Chapter 14

When Tsuruga Ren asked him to wait for her and give her a chance, he never dreamed that the results would be so completely astounding. As he watched her portrayal of Mio, he felt faint, his knees felt weak and it felt like his blood was boiling in his veins. She was, for lack of a better word, perfect. The raw talent she possessed was mind blowing and he was the director that had the privilege of discovering her. One day, he could proudly say, 'Yes... She was my Mio'.

"Thank you Tsuruga-san. Thank you for talking me into giving her a chance." He told him.

Ren chuckled. "I only hope that I can meet the standards that are needed for this part."

Director Ogata patted him on the back. "Of that, I have no doubt Tsuruga-san. I have complete faith that you will give it your all."

After the heartfelt conversation Yashiro had heard from the couple as they discussed gardens and pruning, he lost interest and gave them the privacy to talk to each other.

"You did very well." He smiled softly.

She sighed in relief. "I only hope that I can make you proud to call me your Junior in acting, Kuon. I would like to take it as seriously as you. I quite enjoy it. This is actually the first thing I have done without the use of my power. It's exhilarating." She smiled brightly.

"I have no doubt you will achieve that. I believe that your Mio will be remembered for a long time." He complimented.

She giggled. "I would think. She's absolutely terrifying."

"And that as well." He chuckled.

"Kyoko-san... Tsuruga-san... You're wanted on the set." The AD called to them.

"We'll be there shortly." Ren answered. "I suppose that's our cue. Join me for lunch later?"

She nodded shyly and smirked. "If it will keep you healthy and get you to eat."

He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "That again? Come on..." He escorted her back to the room where their next school scene would be filmed.

Shoko Aki was perplexed by her charge's peculiar behavior. It was almost as if he was now terrified by women. He stayed close to her like a toddler to its mother and jumped any time a teen aged female came near him. What is wrong with him? Every time one came near him, a look of complete terror would invade his eyes and he would almost cling to her. It would have been cute if not so exasperatingly annoying.

"Sho..." She hissed. "What in hell is wrong with you?"

"Sh-she t-turned me into a tiny p-pig." He whispered as his eyes searched around him as if he were looking for someone.

That's it! He's completely lost his mind! She shook her head. "That's it!" She grabbed his arm and dragged him to her car. "We are getting you drug tested! I have had enough of this." She buckled him in and slammed the door shut, then stomped to the driver's side. "This is going to stop. If you don't stop this behavior, they will have you committed." She scolded as she buckled in and turned on her car.

He nodded stiffly. He knew she was right, but how on Earth was he supposed to feel safe as long as SHE was around?

He awakened from that nostalgic dream of his Farasha again. Why did Kyoko remind him so much of the beautiful girl he met near the stream when he was so young? "Her scar is her prison. It's a curse that binds her that she cannot break free of alone." She explained of Mio. He chuckled at the thought.

I suppose Farasha was trapped too. He pondered sadly as he stared at his ceiling. "I wish I could have freed her." He sighed.

~xoxo~

Kyoko was awakened from her slumber by a sharp pain to her neck and chest. She quickly looked down to see the large tattooed rune glow brightly then immediately fade away. "What is this?" She conjured a mirror and groggily pulled herself from her bed, shoving the thin silk drapes aside that hid her from the outside. It was gone. Gone just as the rune on her right wrist.

"What does this mean?" She asked the empty bedroom with wonder in her voice as she examined the pristine flesh over her heart and on her neck. "It's all gone?"

Kuon sat there stunned with his coffee in hand as the exuberant little half-naked Djinni bounced to him and proclaimed. "Kuon! Look! It's gone! My runes are gone!" She pointed to him between her naked breasts.

He nodded silently, still recovering from nearly choking on his coffee and spewing it out of his nose. He cleared his throat and regained his composure. He chuckled. "I can see that, Kyoko. What happened?"

"I don't know..." She told him breathlessly as she conjured clothing and breakfast. "I can only think that it means something joyous. I feel as though something... something liberating has happened." She smiled softly.

He laughed with her as he watched her butterflies flit through his apartment and she twirled in her flowing silks like a beautiful aubergine clad whirlwind.

Kuon was in complete misery. He was stuck on his portrayal of Katsuki and that crazy giant chicken had politely informed him more than once, that he just may indeed be in love with the little Djinni in his life. The chicken didn't know who she was, only that she was a girl that he was around a lot and worked with. He couldn't help but think he should actually take his advice and run with it. Now here he was in her little special place basically hiding behind one of the columns near her garden, quietly listening to the soft, upbeat music that surrounded and floated through the air and watching her twirl.

