Chapter 96: Misconceptions

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, we would definitely see more Momiji kicking ass (I hope Sensei shows us!).

Kyoko held her phone out in front of her, adjusting it until the camera focused. Click. She put her phone down and popped a steak fry into her mouth, deciding to send the picture of her food to Kanae and Chiori later. Kanae would probably scold her for the weight she gained just by staring at the picture. It was hilarious that her best friend thought she could gain weight by thinking of unhealthy food.

While she chewed on her fry, she looked around the place. Behind the counter were an antique register, soda fountain, and other retro gadgets one would see in a diner from the past. She peered through the service window, fascinated by the cooks in the back as they worked to prepare the food. American memorabilia covered the walls. There were license plates, posters of classic cars, and vintage ads. It was a small space that could fit no more than twenty at a time. It had black and white checkered tiled floors, white Formica countertops and tables, red vinyl seats, and chrome accents.

To get the full experience, they sat on the red stools along the counter with their backs facing the door and asked the waitress to take their picture. Closing in with their cookie milkshakes tilted to their lips, they posed for the photo. Tadashi thanked the waitress and happily retrieved his phone. Judging by the hush whispers, he could tell that the staff was slowly beginning to recognize The Kyoko. He had intentionally avoided using his daughter's name to maintain her anonymity so they could eat in peace.

Tadashi smiled, happy that his daughter was getting recognition, and focused on eating his food. The portions were a little smaller than what he would expect at a classic American diner, but it wasn't lacking in any way. The meat was well seasoned and had the perfect amount of juiciness to make it mouth-watering. He laughed at Kyoko's expression at the juices dripping down her wrist whenever she took a bite. She appeared happy about it.

Kyoko was slurping the remains of her milkshake when the owner/head chef came out of the double doors to greet her. In his hands was a copy of the Boost magazine with her picture on the front cover.

"May we please have your autograph, Kyoko-san?" The owner humbly asked.

"Oh," Kyoko blushed and wiped her hands to take the pen. "I didn't think anyone recognized me."

"It took us a moment," the owner admitted. "Your amber eyes gave you away immediately. We just couldn't believe a star like you could be eating in a dive like this."

"Oh," Kyoko replied solemnly, signing the magazine. Did she give off a bad impression?

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be insulting. I am ecstatic to have you eating my food."

Kyoko beamed, returning the magazine to the owner. "You should be proud of your establishment. The décor is fun and my food was tasty. I enjoyed it very much."

Kyoko excitedly began discussing the cooking techniques and the seasonings he used on her burger, engaging the owner. Entranced by the pretty actress, the owner had no problems giving away his trade secrets.

Soon, it was time to go. Kyoko promised to come again and try more of his milkshake flavors which pleased the chef.

"Could we also have a picture with you?" The owner asked on behalf of his staff.

Kyoko bowed her head shyly, giving consent.

"I can take it," Tadashi offered, taking the phone from the owner.

Kyoko twisted on the stool while the owner and the staff gathered behind her.

"Okay, on three, say Kyoko-san. 1, 2, 3!" Tadashi counted, holding up the phone to take the picture.

"Kyoko-san!" came the collective response from behind her. Kyoko smiled and blushed, holding up a peace sign, ignoring the other phones trained on her by the other customers.

"Thank you so much, Kyoko-san. Please come again," the owner said as she waved goodbye to everyone. The man made a mental note to look into what it would cost to have her endorse his restaurant. He was still paying down the loan on this location but planned to expand. He decided the rewards of having her in an advertisement far outweighed the costs. With her permission, the owner opened his diner's social media page and wasted no time posting the group picture with her. #TheKyoko-san.

