AN: I know a lot of people will hate me for this but not all is lost. Please continue to support me ~Myst

Chapter Thirty Five :: Replacing Love

Kyoko stood quietly at the river where she and Corn had first met, she looked out into the scenery. She felt her heart hurt as she clutched tightly to Corn in her hand. Kuon had given it back to her once she told him that she was going to try to find out the truth about her mother, she had protested but in the end he had won and she held it in her hand, tears in her eyes she thought back to the scene in the clinic

Kuon looked at her on bended knee, his most serious face on, "Will you marry me and raise the baby together with me?" he had asked her. He continued to stare at her as she tried to calm down and listen to him. There was a moment of silence before Kuon opened his mouth again, "Wi-" he began but Kyoko looked down, avoiding eye contact.

"You don't need to repeat what you've just said," she said gently, she started shaking first just her hands and then her whole body as she saw Kuon's steady gaze.

Kuon sighed and stood up, sitting down on his chair again, he reached across for her hand to hold it, "It's fine to say no too," he told her his hopes fading. He had been thinking about it for a while now and perhaps now wasn't the right time. Had he already missed his chance?

"No," she replied unable to look at him, she pulled her hand away from his. "At least..." she looked at him nervously before looking down once she found the pain in his eyes, "Not right now. I'm not going to agree to marry a patient in the hospital."

Kuon looked at her as if he had been slapped however he forced a calm laugh out, "Understandable," he nodded. "So am I the only reason you came down to Kyoto?" he asked expertly changing subject on her.

Kyoko looked at him before shaking her head quickly as she looked down again, he was forcing himself to smile for her and still remain happy and calm when she could guess he was heartbroken. "No," she replied quickly.

"No?" he asked tilting his head to the side, "What was the real reason you came?" he asked

"You!" she said quickly, "I wanted to come see you...however..." she looked away, "We always talked about finding out the truth about my mother. I wanted to do it even if you weren't by my side supporting me."

"Oh so you continued the plan to see your mother," Kuon nodded before smiling brighter and Kyoko flinched.

"You aren't angry that I said no?" she asked nervously as he shook his head, "Kuon..." she tried to comfort him but she didn't know where to start. Was it because of Cain Heel that she was so reluctant to marry the man she loved? Was it because it was still early in their relationship?

"Here," he told her putting Corn on the table, "Take it, take it when you ask about your mother," he offered her a gentleman's smile that she hadn't seen for a while, "I've recharged it."

"But," the chestnut haired girl spoke nervously, "You need it, you're in a worse situation than I am."

"No, I gave it to you," he smiled at her, "It's yours, take it. Take it and remember me the way you want to."

Kyoko opened her mouth to protest before seeing Kuon looking away, "Kuon..."

"I'm feeling a little tired," he told her, "Is it possible for you to come again tomorrow...if you want," he added.

"Kuon," she said nervously before standing up, "I will then, make sure to eat your meals alright?" she asked him as he nodded, with that she left without even saying I love you or kissing him feeling empty.

"I love you Kyoko..." she heard as she left.

Kyoko screamed as she stood by the river remembering all the stories about hamburger shaped rocks and fairy magic that she had had with Kuon when they were still young. Even though she knew he wasn't a fairy the joy that he had given her as a child had never left, but then why didn't she want to marry him?

"I thought you'd be here," she heard a voice from behind her and looked over to find Reino there, he walked over to her as she looked away from him. She didn't shiver when she saw him anymore however her memories first landed on the rape before anyone else, was there even a kind side to this man?

"You're stalking me now?" she growled him lifting an eyebrow, "I thought that you'd hate the sunlight."

"I think you're confusing me with a monster again...that or a vampire," he shrugged, "When I was younger I came to places like this, my family lived in..."

"Let me guess just inside the gates of hell?" she asked bitterly as he looked away.

"Women are always boring to talk to," Reino muttered as Kyoko glared at him again, "When you really think you're talking about something important they're always thinking something else."

"What?" Kyoko asked as Reino looked to her

"I used to escape my family by coming to places like this, it's better when you don't have to hear other people's thoughts," he added as Kyoko stared at him.

This is the first time he's acted normal, first time he hasn't acted like a complete creepy pervert...it almost makes someone feel sorry for him and what does he mean escape his family? She asked but before she could get any words out Reino was staring at her again.

"You went to see him didn't you?" he asked as she panicked

How does he know! She looked at him before nodding, "Yes, it was a..."

"Short visit it seems," Reino smirked as Kyoko glared at him again, "And he proposed to you?" he asked as Kyoko paused only realizing now how beautiful Beagle's voice was, she hadn't realized before.

"So," she pushed a hand through her hair which was still red despite her wanting to dye it, she cringed thinking about that, soon it might even be two colors, that would be horrible! She'd have to dye it back to black.

"And you said no?" he asked before looking at her, "Why?"

"None of your business!" Kyoko snapped at him without him seeming too bothered about that, "I just didn't want to say yes."

"And you're still holding that," Reino commented pointing to Corn in her hand, he sighed and looked away, "Hold out your hand," he told her.

"What?" she blinked before shaking, "What are you planning to do to me? I bet it's some kind of black magic!"

"Black magic?" he blinked at her, he frowned before taking her hand and pulled it towards him before putting in her hand a small pink jewel. "Take this and hold it up to the light," he told her.

Kyoko smiled at it seeing how pretty it was, it was about the same size as Corn as well, lifting it up to the light she saw it change colors to a deep red and laughed. Reino watched her thinking how unique she was and how her laugh sounded...actually not as boring as most girls' laughs. "What does it do?" she asks

"It removes the love you feel for that guy" Reino replied bluntly, "It's to heal you."

Kyoko looked down and then nodded before seeing him turn, "Where are you going?" she found herself to ask. Why the hell do I care where he's going! What does he mean removes my love!

"Back to the inn," he told her, "It's too hot out here."

"Oh..." Kyoko nodded before seeing him go and surprisingly her heart hurt a little. After about ten minutes she started to leave too, Corn in one hand, the pink rock in the other. As she got out of the woods though she caught sight of Shou who looked at her. "What are you doing here?"

"That guy!" he yelled at her, "You're dating that guy!" he looked at her hands and the rocks before pointing in the middle, "Did he give that to you as a present?" he asked and Kyoko looked away. Angrily Shou grabbed one of the rocks and tossed it high into the air before it flew into the woods and Kyoko heard the sound of it hitting water a moment later. Looking at her hands though she noticed only the pink rock was there.

CORN! she screamed tears pricking her eyes

End Chapter Thirty Five

AN: Update tomorrow yay!