A/N: Sorry this took forever! More writer's block! But, I think I got it now!
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Kyoko sat quietly, listening to the personal narrative that came pouring out of the complex man known as Tsuruga Ren.
He had been a burdened child. The weight of being the son of the famous Kuu and Julia Hizuri, . . . his personal identity being forever melded with theirs . . . the expectations drove him to rebellion. All the private schools and finest tutoring in the US could not save him. In fact, it made it worse. Being the pretty son of celebrities did not exactly make you a favorite among the boys. An odd name such as "Kuon" did not help either. Kuon had to fight to survive and fight he did, so hard in fact that he sent one particularly nasty boy into a coma for a month. The Hizuri's money kept him out of jail, but not out of further trouble.
A trip to the motherland seemed in order. Maybe the reserved ways of the Japanese would rub off on their troubled son.
Ren paused and smiled at Kyoko. She blushed under the warmth of his gaze, but did not, could not, look away.
". . . And that's when I met you . . . You . . . with your bright smile and spirit.
"I was so obviously foreign. You didn't know me, but without batting an eye you made me your friend. I had never met anyone so sincerely sweet or, especially, so selfless. You were so young, but your best qualities were already there."
Embarrassment from such praise reddened Kyoko's face even further. Her whisper was almost a whimper.
"Please—"
"—I don't know if you heard me before but . . ."
"Tsuruga-san—"
"I love you, Kyoko."
Kyoko sucked in a sharp breath. That's right. He had revealed that to Bo while in the back lots before the "big discovery." She had all but forgotten. Kyoko sniffed as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
"Thank you . . . Tsuruga-san."
Ren smiled and cupping her cheek in his hand, he wiped away the tears with his thumb.
Kyoko surprised herself and Ren by, almost reflexively, leaning into his touch.
Ren drew her into a hug, to which she made no protest. He rocked her gently as she quietly sobbed. With another little sniffle, Kyoko burrowed her face into his shoulder . . . and for the first time in a long time, she felt at home.