"Oh! Kuon!" She startled. "I didn't notice your arrival."

"Don't mind me. I was just thinking." About you. He thought.

"You seem troubled." She commented softly. A thought came to her. "I know." She had an idea. She wasn't sure if it was a good one or, not but it had helped relax many of her masters in the past. She winced somewhat at the notion, but he wasn't exactly a master to her and she would do this willingly without being commanded to.

"Where are we going?" He asked as she took his hand and pulled him behind her.

She smiled sweetly. "Somewhere you can relax."

She pulled him into a large room that was draped in a variety of colored silks and the floor was littered with cushions with a clearing in the center. She pushed him to sit and poured him a large goblet of wine and conjured a tray of plump ripe fruits. "Now... Close your eyes." She commanded sweetly and he obliged with a smirk, wondering what she was up to.

Soft music with a rhythmic drum beat began. The ching of tiny cymbals could be heard and he slowly opened his eyes to find her scantily clad visage dancing before him like a dream.

He watched as her hips popped and swayed to the music hypnotically and her body writhed erotically as flames in shades of blue danced around her and with her. How is this relaxing? He groaned internally. I suppose if... Maybe I should just for a moment. Maybe it would be okay. He leaned back into the cushions and enjoyed her mind blowing gift to him.

As her dance came to an end she was spinning with the flames and twirling in a flurry of thin veils and flames coming nearer to him and finally falling into him giggling and breathing heavily from her exertion.

He chuckled as his arms wrapped tightly around her. She fits perfectly... He sighed inwardly. She feels right. "Kyoko..." He whispered.

"Hmm?" Her face was close to his and he could smell her sweet breath, floral scented hair and delicious skin.

CRASH... Went the sound of an earthen jug being dropped and the clang of a metal goblet as it fell to the floor.

"FARASHA! Clothe yourself Sister!" Huba Syd's voice thundered.

The eyes of the pair shot to the doorway. "Brother! So nice of you to visit." She smiled.

He quickly appeared before them and pulled her off of Kuon. "I sincerely hope that you did not command her to do this!" He hissed at Kuon, his golden-eyes flashing fiery red with anger.

Her brow furrowed and she placed a calming hand on her brother's arm. "I did this willingly Huba Syd. Kuon would never command me to do anything. If you wish to be able to return here I suggest you calm yourself immediately and put anything out of your mind that you may be thinking at the moment." She growled.

Kuon was still reeling at the revelation. "Kyoko?"

"Kuon... I am sending you home for now." She said softly.

He gave her a worried look. "I... I'm sorry. I don't want your brother to be angry with you because of me." He told her. "I am truly sorry." He told her brother.

Huba Syd shot him a glare. "If you weren't..."

She smiled and cut him off before he revealed his true self. "He will be fine, Kuon." She told him before she sent him back home with the snap of her fingers. She turned to her brother, irritated.

"Farasha... You cannot go about as you are in front of men. You have no one here to guard you." He scolded with a little bit of a whine.

"I do not need someone to guard me little Brother. I have dealt with this far longer than you. Kuon will not touch me in that way. He has a woman that he loves. I am merely a friend to him." She scoffed and told him of the information he had freely given to Bo as the veils she had shed made their way back onto her.

"Hmph... A friend does not dance like that for a man. A man does not look at a friend like that." He glowered. "You are too naive Sister. He does not view you as a friend by any stretch of your silly imagination. I suggest you cover yourself before him from now on. I do not appreciate his lustful gaze on my only sister."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Fine dear Brother... I will do as you ask. Not as you command. You are not Father and you are not a master to me."

Huba Syd groaned. "You know I didn't mean it that way. Please?" He caressed her cheek. "For the sake of my sanity Farasha? Cover yourself? I am asking."

"I will take it under consideration." She pouted.

"Fine..." He groaned. He snapped his fingers and cleaned the mess he had made and plopped onto the cushions where Kuon had been seated. "So, why was he here?"

She conjured a drink and took a sip. "He was troubled. I decided to help him relax."

He raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure." He grumbled.

"Drop it..." She huffed.

"Fine... Fine... I'll not discuss this particular matter further." He waved it off. If he fails to deliver tomorrow after this, I will replace him without hesitation...