Chapter Thirty-Two
The lights came on, the studio was filled and the cameras focused on the man of the hour. Ren sat on the plush sofa in front of one of the most brutal talk show hosts in Japan. He knew this woman was going to dig in her fangirl claws the moment he walked onto the stage. The venom and malice rolled off the small woman when she asked her first question about the love of his life. This woman was a notorious tabloid queen.
"So, Tsuruga-san... Tell us about this woman... Chouko." She said with a false sweetness.
He had it all planned out. "Ahh... Chouko..." He smiled wistfully. "I've known her for a very long time."
Mika looked at him with a little shock. "How long have you know her?" She was curious. She was expecting an out of the blue quick romance like the tabloids had suggested.
"Hmm, I guess we've know each other since I was ten years old. That would make it... twelve years now?" He fudged the numbers a bit. They didn't need to know they hadn't kept in touch the whole time. Not with the way they had been portraying her. He chuckled. "She refused to have anything to do with me romantically until recently. Not that I didn't try." He told her.
"You mean she refused The Ren Tsuruga?" She sputtered in shock.
He chuckled and nodded.
"Doesn't it bother you that she left Japan? That she left Japan to become an American?" She wanted to direct it back to Chouko.
He looked up in thought. "It doesn't really bother me. My father did the same thing and no one seemed to mind. She has enough talent to be international. Why confine her to the limits of Japan? If I were Japanese-American, would it bother you?"
Her eyes shot up to him in surprise. "What?!"
"Well yes, I was born and raised in America under the name of Kuon Hizuri." He told her with his Lying Gentlemanly Smile. "Does it bother you so much?"
Across town in a tall building known as LME, an eccentrically dressed man choked and spewed his coffee on the screen before him. In the studio, a manager's jaw nearly dislocated when it dropped and a smug interviewer had been sufficiently put into her place with the scoop of the century.
Yashiro had been told about the blond hair and green eyes before their trip back, but this? This was an entirely new revelation he was not prepared for. Yashiro shook it off and quickly broke out his day planner, scanning over any openings that they would inevitably need because of the bomb that had been dropped. He sincerely hoped that this didn't effect any of Ren's jobs. He sighed in dismay.
Mika shook her head silently. "So... Why did you come to Japan? Why did you lie to your fans and the public? You're the son of Kuu Hizuri!"
He was not about to tell the real story of that. It was for family and close friends. "Aw Mika-san... A stage name isn't a lie. There are many actors and actresses in the business that hold a stage name. They do it so they may have a private life. My reason was that I wanted anything that I did attributed to my efforts and not my name. It was very difficult growing up being Kuu Hizuri's son and wanting to be an actor. People only tend to see the name and not the person. Your reaction just now proves my point. I'm certainly not the first actor that wanted to get away from their family name and I'm certain I won't be the last."
The rest of the interview focused on Kuon and his reasons and passions for acting. The topics ranged from his own experiences and drifted to other actors around the world that had befallen the same fate as Kuon Hizuri, as far as family names went. It felt like the first time he had been interviewed in Japan after his debut. At least they won't focus on Kyoko anymore. He was tired of the media hounds and how they had been digging at her for the past weeks. If they wanted a punching bag, it would be him.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!" Lory howled.
Kuon winced. "I guess I really wasn't. I just got tired of them taking digs at Kyoko."
Lory rolled his eyes. "Kuon, she isn't even here. They do not have any effect on her where she is."
"I know but, it bothers me." He told him quietly.
Lory nodded. "Well, you could have warned me and Yashiro-kun at least. So we could do damage control."
"Sorry Boss." He said sheepishly.
Lory narrowed his eyes at him. "Is there anything else you plan on blowing up the media with in the near future? Anything I should be aware of?"
"Not that I can think of at the moment." He chuckled wryly.
Lory sighed in frustration and shook his head. "Well... You are definitely in Love. That's obvious after the fool thing you just did." He chuckled as he poured two glasses of scotch and handed one to Kuon. "So, I take it you will be making arrangements to go home soon?"
Kuon looked at him with a fire in his eyes and a look of determination. "Home is wherever she is."
Lory nodded. "Alright then." He commented as he pulled several files from a drawer in his desk. "Look over these and choose. I think you're ready." He told him as he pushed them toward Kuon.
Kuon looked at him with furrowed brow. "What are these?"
Lory smiled mischievously. "Those son, are all of your offers that came in this week for American films."
Kuon looked at him in surprise and nodded as he quickly took the files.
Lory picked up his phone and dialed his receptionist. "Send in Yashiro-kun."
Moments later a frazzled Yukihito Yashiro walked through the office doors.
"Ahh Yashiro-kun, how's your English?" Lory asked with a big smile.
Yashiro looked at Lory and back at Kuon. A look of determination crossed his visage. "Very adequate Sir." He answered.
"Good... I just gave Kuon some offers I would like for you two to go over for his American Debut." Lory smiled taking a long drag off his cigar.
Yashiro smiled back and sat next to Kuon as Lory poured another glass of the amber liquid for Yashiro. "Choose wisely." He smiled and left the room to make his daily rounds of spreading love throughout the building.
