Chapter 4

Fortunately or unfortunately, it depends on how one would look at it, it would appear that the horse would not need to go to the water to drink, it had actually come to him. Not that Sho Fuwa being there made much of a difference, he didn't know anything either and apparently neither did anyone else that knew her. It was now confirmed in Kuon's mind that Kyoko had indeed just vanished and there was only one explanation for something like that to be possible, Lory had something to do with it. He had to be hiding her as he had done for him when he was younger, but why?

"Oi! I'm talking to you!" Sho spat out petulantly.

Ren sighed. "Look Fuwa-san, I'm not her keeper. If she didn't forward her contact information to you, I'm sure there was a perfectly good reason. Wouldn't you say? Getting involved in the love-life you have with your girlfriend is not my business." Kuon was holding back the acidity from the memory of everything from the past months and all of the dead-ends he'd hit, looking for her in what little spare time he had.

"One, she is NOT my girlfriend. Two, I wouldn't have a love-life with that plain, boring, unattractive, soul-sucking demon if my life depended on it! Three... She made a vow to go back to Kyoto if she stupidly fell for you! She's not there, so where is she?!" Sho spat out just before he left and moments before Kuon was about to snap the little vermin's neck for such words.

Kuon was stunned by the revelation. What the hell? Did she leave because of that Jackass?.. or me? He groaned inwardly. He really needed to find her and find out what the hell was going on.

"That's probably why she left..." He heard the angry, yet sad voice of Yashiro comment behind him as they watched the man/boy stomp away from them. "I can't help, but wonder how those photos came about though, and how he always knew where she would be, if she didn't give him or anyone else her new information."

"Do you think he might be stalking her and that's why she left?" Kuon's anger ebbed away as he puzzled the situation and then the anger arose again at the thoughts.

"It's possible, I suppose. He seems to have extensive connections as far as she's concerned. If he truly is a childhood friend and he's been using that to stalk her, then I suppose his well of information has dried up. Do you think she's cut ties with everyone else from her past too?" Yashiro's voice had a tinge of worry to it. She wouldn't just leave Amamiya-san and Kotonami-san, would she?

Ren sighed in frustration. She cut ties with the couple at the Darumaya, her former work contacts and her friends in the LoveME Section. It made sense now that she quite possibly cut ties from the people that she and Sho shared back in Kyoto too, if he couldn't even find her. If that roach couldn't find her, how the hell was Kuon supposed to find her? Things definitely looked bleak. Perhaps he should just give up. He had been thinking of that for awhile now.

They had started growing apart after the Heel Siblings. Actually, ever since the cast party for Tragic Marker. That night had all been a little hazy and all he could remember was Murasame's strange behavior that night. Kuon really didn't think he had drank that much, but there's a first time for everything. The thought that maybe he said something that night, that upset her had crossed his mind, but he didn't think he could say anything that would actually make her want to vanish into thin air with the possible aid of Lory.

Lory was suspiciously quiet at the mention of the person that Kuu had requested to assist him on his next visit in a few weeks. It was very unlike him not to gush about his favorite LoveME girls.

Lory sighed. "Kuu, I'm afraid that won't be possible."

Kuu pulled the phone a little tighter to his ear. "Why is that boss? Did she finally graduate the LoveME Section?" He asked excitedly.

Lory groaned a little. "Not exactly."

Kuu furrowed his brow. "What does that mean? Did she get a big project or something?" He prodded.

"Oh, I guess you could consider her project pretty big." Lory said with a touch of sarcasm.

What the hell is he playing at? Why is Lory being so damned cryptic? "What aren't you telling me Boss? What's with you?" Kuu questioned.

Lory sighed again, it almost sounded as a mix of frustration and sadness. "Let's just say she's gone deep undercover."

"How deep?" Kuu asked cautiously.

"Hmm, Kuon deep?" Lory winced a little.

"What the hell happened? Why would she do something like that? Why would you even let her?" Kuu demanded.

"Kuu... That is something that I have absolutely no business telling anyone. If you want answers, you will have to find her and ask her yourself." Lory told him honestly.

"Fine... I get it. Are you at least going to let me know where my daughter is?" Kuu asked a little dejectedly.

"Afraid I can't tell you that either." Lory sighed. "I'll just tell you to stay alert and observant as you always do and you'll find her."

Kuu growled in frustration. "Fine, I'll be there in a couple of weeks." He supposed he would have to wait to give Kyoko her Birthday gift until after he found her.

She felt so completely cumbersome already at four months. The nausea had finally dissipated, but she was still hungry all of the damned time. She had the girls constantly teasing her about carrying around snacks wherever she went. Kanae still didn't understand how she could be packing away so much food and not gain a single ounce. Of course Kyoko knew the truth. Another constant reminder of who the twins belonged to. She didn't stay up crying all night anymore, but there was still a little twinge of heartbreak pain when she was alone and had time to think.

Thankfully, because of Lory's tenacity and marketing genius, she still had jobs. Bit parts in dramas that called for a pregnant woman, maternity modeling, and commercials. During this time, she had the pleasure of working with Director Kurosaki, Director Ogata and Director Shingai. The only run-in on-set that she had with Kuon, was in his hospital drama. It had been difficult for her and she spent most of her off-camera time, in her dressing room resting, away from him and Yashiro-san. Since she was pregnant with twins, no one had thought to question her reasons. The reasons being, she didn't want to give him any more time near her than she absolutely had to. She wanted to keep it so that they'd only meet in passing and she certainly didn't need him getting familiar with her persona. She had a feeling it would have been disastrous for her.

There was really something about her that snagged his attention. He couldn't help, but think that she reminded him of Kyoko before they became more cordial. It seemed to him, that this young widow detested him. No, that was too strong of a word for it. She avoided him as much as possible and always had such a sad look on her face when he tried to start a conversation with her. Not to mention, she rarely spoke and when she did, she was very quiet. Maybe it has something to do with her husband. He thought. That would actually explain quite a bit. He hated the fact that someone so sweet and young, should be so sad and alone. He could almost relate to her in the aspect of losing someone one loves. Well, not in the same aspect, but pretty close. He didn't wish to trivialize what Isabelle was going through without the man she'd chosen to spend her life with, only to have him ripped away from her. If he'd only known. Well, at least Boss has assigned the LoveME Section to make her feel a little more welcome. He decided it would be for the best to steer clear of her, for the most part. He didn't want to cause her any more distress than she was already suffering from.