Chapter 6

Well, it was certainly the most puzzling situation. Ren watched as his father and Ms. Stevens left the building with Kuu's arm wrapped around her shoulders, escorting her to his limo, and Ruto following close behind. Not once did the man acknowledge him. Was he pissed because Kuon still hadn't come home and why was he so cozy with Isabelle Stevens? Did something happen between him and Juli? Something that he didn't know about, that involved this new woman? No, his father would never do anything like that. He furrowed his brow and the thoughts angered him. Kuu was treating this woman as if she were family or more, something that he'd thought was only reserved for Kyoko.

How could he have know that his father was avoiding him so that he wouldn't reveal his anger at the situation or, Kuon's identity. Internally, he was beyond his boiling point and he wanted a clear head for that particular discussion, if he ever had the opportunity in private. For now, he had made a promise to Kyoko about keeping her secret and was not going to be another person that had betrayed her. She was in too fragile of a state for a confrontation that would surely result from the revelation.

"It's about time at least someone stepped up to take care of her." Kanae murmured to Chiori as they passed Ren, not realizing he was listening. Why would he care about it if he heard anyway? The pair groused inwardly.

Chiori nodded in agreement. "I hope I never fall in love. It just sets you up for men to use you."

Kanae turned to her. "They're not all users and liars." She glanced back at Ren, noticed him and scowled. "Come on. We have work to do." He watched as they walked away.

I thought she was a widow. Were they talking about Ms. Stevens or Kyoko? How and what does Dad know about them?

She was now six months pregnant. Last month, on Kuu's visit, she discovered that Kuu had called Juli, a.k.a. Mother. She dropped everything and took the first 13 hour flight to Tokyo. Against Kyoko's will, they had purchased a three bedroom home for her, fully furnished it, stocked it with food and everything she needed, then moved her in during the two weeks they were there. They would be coming back next month, after all of their work was completed, to stay near her for the birth.

Juli essentially demanded that Kyoko call her "Mother", then during several shopping trips filled her closets with clothes for before and after the birth. Horrifyingly enough, she even bought her undergarments, makeup, accessories, jewelry, handbags and shoes of all varieties. When she was done with that, more clothing and items for Sora and Riku. It all felt like a dream, like as soon as she blinked, it would all be gone and she'd be out on the street, begging for food. The unreal situation was getting more and more difficult to deal with. Never in her life had she had so much attention forced upon her as the couple did. She almost allowed herself to believe that everything would be okay. She was still cautious with those thoughts though. She certainly didn't want to get complacent and suddenly have everything pulled from beneath her, like had happened every time she thought someone actually loved her.

At first, when Juli heard those words from Kuu, she was very skeptical. Her son would never do something like that, but the fact that the girl was willing to submit to DNA testing, using the paternal grandparents' DNA, she was convinced. It hurt to know that Kuon would do something so despicable to the girl that Lory claimed that he loved. Although, considering the rumors about him around the modeling world, perhaps the idea wasn't so far-fetched. Maybe the rumors of his many lovers as Tsuruga, weren't rumors at all. How did she and Kuu end up raising a man like that? It was stomach turning. Kuu had never been that way, not even in the years before her.

Initially, Lory had thought that having Juli there would be a problem; however, that fear was quickly killed when she breezed past Kuon at LME, picking up Kyoko/Isabelle for a "Girls Day". No, this was not her son Kuon Hizuri, this was Ren Tsuruga, the playboy and womanizer that had a stunning smile for anything with breasts. There was nothing of her son there. Not the one that she knew, anyway. Well, perhaps there was. The behavior did seem similar to what was displayed when he was a teen, save for the violent temper. He always did have the girls throwing themselves at him and he most certainly never did anything, but revel in that attention. She sighed inwardly. No, he really hadn't changed much at all.

This is getting ridiculous! What the hell is going on? Why are they both here? When did they arrive and why didn't Takarada tell me? He was livid and blindly storming into Lory's office for answers. He wanted to know where Kyoko was and why the hell his parents were in Japan without him being warned ahead of time. He didn't care if Lory had another meeting going on when he entered. He definitely was not thinking clearly. Unfortunately, the meeting was between Kyoko/Isabelle, Juli and Ruto. They were arranging her schedule to accommodate her paid maternity leave for the next few months.

He smiled fakely at Juli, Lory and Isabelle. "Pardon me for the interruption, but I have something important to discuss with Takarada-san."

Juli gave him and equally angry smile and Kyoko shivered. "As do we, Tsuruga-kun... You can wait your turn. This takes priority."

He smiled back. "Really? And how would you know that?" He was not about to back down from his own mother, she was NOT supposed to be there and he needed answers.

"Because anything that has to do with my daughter and grandchildren takes priority. So if you please Tsuruga-kun, wait... your... turn... like a gentleman, if you can." She told him, venom dripping from each word in a saccharine tone.

