Once a upon another time, there lived a helpless girl.

Echoes of shivering screams,"Come back! Come back," of her wails that only reached deaf ears. Still could be heard to this day. Shrieks and cries for anyone to come please listen. Her parental figures leaving her in the dust. Not even once did they ever turn to look back at the life they were leaving behind. The fleeting image of her caretakers back burned into the back of her mind.

Abandoned by the age of six. Dropped off without a second thought. Left to fend for herself. Alone for the most of her time. Just alone. Very little friends to consider close to.

Building this armor to protect her. She never dared to show weakness when her long nights grew cold. Refusing to cry in front of anyone. Holding on to feating hope that maybe, just maybe one day they will come back. She would often try to find a means of escape from her tragic reality. Countless days with each turning into a tally or a testament of defying the odds.

Till one summer day …

She found a secret deep within a forest. Sunlight simmering off the river's waters. The rushing spring waters hushed her worries and doubts away. The lush green woods shielded her in a private world that only she could ever know. A globe of wonder and a safety blanketed around her. The perfect place to cry your heart out.

Who would have ever imagine magic lived among those beautiful trees.

Glimpses of rich gold peeked through the leaves caught her eye. Certainly it must be a fever dream. Light bouncing off the spring…? She started to move through the crowded trees. Pushing the branched as if they were people in the way. Dirtying up one of her very few dresses. She dodged in-between reaching a clearing as she held her breath. Wonder stuck, she wiped the tears in her eyes. A golden crown of hair. Emeralds jeweled eyes only meeting hers. They twinkled with a kind and welcoming warmth that she had not ever seen before nor after. Tall, lean and sensitive features not fit for a normal human being. He was indeed other worldly. There he stood straight… as a king. So young but so proud and serene. Oh …How she starred. Her heart started to run. Thoughts were going wild. Tugging at her dress; She looked up and then… He smiled.

Echoes of the memory called back,"Are….are a fairy?"

A gust of wind brushed passed Kuon's hair as he rested on the riverside's boulders. A heavy feeling still laying on his chest. His eyes glanced down to the small pebbles beside his foot. Stirring his attention to the them. Kuon steadily picked up one of them. Rolling it in between his gloved fingers for a bit. Clenching it a few times till, finally he tossed it on to the river. The stone skipped a few times before plopping down into the water leaving a ripple behind. Too lost in his own treacherous throughs to pay any mind to the outside world. He picked up another and continued to repeat the cycle of skipping stones. Hoping that he's bitterness and uneasiness will drown with them.

Eyes and mind hazed. Unaware of the small footsteps drawing near. Kuon bent down to grab another stone. Expecting to feel hardness round rock. Only landing his hand on soft, delicate exterior. He snapped his eyes the spot. Acutely aware of the familiar fingertips. Trailing his eyes to find the owner of them. His gaze triangulated around the woman kneeling next to him. She looked a upon his face as if she was holding a secret. Each holding their breath. Kuon glanced over to her clenching hand. Noticing she was holding something close to her chest. Refracted golden light bounced back to pierce his eyes. Squinting, Kuon pulled back his hand.

Kyoko swallowed her words. Her heart was beating wildly. She tightened her grip around her treasure. Corn wanted her here it seemed. Why else would Corn fall at her feet? It was calling her; telling her where to go. The puzzle pieces were all together. She just needed to decipher what Corn was trying to tell her. Flashes came and went as they pleased. Of gold and emerald crossing her mind landing on Tsuruga's face. She bit her dry lip. Kyoko continued to reach for a nearby river rock. Imitating the man beside her, she tossed the stone watching it skirt in the water. Bouncing once, maybe twice before plopping into the water. Disappointment fell on her face as Kuon scoffed at her misfortune. Glancing down at his hands, Kuon took off his gloves. Placing the black leather near him by the boulders. He grabbed another stone and skirted in across the river five times before it lost momentum and sunk. Kuon heard her mutter, "Show off." As she sat beside him on ground Kyoko clenched her knees.

She came here for answers. So far she only found more mysteries. And if she was honest with herself... She had forgotten even how to portray her new persona, Rey. And it was all because of this man sitting right beside her. Him being here, with the castle and those 'wise' words that their director spoke of. It made her heart and her mask freeze. Unable to complete the scene. Everything left a bitter taste of self loathing in her mouth.