He also sent the photo to his staff so they could have a copy. None of them hesitated to post up the picture on their pages. The owner didn't realize the power of social media and the popularity of Kyoko. Since he was so busy running the diner, he never looked at the page again for the rest of the day. The photo was shared thousands of times over the next 12 hours. The candid videos of the customers that were present at the time the photo was taken would also be posted. The sincerity of the actress interacting with the polite staff would improve not only the people's view of her but the diner itself. When the owner woke up early the next day to open his diner for breakfast there would be a line thirty deep waiting to be served. Among those in line, would be a famous food critic that would later write an article praising the diner's reputation allowing the owner to secure reliable investors and expand his franchise. The owner would eventually thank Kyoko for choosing to eat in his diner that evening.

When Kyoko arrived on the set of Sacred Lotus, she went straight to greet the director while her father went to sit with the other managers. Thanks to her Momiji training, she stealthily walked up to get a better view of the scene underway. Since the sun had set, the set was dimly lit by torch lamps that were part of the set. The whole crew was trained on the dark edge of the forest in anticipation. The director and a cameraman came out first walking backward with the camera aimed in the direction they emerged. Kyoko paused when a disheveled young boy about ten years old wearing a black kimono and hakama finally came through the trees. He carried an equally disheveled little girl almost half his size on his back. Her foot was bare but bandaged as if she had injured it. Judging by the little girl's attire, they had to be filming one of the flashback scenes between Momiji and Shizuma. If Kyoko remembered correctly, young Momiji jumped from a tree while tailing Shizuma and twisted her ankle.

"I'm sorry, Shizuma-sama," the little girl's voice pierced the silence though the area was bustling with extras doing their part for the scene.

"This is why I told you not to follow me," the boy reprimanded. The girl stiffened in his arms. Another camera followed the children from the side as they continued to walk. Even in the near darkness, Kyoko could see the little girl's frustration. Tears threatened to escape her eyes but she managed to hold them back.

"I'm sorry Master that Momiji is nothing but a burden to you. I promise I will get bigger and grow stronger."

The boy sighed and softened his face even though the girl could not see it. "Yes, I'm sure if it is you, you can do it. Next time just say you were hurt instead of enduring, okay?" He said in a softer tone. Momiji nodded into his back.

Ah, so this is the Shizuma before he became the wandering samurai. To a young girl like Momiji, who discarded her treacherous family, he was her whole world. There was no stopping her feelings, Kyoko thought, holding her breath as the children walked by her into one of the buildings.

"CUT!" Jouji shouted. The crew all clapped praising the children as they came out. Koga was already up there, giving the kids high fives.

Kyoko looked on at the scene trying to remember how petty Koga used to be when she first met him at the auditions. He had admitted to her at their first meeting how much he hated Ren. The more she worked with Koga the more she came to believe that her boyfriend and her costar would get along great as friends since they were both serious about acting. Her part in the project was coming to an end so she was already feeling nostalgic. Although she didn't get a chance to work with her best friend, she met some amazing people along the way.

"Kyoko-chan come quickly. Look, these kids are playing us! Well, the younger Momiji and Shizuma. Isn't mini-me, ahem, I mean they, aren't they adorable?" Koga called out waving her over to where he was standing with the young actor and actress. Rolling her eyes at Koga's narcissism, well that part of him hasn't changed, Kyoko went to join them after greeting the director and nearby staff.

"This is Megumi-chan and this is Take-chan," Koga continued when she finally reached them. Kyoko bowed a quick greeting to her costars.

"You both did very well. I was able to watch the scene earlier and was very impressed with your acting," Kyoko said bending down to praise the children. Koga was right they were both adorable and not at all cheeky like Hio as they politely greeted her in return. The little girl was actually eight years old but was playing a five-year-old Momiji. Her eyes weren't as light as Kyoko's but since she would only be shown briefly in flashbacks the Director and Producer thought she would be perfect.

"They've been filming the outdoor scenes here for the last two hours and are done for the day. The rest of their scenes are filmed in the studio using a green screen." Koga told her. Cedric joined them to give his congratulations to the children and greet Kyoko. He had not seen the children's performance but he had heard all the praise. Kyoko looked at Cedric curiously as he naturally smiled and chatted with Koga and the children. Yesterday wasn't just my imagination. He seemed different as he engaged in the conversation. It looked like the burden from Kimiko's incident had been lifted from him. He was no longer sulking in a corner like had been the norm these last few days. The kids eventually left with their parental managers and Cedric was called by the assistant director.

