenses he was forcing himself to wear, and his scalp stopped itching from the dye he'd been using. He no longer felt the burning sensation on his back from hiding his wings, the concealment of his tail no longer felt like he had a hot spike shoved through his spine, and the headaches from hiding the adornment of his horns had abated completely. This was infinitely better. He just needed to be more careful controlling his temper and needed to be more mindful of his persona's appearance. He didn't need everyone seeing him slip into Kuon when he was relaxed.

He turned on his phone and noticed several missed calls, mostly from Yukihito. He had sent him ahead to keep watch on what was going on, on set. He sounded worried when the messages came through. What exactly had happened when he wasn't there? Had something happened to Kyoko? He hoped not. He wanted to finish up his training to be at her level, but he didn't want her to be in danger because of his absence. He wanted to be there for her.

"Did she now?" Lory mused over the phone to his nephew.

Reino smiled into the phone. "She was exquisite, Uncle. I've never seen anything like her before."

"Reino, she's been promised. I sincerely hope that you remember that not-so-small fact. Her parents would not be pleased to have to break such an arrangement." Lory reminded him.

Reino sighed. "I may not be on the level that she is, but I am still of the same class that she is. I'm certain that if I asked father, he would be more that happy to submit my proposal to the Emperor and the Empress."

"Be that as it may, you will have to discuss it in depth with him. I'm certain that he already has other plans for your position in the scheme of things. You will have to contact him yourself and make the proposal. I will not interfere with what has already been arranged, regardless of my familial connection to you." Lory informed him. "She is betrothed to your cousin. Are you certain you want to compete with him for her?" He asked.

Reino winced. "I believe that decision is entirely up to her." He commented blithely. "If she chooses him, I will step back."

Lory smiled into the phone. "Very well. Good luck. It would be nice to have her in our little family completely." It was times like this that Lory was exceedingly thankful that he'd been adopted when he was a small child. The guarded knowledge of the royal families was so much more interesting than that of the usual denizens of their little world. However, he seriously doubted that Reino could withstand a duel with Kuon. He was equally as gifted as Kyoko.