Chapter 18

Lory sat in his office perplexed. It was time to get these two off their butts and do something about their relationship and he really needed his sister to see that bad girl roles could be very beneficial to her fledgling career. He wasn't the most comfortable with this plan, but Kuu was very endearing and had won him over. He was sure that he would be safe with Kyoko. He seriously doubted she would resort to the tactics that she had gone through with the Fuwa boy.

That was another he was gaining knowledge of, Fuwa... This one was gradually making himself more of a nuisance day by day. Ever since her participation in his PV, he would conveniently turn up in random places where Kyoko was and it was starting to annoy both Kyoko and Lory. What exactly did this boy really want? He claimed that she was his to anyone that asked. He wasn't afraid or, ashamed to admit something like that.

Ruto cleared his throat to gain Lory's attention. "You have a visitor."

After that call with Kuon, he was sure that the boy would be there in an instant to chew him out for not warning him about Kuu's appearance.

Kuu swept in and lazily draped himself on Lory's sofa and sighed deeply, then began to tell Lory in detail of what had taken place, finally ending his little tale. "Can you believe it? She treated me like some pampered drunken lout! The nerve!"

Lory chuckled. He knew how Farasha could get in an argument and he was astounded that Kuu came out unscathed. "So what you're saying is that you argued all night with a teen-aged girl? And basically lost..." Lory smirked. "You're an idiot..." He told him as he sipped his wine. "So... If you were so angry at her what prompted you to eat her cooking?" He asked out of curiosity.

"I started because I was so hungry that I was hallucinating and once I got a taste of her wonderful cooking, I couldn't stop myself." He whined as he confessed.

"Hallucinating? How?" Lory raised an eyebrow.

"Well, during our argument, every time she got angry... It looked like a bomb went off in the suite. Then suddenly, I would blink and everything would be back to normal. I had to eat something. I've never in my life gotten that hungry." He explained a little distressed.

Lory practically choked on his drink. "You don't say..." He commented. I think I need to have a talk to her about controlling her temper around mortals. He smirked.

"I'm not lying." Kuu misinterpreted Lory's reaction.

"Of course not." Lory corrected his expression.

"I'm not!" He leaned back in his seat while practically inhaling another four pieces of fried chicken.

"I know you aren't, Kuu." He sighed in exasperation.

"You do realize that she completely manipulated you. If you what him to react you are going to have to try harder." Lory told him. And hope she doesn't turn you into one of her favorite animals... Like an ass. Lory chuckled inwardly at a memory.

"Boss? Are you sure this is going to work? You know... Making her upset?" He asked with a kicked puppy look in his eyes.

"Absolutely. He will come to her rescue so fast it will shock you." Lory told him casually. I should probably remind her not to use her powers against him.

In the end, her assignment with Kuu Hizuri turned out to be the most fun she'd had in awhile and she had learned so much from him. Had she not known Kuon's identity, she would have never guessed that the man that she now called Father, was his father. What exactly happened to rip him away from his parents and make him hide as he did?

It really warmed her heart when he told her that he wished that someday she could be his daughter. The moment the words escaped from his lips as he hugged her tightly in the airport, the rune of sealing around her left ankle began to fade. She hadn't felt the affections of a father in many years, it was a comfort that she had forgotten.

In the little place she called her own, she and Kuon dined and lounged comfortably as she excitedly gushed about his father and he watched her praise of the man he called Dad, lovingly.

"I'm very sorry that I imitated you Kuon. I hope that it wasn't offensive." She finally apologized.

He chuckled. "Don't be. You did quite well. I think that you expressed my feelings toward him quite well."

She looked at him curiously. "Kuon... Why do you not speak to your family?" She asked innocently. She had been wanting the answer to this question for quite some time.

He looked down in shame and sighed. He had a feeling that she would eventually ask this particular question. "I'm not worthy of them. I was a horrible son and I did some shameful things." That is all he was willing to tell her at the moment and she accepted that fact.

She caressed his cheek and lifted his face to her. "Kuon... No matter what you have done... They still love you greatly." She smiled softly and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and with that she would not say another word of it nor, mention it again until he was prepared to tell her.

"Brother~" Her sweet voice lilted excitedly. "I wasn't aware they still celebrated The Longest Night." She exclaimed excitedly as she whirled into his office in a cloud of butterflies.

Huba Syd sighed sadly. "As much as I would like to, we do not. They do call it Christmas now, but Maria's birthday falls one day before yours and her mother died on that day only a few years ago. She will not celebrate it and I will not force her."

"Then we must find another way to cheer her. She cannot be around all of these people filled with joy while we leave her to suffer in her sadness." Farasha told him.

He smiled mischievously. "You appear as though you have an idea, Sister."

"I may..." She answered slyly as she conjured two glasses of wine and gave him one.

He laughed remembering her wonderful parties when they were younger. "Then I am looking forward to your solution, Sweet Farasha." and they clinked their glasses in a toast. He took a sip. "By the way, how did the director take your interpretation of Natsu? I know Kuon assisted you a bit."

She shook her head. "No... He only gave me a couple of suggestions and assisted me with refining the way I walk."

He raised an eyebrow in interest. "The way you walk?"

She giggled. "I wanted Natsu to behave more like a model. He's a model and was willing to instruct me."

"Farasha..." His voice was a little strained as he tried to fight back a guffaw. "Sister... He's a male model. That is infinitely different than a female, in every way."

She sighed. "Yes Little Brother... I am fully aware of the fact... now." She blushed a little, remembering the lessons.