He was stunned into submission. His mother had never taken that tone with him, even when younger. She was talking to him like he was some kind of lower life form. Why? His brow furrowed, he turned and left to sit on the sofa outside of Lory's office. Admittedly, he had behaved a little asinine. Okay, a lot. He felt ashamed of himself. He had behaved like a spoiled, jealous child and he knew it.

He had more than enough time to ruminate over his behavior. He made a decision to apologize as soon as the opportunity came to him. He felt like the biggest ass on the planet. Not only did he behave like that in front of his mother, but in front of someone she held close enough to call a daughter and accept the woman's children into the family, like he had wanted for Kyoko at some point in the future. Sadly, she had vanished before he could bring anything to fruition. Not that it would have made a difference. He was certain that she didn't feel that way about him and he'd waited far too long and lost her. It was something he punished himself for every chance he got.

Thirty minutes later the doors opened and the two women emerged. Isabelle continued her trek to the elevator without affording him one glance, but Juli stopped. She stared him in the eyes. "I would have thought that the rumors about you were false, but from that little display? I suppose I was wrong. It's truly a shame that your mother raised such a son that would treat women so disrespectfully." A glint came to her eyes. "Stay away from my daughter, Tsuruga-kun or you will deal with me and my husband." She flipped her hair as she turned and walked away, leaving a very nonplussed Kuon Hizuri behind.

The secretary turned to Ren. "You may enter now, Tsuruga-kun."

He nodded a little sheepishly. "Sorry about that."

She gave him a sharp nod and went back to her duties.

"Sit..." Was all Lory said as he entered. He sat quietly, just as a child that had been called in for a reprimand by the Headmaster. Lory sighed. "Well... I hope you're proud of yourself with that little display. What was it that was so important that you would embarrass yourself like that in front of your own mother and Isabelle?" Lory sat back and lit the cigar he'd been craving since the beginning of the meeting with Kyoko and Juli.

"I'm sorry..." He murmured.

Lory huffed. "You should be. I think you owe them both an apology. Now what brought you here?"

Kuon sighed. "I was going to ask why they were here, but I guess it's for Ms. Stevens?"

Lory nodded. "That would be correct. She's a very dear friend of the family and she's been through quite a bit lately. They'll be coming back at the end of the month to stay until the delivery. Your parents see her as a daughter."

Kuon frowned. "A replacement?"

"For you? I doubt it. You'd have to ask them about the relationship, but you don't seem clearheaded enough at the moment to carry on a civil conversation with them." Lory scolded. "I suggest you dial back the childishness before you decide to talk to them on your own."

Kuon groaned a little. "Mom said something about rumors going around about me."

Lory chuckled wryly. "That... hmm, I suppose that would be the promiscuous behavior you've had in the past, one night stands, and the meaningless relationships. People do gossip in our community. They may not sell it to tabloids, but they do spread it through the grapevine of the Entertainment Industry. You've known that for years. This shouldn't come as a shock to you." Lory informed him.

"I haven't had any one nighters!" He exclaimed indignantly.

Lory huffed and narrowed his eyes at him. "Don't lie to me boy! I know for a fact of at least one of them and that female has refused almost everything that has anything to do with you! The only time she accepted was when she had almost no choice. It would be safe to say that she would rather eat broken glass than work with the "man-whore"." He chuckled at the hormonal nickname Kyoko had given him. Ah pregnancy hormones, they are entertaining. Lory smirked inwardly. "Just think, Ren Tsuruga actually has a female on this planet that doesn't like him. I wonder what you did to earn that lofty position in her heart." Of course Lorry knew, he was being facetious.

Kuon looked at him a little confused. "Why on Earth would that be considered a coveted position?" He scoffed inwardly. Unless it was Kyoko, then I could see it. Something was tugging at the back of his mind again. It seemed as though everything kept reminding him of Kyoko nowadays.

Lory chuckled a bit. "Was that the only reason you stormed into my office and interrupted an important meeting?"

Kuon sighed and shook his head. "Partly... I was wondering if you'd heard from Kyoko yet?" He seemed a little concerned to Lory.

Lory shook his head. "May I ask why you're asking about her?" He sincerely was hoping to get more out of this boy without dragging it out of him. It was like pulling teeth.

"Nothing in particular. I was just wondering." He told him, not wanting to give Lory even the smallest of reasons to tease him about feelings and whatnot. Lory didn't need to know he spent every waking moment thinking of her and dreamt of her at night. He didn't need to know that Kuon could barely breathe without hearing her voice or, seeing her sweet face. Most of all, he certainly didn't need to know Kuon had spent every spare moment searching for her.

A/N: Yes... I know... Out of Character and frustrating that Kuon isn't getting any headway or, being informed. The reason is that I enjoy torturing him for his slowness, and the other reason is that it will make the result that much more satisfying. LOL. *Evil Laugh*