A silent tension came between them. The sound of the rushing river's waters filled the void. Finally one of them caved, Kuon reached down from to grab a few stones. Arranging them to simply say, "Sorry." Ren's jaw tightened as Kyoko read the message. After a few moments passed he finally got the courage to find his voice,"…If it was something I did to make you feel uncomfortable. I deeply regret it." Kyoko looked up at him in shock. Was he taking the blame for her own foolishness. It was her stupid fears that kept on getting in the way, "It is not you," Kyoko admitted. "If I am being honest here... It's just that I got nervous." She replayed the days events in her mind. "I failed as a professional and got my own feeling mixed up in the scene," She shifted her whole body to face him. He was expecting her to (even though it was unwanted or needed) gravel at his feet for forgiveness like the many times before. Instead Kuon received woeful golden doe eyes peering back into his. His heart sank with a mixture of emotions, body arching downward to level with the young woman. "Kyoko," he noticed her amazement in her face. He wasn't quite sure it that was positive or negative yet but let his voice wear her name. "Whatever you are feeling. No matter the problem. Kyoko, I want to help you too." Kuon felt like he was letting himself be vulnerable in away he never wanted to before.

She held no comment for quite sometime. Slowly realization crept in her mind. 'Kyoko,' her face flashed countless shades of red. Heat rushed to her face. Her heart flinched with some sort of punishment. Excitement and fear swelled up in her. Kyoko's heart couldn't stand it. They both knew what he said but he wasn't backing down from it. Tsuruga stared at her daringly in the face. He opened his mouth, daring to say it again, "Kyoko. You are always there for me. Please, let me be always there for you." She darted her eyes away from the man right in front of her. Focusing her sights on her now illuminated golden stone.

Ren's eyes followed her gaze to find a cordierite stone in her tight grasp. He knew full well of that powerful stone. He watched her open her palm tracing the gorgeous stone with her finger tips tentatively. Kuon tired to figure out what was crossing her mind at this moment. Ren analyzed her for a moment longer. Taking in her every move.

Kyoko glanced over back at the rearranged river stones and a memory called back to her. One form Guam, 'Are you Kyoko-can?' Written in the sand. Scrunching her brows together in thought.

Anxiously, Kuon still questioned what was going through her mind.

Kyoko took a deep breath. Calming her erratic heart beat. She steadied her breath. Summoning someone she knew that was inside of her all along but was refusing to be called upon, "I truly appreciate that," her face softened. "And you,... Ren."

The sky laminated an orange gold while the sun was setting. Magic hour had begun.

A bright smile crossed both of their faces. Both thanking a divine being for allowing the shades of red blend with the sunset. Already pushing his luck, Kuon didn't risk dare to follow any of his other urges that was screaming to be acted out on. Nope— Won't dare to comply with the urge to embrace. Wont dare to caress or even kiss her senselessly till they both passed out from exhaustion.

Kuon already was getting a victory. He stood from the ground and offered his hand. Her sights fixated on the open palm. The breeze brushing her cheeks. She knew taking this hand meant a world of trouble in the future.

Princess Rey please allow me to use your strength and courage with this cursed prince. Kyoko graciously accepted his offered hand and lifted herself off the ground. God knows I am going to need it with him.

When they reach back to the set the director pulled the actress aside, "Miss Mogami, do you think you will be alright to do one more castle scene for today?" He was preparing for an unsure answer when her eyes sparked black up eagerly. Nodding furiously, "Yes! Of course!" Giddy to be inside her wonderland again.

Kuon watched from the distance as Kyoko seemed to regain her confidence. The head make up artist guided his love interest back to her trailer to touch Kyoko up. Ren watched from offset the talk with Maz. "The belonging that you seek is not behind you,… It's a head," rang through Ren's ears. For the first time in years Kuon felt the budding of hope.

The following day, Kyoko performed that troubled carrying scene in one take. Leaving Ren to go back into the states alone to finish studio work.

Boarding the plane, luggage in tow a Golden blonde, emerald eye twenty one year reached into his denim jacket pocket to retrieve his pass port and ticket. "You are in section 3b Mr. Hizuri. Please enjoy your flight," the flight attendant allowed them access onto the plane. A soft small crossed his face thanking the person and finding his seat. Once seated Kuon checked his cell one last time. Unaware of the shining smile glistening at an unread message from Kyoko.

End of Ch 16


A/n: Thank you for being patient with me! I know my updates could be slow sometimes. This chapter was actually a tough one to write. But I hope you like it and think it's sweet like I do. Thank you for taking your time out of your life to read this. I appreciate it so much!

Edit (8/20/18 again): I fixed some of the writing around. Maybe this will (hopefully) make me feel better about this chapter. If there is any errors that I missed please let me know. Any questions or things that was made unclear too. I am totally open for discussion! Thanks one more time! x3