"Bennett-san seems to have recovered his spirits," Kyoko commented after the actor was out of hearing range.

"I'd attribute it to my awesome-ness, but it seems he talked to the Morizumis and got some things off his chest," Koga responded. Now that Cedric was no longer sulking, he could invite him out again as his wingman. He knew women would flock to them for his foreign good looks. "Ooh American," would be the first thing out of their mouths when they saw Cedric's dirty blonde hair and large hazel eyes. Koga still couldn't understand the allure of foreigners.

Kyoko looked over in Cedric's direction one last time before heading toward her dressing room. Saena had informed her that a restraining order was placed on Kimiko and her cousin. She was to have zero contact with either of them.

...

Kyoko emerged from her dressing room prepared to tackle Momiji. The stunt coordinator walked up to her holding the script so they could go over the scene they would be filming tonight. Cedric and three other actors playing the opposing samurai also gathered around as they rehearsed their scenes. The director was still occupied with filming Shizuma and Chidori so they had some time to nail it down before the camera rolled.

Kyoko was ready to execute the scene by the time the director arrived. Jouji swept through the set to verify that all the cameras, lighting, and sound equipment were in place including several smaller cameras mounted on trees and buildings.

"Okay, everyone. Please gather around. We will be filming the Bath House Scene. Koga will be…where is Koga?" Jouji asked, looking at the crowd.

"I'm here," Koga announced, walking up dressed in a terry cloth robe.

"Okay, good. Shizuma will be vulnerable while having a bath. He can afford to let his guard down and have a soak because Momiji is there to protect him. So, Kyoko-san, you will be perched on that tree. We are showing off Momiji's stealth in this scene. So silence is key. Shizuma will act like he's heard nothing and continue to enjoy his drink without a care in the world until he's interrupted. The reason for that is he has complete faith in Momiji's ability to protect him."

The team nodded, agreeing with the director's brief assessment. "Okay, get to your marks," Jouji told them, clapping his palms.

"Please keep Momiji in check and try not to peek at me in the bath. I'm a bit shy," Koga teased, waggling his eyebrows.

Kyoko sputtered in response making the crew and other actors laugh. Momiji would never do something so shameless though she may or may not have seen her Master bathe in the river a time or two on their journey.

Kyoko climbed the ladder to the high branch that concealed her in the tree's canopy. She inhaled and exhaled allowing Momiji's spirit to take over her body.

"And Action!" Jouji called from below. The sound of the clapperboard signaling to start immediately followed.

Momiji lounged on a branch, picking at her nails with a kunai while she waited for her master. She tried not to grumble at the fact that her master was now taking a cozy little bath in the small building beside her. 'It's all that woman's fault. She's making him soft.'

Her ears perked up, homing in on a soft rustling sound in the brush beneath her. With her animalistic senses, her eyes pierced through the darkness hunting for her prey. The sounds were too careful to be that of an animal. Shifting her position quietly, Momiji kneeled on her haunches ready to spring into action. She spotted a man to her left that would be crossing right underneath her perch. For a better vantage point, she stretched out and silently slipped to the branch below, melding her body to the limb to avoid detection. She counted two other men, one coming from the southeast side of the bathhouse and the other from the southwest. It was insulting that they only sent three men after her master.

She sheathed the kunai and waited for the third man to pass below her. Momiji steadied her heartbeat and slowed her breathing while he scanned the trees for any danger. It was so dark he couldn't see her. Momiji wrapped her hands over the branch, displaying great arm strength, and slowly lowered her body just as the man passed her. She wrapped her legs around the man's neck and twisted until she heard the cracking sounds of bones. Using her feet, she lowered the man quietly to the ground and then followed with a soft thud. She rushed to engage the man at the southwest side since he was closer, making sure to mask her approach. The man didn't see or hear her coming as she placed her small hand over his mouth and used her short sword to slice his neck from ear to ear, spraying blood everywhere.