{Deep within the stately mansion a meeting between several unusually gifted individuals was taking place. Echoes of a heated discussion could be heard from the drawing room where they all sat comfortably on the cushions places generously on the floor in a circle. Drapes were drawn and doors were locked. Two lives hung in the balance, a young woman and a small boy.}
[The ghostly apparition paced before the stoic gathering before her. Wizened eyes followed and knowledgeable ears listened as she described what she had learned of the unique young female she had examined in the hospital. Melanie Marrs was indeed unique. Initially thought to be a simple shifter belonging to the Children of the Earth, she was introduced to what would become her new caretakers. However, they would not be enough to train her in the knowledge that she needed to maximize her potential.
"It's not that simple." Aerie told them as she paced before the seated Elders in what most would consider a lavishly decorated sitting room of a large mansion.
"Well, then please explain." The leader of the Water Tribe told her in a enchantingly melodious voice that was dangerous to a normal human as the other leaders listened intently.
Aerie took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. The girl was special. "This girl... She's not just a simple shifter. Her parents... They had to have been from mixed blood also. She possesses qualities from all of the Tribes; however, her brother does not."
Eyes filled with surprise. "Surely you don't mean like those before the Tribes separated, do you?"
Aerie nodded grimly.
Before they separated, there were those whose power was combined. Legendarily speaking, they were mistaken for gods by the ancient humans: Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite, Hera and many others in the ancient world to name a few that had severely abused their status.
"I believe that if educated properly of her heritage... she could be an asset in the future. She doesn't seem to have the personality to abuse those around her like the ancient ones did. I feel that if she spent time learning from each clan, she could very well be a uniting factor. A common bond." Aerie explained.
"If not?" The leader of the Fire Tribe asked with a hard stare.
"Then we do as we have always done with her kind." Aerie told them in a sad voice.
"Very well." The leader of the Children of the Earth told her. "I will approve of her entry and initial education with my sons."
"Two years should be enough. Then she will study under Nereyda of the Water Tribe." The leader of the Fire Tribe turned to the beautiful, young looking woman covered in tiny opalescent scales.]
"Cut!" Director Mills called out. "Don't forget, we'll be filming in the Humboldt's State Parks for the next few weeks. We've rented a few cabins there, so don't worry about lodgings. Just make sure you bring proper attire for the climate this time of the year. It will be chilly." He informed and warned. "You have 3 days to get prepared and get there on time on Monday." He then gave out fliers with their lodging information and dismissed the cast.
Aki Shoko had been walking on eggshells for the past few weeks. Ever since the news got out about Ren Tsuruga, now Kuon Hizuri, dating Chouko/Kyoko. Sho had been completely livid when he saw the cover of the entertainment magazine that featured a photo of the couple as they were spotted many times during London Fashion Week, their faces were everywhere. One featured Ren the other as Kuon. He couldn't turn without seeing them hugging, cuddling, kissing or, flirting. To make it worse the same girl had become known as the Ice Queen and Hizuri was able to melt her, according to many articles. The Ice Queen he had met in New York that had given him the brush off with her manager.
Aki rubbed her temples and sighed. "What a pain in the ass. I need a new charge." Now he wanted her to find the girl so he could make sure she knew her proper place. "Not gonna happen." Aki sighed again.
"What's not gonna happen." A spoiled male teen's voice questioned.
Here we go. I need to tell him and lay down the law. She thought. "I am not stalking Kyoko-chan for you."
"It's not stalking! I'm just keeping track of my property. She needs to know just exactly who's family took her in." He tried to convince her with his own twisted logic.
"Sho... She lives in California now. They have stalker laws. Trust me. If you do there what you do here... they will arrest you. Are you sure you want that?" Aki informed him.
"Pfft." He scoffed. "She wouldn't call the police on me."
Aki looked at him incredulously. "She might not but, her bodyguard or, manager will. Quite possibly even her parents."
"Whatever, she doesn't have parents. So, I really don't need to worry about it." He blew off her warning. Like she has anyone that sees her like that, not even my parents did. He scoffed.
Yes, I am definitely resigning. Aki had made up her mind. She was sick of babysitting this spoiled little punk.
"I think I will take this one for now Boss." He looked up at Lory and pointed to the script. "I thought they had already started filming for this one."
"They have but, their guy broke his ankle last week and you fit the bill. You will have to go with your blond hair and green eyes and I really hope you remember how to surf." Lory told him.
"Kuon? You know how to surf too? Is there anything else I need to know?" Yashiro asked.
Kuon smirked at him. "I remember how." He turned his attention back to Lory. "So when do they need me for Tribal?" Kuon knew about her movie. He and Kyoko had been keeping in touch for the past few months. His heart was doing acrobatics and running a marathon all at once.
Lory flipped through his planner and pulled off a sticky note. "You will need to call Director Mills at this number as soon as possible and then I think you'll meet in Hawaii sometime next month." Lory handed the little note to Yashiro then dismissed the boys.
Lory leaned back in his seat and smiled widely then laughed. "Hope you like your gift." He said to the empty office while puffing on his cigar.