Chapter Forty-One

It had only taken her a week to polish and record the songs for her new album. The sense of accomplishment was elating. She twirled out of the recording booth with glee and copied the album on two memory cards for safe keeping. She practically skipped into Kuon's office looking for an envelope. Kuon chuckled at his wife's exceedingly good mood.

"You look really happy. What's up?" He asked as she spun around and kissed his cheek.

She held up the memory card. "I'm finally done." She told him with a big smile. "And... I copied an extra... If you want it."

He wrapped his arms around her waist as he sat before her at his desk. "You know I do. I love your music." He looked up at her. "So when does the courier get here?"

She looked up in deep thought. "Hmm... I still need to call Mark to let him know so he can pick it up and deliver it to the producer." She went quiet for a moment and seemed a little hesitant to continue.

"What's on your mind Sweetie?" He asked with a little concern.

"Well... Mark mentioned a couple of days ago that Lilium is looking for a model for their maternity line." She told him in a small voice.

Kuon smiled at her gently. "Kyoko... As long as you aren't traveling, I don't mind. After all, you need to keep your image out there for people to remember you."

"Really?" She asked excitedly. "I promise, no traveling. Mark already told them if they wanted me it would have to be here in Oahu." She added to reassure him.

"They agreed?" He asked in surprise.

She nodded with a big grin. "They really wanted me."

He chuckled. "I am so proud of you Baby." He hugged her tightly. "Congratulations. When do you start?"

"They want me to come in for some test shots next week." She informed him. "You want to come with me?"

He stood, kissed her cheek and hugged her again. "Of course. Now go call Mark and let him know." He told her and he playfully slapped her backside as she left.

It felt good to get out and be doing something, even if it was a brief little modeling job. Well... maybe not so little. Lilium had decided that she was the perfect face for their maternity line and wanted to keep her with the option to extend her contract after her delivery to their evening wear selection. They had enthusiastically agreed to the terms her agent Mark, had set forth concerning her not being able to travel. What made the deal even better was the fact that her husband, the Kuon Hizuri, was willing to be her partner in some of the shots where they needed a male background model.

She let out a deep sigh when a particular thought had occurred to her. "I'm sorry." She whispered to him as they sipped their drinks and snacked.

He looked at her in surprise. "About?"

"You took this time off to spend with me and I've been working. I... I'm so sorry. I've been so selfish. I didn't even think about it." She was starting to feel really guilty about spending their off time working.

Kuon chuckled. "Sweetheart... It's alright. Besides, they only want you for a few days out of the entire year that I get to spend with you and..." He leaned in and placed a little kiss on her nose. "I get to go with you." He smiled brightly and leaned back to sip his coffee.

She sighed with relief. "Thank you Kuon."

"No problem Love." He told her and placed his hand upon hers.

She looked down at their hands and noticed the time on her watch. "Oh! I'm cooking tonight. We better get going. There's a few things I need to pick up." She reminded him as she started to gather her bag and stand.

"Okay... I guess you will need the extra time considering you're cooking for me and Dad." He smirked. "Are you going to let me help this time?" He asked as he tossed the tip on the table for their server.

She rolled her eyes. At least he wasn't as bad as Julie in the cooking department. "You can help prep." She giggled when he playfully pumped his fist.

Kyoko's agent Mark Brody, was beside himself this morning. First, he had been contacted by Julie Hizuri and thoroughly chewed out for letting Kyoko steamroll him into allowing her to work, then he received an equally delightful call from Kuu, explaining to him the finer points of not allowing Kyoko to overwork herself while pregnant with his grandchildren. It was only 11am and he already felt the need for a dry martini after wrangling with yet another offer for his client and trying to explain her circumstances.

"She's going to need a nanny when she has the twins." He chuckled wryly as he thought about how full her schedule was going to be not even two months after she's scheduled to give birth. Thus another task for him had been born. He whipped out his phone and dialed his contact for this particular task and began the process of looking for nanny candidates. He would bring up the subject later. The pool that he had to choose from would be a small one considering they would need to be of their kind and they would also need the approval of the parents and grandparents, which reminded him of another call he needed to make in his rapidly growing queue of calls to make.

Mark hung up his phone and dialed Julie's number to inform her of his idea and get her input. Thankfully, she enthusiastically agreed on the need and gave him several suggestions which coincidentally, matched some of the names on his list, giving him cause to cross out the others that weren't mentioned and finally... His call to his client herself.

"Hello, Kyoko?" He asked. "I've got a few things I need to run by you before I call the potential jobs back."

"Mark... You know I can't do much until the twins are born." She reminded him.

"Oh... No, no. It's nothing like that. I just gathered a few nanny candidates for you at the recommendation of Julie." He told her quickly.

She was silent on the other end for a long moment. "Mark... I'll have to think about that and get back to you."

"Alright. I sent the album off with the courier today. It should arrive in LA tomorrow morning. The producer to Tribal told me the scenes you'll be writing the music for will be sent to you as soon as the CG is complete and polished and you have an interview with Who's Now! next Monday, to promote Tribal and your new album. They'll be stopping by the house at around 11am. Don't forget you have your appointment with Dr. Kealoha on Wednesday." He reminded her.

"Thank you Mark." She told him.

"Oh! Do I need to contact your stylist for the interview?" Mark asked quickly.

Kyoko thought for a moment. "No... I think Mom will want to do everything that day. I don't want her to feel left out. She didn't get to do the wedding, so I should probably let her do at least this much." He could hear the smile in her voice.

Mark chuckled. "Alright... I'll let Carolyn know that she doesn't have to clear her schedule."

"Alright... Thank you again Mark. I will see you on Monday?" She asked as the conversation came to an end.

"See you then." He ended the call and made a few other calls that would end his business for the rest of the day.