The third man paused at the edge of the clearing, looking in the direction where his comrades should have emerged. He thought Yamada had taken care of all the sentries on duty tonight so what happened to his partners? Summoning all his courage, the man pushed through the growth, prepared to complete his mission.

Armed with ninja stars, Momiji flung the projectiles at the last man. One lodged in his chest while the other stuck in the cavity of his right eye causing blood to gush out of the wound. The man let out a short howl of pain before it turned into a gurgle as Momiji silenced him permanently.

She kneeled by the dead man with both short swords in her hands ready to strike until the sounds of swords clashing inside the bathhouse gained her attention. There was another culprit that slipped past her undetected. She rushed to the small building and found her Master engaged in battle with Yamada. Momiji did not hesitate and jumped in to assist her master. Although this building was called a bathhouse, it wasn't very large so there was hardly any room for adequate sword fighting. When Yamada spotted Momiji, he used the edge of the tub as leverage and crashed through the slotted wooden window. Momiji paused to look over her master. She ran her gaze up his body from head to toe, inspecting it for any wounds. It took her roughly a second before she concluded that he was fine. Using the tub's edge as a springboard, Momiji chased after Yamada by diving through the same hole head first. She tucked her neck in and rolled on the ground. Without missing a beat she sprang to her feet and dashed into the forest, following the sounds of the man in front of her.

"Cut!" The Director's voice rang out. "Good, good!"

"Koga-san, are you okay?" the assistant asked the actor after handing him his robe and slippers. Koga gave the woman a weak laugh and said he was fine.

How could she just keep such a straight face like that after running her eyes over my naked body? Okay, almost naked. He was wearing a loincloth, but still. Koga had been ninety-nine percent sure her reaction to his near nakedness would cost them an NG. His pride as a man took a huge hit tonight as he realized his body was nothing compared to her boyfriend in her eyes.

Tadashi handed his daughter a towel and a bottle of water when she finally emerged from the trees. She smiled at him gratefully and blushed from his overpraising. The medic and stunt coordinator checked her over to make sure she didn't hurt herself when she jumped out of the window. Kyoko assured them that she was fine. The cushion placed on the ground dulled the impact on her body so she felt no pain. They would have to reshoot her ground roll so the final cut would look like she landed on the hard earth vice a soft mattress.

"Take a break, everyone. Yuki and I are going to look over the film," Jouji called out. Of course, the break only applied to the cast while the crew went about doing their various tasks.

Kyoko bowed to Koga as he approached her. "Good work, Koga-san."

"Ah, yes, you too. Your work was admirable as usual. Not a single NG as expected of Tsuruga-kun's Kohai," he replied curtly. He wasn't going to let this go.

Oh, now you blush at the mere mention of that man's name! Koga was tempted to ask her how his body compared. If he knew what he was lacking, he could work on improving himself. His pride won out. It was just too pathetic. He needed to get over this inferiority complex. When are those polls supposed to come out? He had to at least come out on top as the number one bachelor now that Ren was off the market.

Cedric joined them a few minutes later. "Looks like we may have to redo some scenes," Cedric muttered, nodding to where Jouji and Yuki were reviewing the film on a laptop.

Jouji's expression was a bit disturbed while Yuki's expression remained stoic as usual. The director gestured for the stunt coordinator to take a look.

"What do you think we should do? Should we try to film it again and hope he gets it right or should we change it?" Jouji asked, wanting the stunt coordinator's expert opinion.

The coordinator held his fist over his mouth trying to suppress his laughter. The actor's face no doubt portrayed one of great embarrassment rather than fear of death. He watched the scene again, Momiji stealthily controlled her body to hang from the tree. She quickly wrapped her thighs around the man's head from behind and crushed his neck. This time he couldn't hold back his laughter.

"This is no laughing matter. How could something so deadly look so provocative?" Jouji scolded.

