Chapter Thirty-One

Flashback:

"You're a mongrel Hizuri. Face it. You shouldn't be an Alpha much less even alive." The turned one seethed with jealousy.

"Kuon, let's go. This human isn't worth our time." Rick told him, tugging on his shoulder.

The turned one glared at the older Alpha and hissed. "What? Gonna go tell Daddy and have him take care of things for you?" He taunted.

"I don't need my father to take care of my business." Kuon growled.

Many more words and jabs were volleyed at the young Alpha regarding his lineage and finally came to blows in the end. During this Kuon was able to control his change but, his natural strength and speed bested several of the antagonists.

In the blindness of rage he saw his prey make for its escape and like the Alpha that he was, he pursued. As he followed his quarry across the darkened street, he heard the screech of tires and the sickening thud of a body hitting the pavement. He turned to find Rick, his pack brother, dieing in the arms of Tina, Rick's mate.

"MURDERER!" She screamed. "He's dead because of you! You killed him. I wish you had never been born!"

End Flashback:

Kuon sat in tears as he finished telling Kyoko of his self-perceived crime. "Kuon..." She whispered as she took him in her arms. "You aren't a murderer."

"If I hadn't let them get to me, Rick would still be alive." He told her.

"Were you driving the car?" She asked sternly.

He shook his head. "But.."

"NO... Did you know what was going to happen and stand by without doing anything about it?" She interrogated.

"NO!" He denied.

"Then you didn't kill him. The driver of that car did. Not you. Have you ever even been directly responsible for a death, other than an animal?" She asked with a strange tone to her voice.

He shook his head.

She felt a great sadness in her heart for his innocence. "I know that I cannot possibly convince you of your innocence if you don't want me to, but I am not going to sit here and judge you." She looked away from him. "I have no right to." She whispered cryptically.

"Have you?" His eyes were wide and voice soft.

She looked at him with a strange cold look in her eyes. "Would it matter to you? Would it matter if I hunted a deserving human?" She asked.

"No but, why?" He was a little in awe but, a bit nervous. She was completely a true Alpha.

"Self preservation." She told him. "I was in Tokyo alone for an entire year. Do you actually believe a human like Sho would try and protect me?" She chuckled wryly.

He took her in his arms and forgot about his own sins. "I'm sorry. I'm here now. You don't ever have to do something like that again."

She gave him a small smile. I actually quite enjoyed it, Kuon. Most humans are like Sho. She hid her relished thoughts. I'm not as innocent as you believe.

"Kyoko... I love you." He hugged her more tightly. "Let me protect you."

She put her arms around his neck and boldly gave him a gentle kiss on his lips, then pulled away. "I don't need a protector. I just need someone who isn't going to leave me or, break me."

He looked into her eyes. "Then will you let me be that someone?" He asked as his hand gently traced up and down her back.

She blushed and gave him a small quick nod. "Okay."

They awakened the next morning, more refreshed and the happiest they had been in years, wrapped in each others arms from a night of cuddling.

That week at the end of September, during London's fashion week, Lily could be spotted in various places with Japan's number one bachelor, Ren Tsuruga. Despite Yashiro's chiding, Ren refused to leave her side during any of their free time.

"Aren't you worried that Kyoko-chan will find out?" Yashiro huffed.

Ren smirked at him. "Not really worried about that."

Yashiro narrowed his eyes at the young 'playboy' and spat out. "Fine but, don't come crying to me when you find her and she refuses you because of that woman."

Ren chuckled. "Yashiro, not gonna happen."

His confident tone threw Yashiro off. Was there something he wasn't seeing here? Did Ren ever really love her? Was he wrong and who was this Lily? He needed to do some digging. These were the thoughts that dance through his mind as he watched Ren in the next seat, listening contentedly to a MP3 player Lily had given him for the trip home.

As they flew over vast amounts of land and sea, the entertainment news in Japan exploded with the headlines of Ren's stay in London. Pictures of him canoodling Lily and attending every event with her, were plastered in every magazine, gossip rag and fan-site. Ren Tsuruga was dating the beautiful international model and actress, Lily aka. Chouko, the Japanese expatriate... Needless to say, it did not sit well with most of his female fans. Granted, she was beautiful, talented and far out of most men's league but, she had left Japan willingly and she trapped him in her deceitful American web. Yes, they would hate her. How could they possibly compete with someone like that when they weren't even able to judge her by Japanese standards? They didn't know that he was Kuon Hizuri. They didn't know that he was the same as the woman that they despised. Would they even care? In the mind of a fanatic, probably not.

Lory sighed at all of the rantings and articles that he had forced himself to read the past few days. "I know I wanted his life to be a bit more exciting but, this is ridiculous." Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. He thought wryly. Don't any of these people understand that love doesn't care who you are, where you live or, what race you are? He shook his head at the thoughts. How was he going to spin this in a positive light?

Lory stared at the photos Sebastian and Yashiro had sent him of the two and compared them once again. His eyes flew wide open. Even though the media had clearly announced that it was indeed Chouko, it really didn't sink in until this point. Where had she been staying? Did she really become an American citizen while she was there and would she ever be returning to Japan?

He picked up his phone and quickly dialed. Someone's head was going to roll. Perhaps not... It really wasn't in his nature.

A very sleepy man answered the phone. "Hello?"

"...Kuu..." Lory's voice lilted through the line.

Kuu sighed. "Hello Boss. Why are you calling so late. Did something happen with Kuon?" He sounded a little worried.

"Why didn't you tell me? You could have at least called and let me know where she was. That she was okay." Lory scolded in a hurt tone.

"Ahh... You mean Kyoko." Kuu answered knowingly.

"Of course I mean Kyoko you dolt! Why didn't you tell me?" He barked.

Kuu chuckled. "Julie told me if I did, she would cut me off." He answered honestly.

Lory sighed. "She's still pissed about Kuon...".

"Of course she is. She's got a daughter now and she didn't want you taking her back." Kuu explained.

"Daughter? I really hope you two didn't adopt her officially..." Lory said flatly.

Kuu scoffed. "Of course not! Kuon would kill us both!"

Lory sighed with relief. They spent the rest of the phone conversation catching up and planning the lives of Kyoko and Kuon.