"I think it's good to leave in the film. It shows off Kyoko-san's strength. She gives off this black widow spider kind of feel coming out of the trees like that to kill her prey. I have an idea, let's try to film it again. Where's the actor?"

Jouji called for an assistant to find the extra. The assistant went through the crowd looking for the actor playing Samurai number one and brought him to the director.

"Oh, good, you're here. Please take a look at the scene we just filmed," Jouji instructed the actor and moved back. After watching the scene, the man's ears turned bright red with shame.

"Do you see what you did wrong here?" Jouji questioned the actor.

"We have to do a retake of this part because of your expression. You should be petrified by death. If it's too hard just think about what her boyfriend would do to you if he knew you were having lewd thoughts about his girlfriend when you're supposed to be working. If you can't get it in this take, I will replace you," Jouji threatened, striking fear in his heart.

The actor gulped. The threat of Ren coming after him was enough to sober him up and get it right the next time. Everyone on the set knew that Ren was very protective of Kyoko. Underneath his gentlemanly persona, lay someone that could easily become Cain Heel.

Ren was already buttoning up his shirt when Yashiro returned to the sterile backroom after making a few phone calls.

"All done, Ren?" Yashiro asked, glancing between Ren and the artist, Ryota. "Are there any specific instructions he has to follow to keep it intact for tomorrow?"

"It's waterproof so you can take a shower and sleep like usual just don't use anything abrasive on it. In other words, try not to scratch it."

Yashiro snickered making Ren cast an annoyed look at his manager.

"I'll be at the shoot tomorrow with my equipment so I can touch up anything that gets ruined," Ryota assured them.

Ren and Yashiro thanked Ryota for his time and left the exclusive shop. This was going to be an interesting night.

"Yashiro-san, there are a few stops I would like to make before we head home. If you have other plans, I can hire a car."

"That's nonsense! I'll take you anywhere you need to go until I see you home."

"Thank you. I will have to impose on you a little longer." Ren opened his phone and figured his stops into the Maps app. It gave him the most efficient routes possible on the way home.

Yashiro's inner fangirl radiated with glee as he pulled up to the final stop. This time he stepped out with Ren so he could pick something up for Kanae. Ren already thanked him with a gift for her at the second stop, though Yashiro wasn't sure she would appreciate it.

…

"Good Luck, Ren," Yashiro called to him as he shut the door. Ren was waiting for the elevator when two familiar tenants joined him.

"Oh look, dear, I think someone is in the dog house," the man's humorous voice caught his attention.

"Well, he seems to be reflecting quite nicely, so don't tease the young man," the woman responded.

"Good evening," Ren greeted, bowing to the Ichigo couple.

"So what did you do this time, Tsuruga-kun?" Ichigo-san asked curiously.

"Don't pry, honey," his wife scolded.

"Ah, it's okay, Ichigo-san," Ren said with a warm smile to the wife. The older woman practically swooned from his attention. "I have some things with work to explain and I hope she understands my decisions."

"Well, looks like you got the right of things. Gifts certainly will soften the blow," she told him, giving her husband a knowing look. Ren tried not to laugh as the older man tugged at his collar uncomfortably. They stepped into the elevator while the married couple continued to tease each other. On their floor, the Ichigo couple wished him luck and good night. His future with Kyoko in thirty years occupied his mind the rest of the way up.

When Kyoko heard the front door alarm chime indicating that Ren was home, she scrambled to clean up her workstation to meet him. Her boyfriend had added a crafting station for her against the back wall of the large guest room. Little by little, she was slowly filling up the shelves with craft and art supplies. Before coming home tonight, she had stopped at the art store with her father to pick up some metal studs she desperately needed to finish her latest project.

"Hi, I'm home," he announced in English, walking into the room. He had forgotten this morning and easily reverted to Japanese. He didn't miss the way Kyoko placed a piece of cloth over whatever she was working on. She thought she was being secretive but he already knew what she was doing and found it amusing that she would want to hide it.

"Welcome home," she replied in Japanese and greeted him with a kiss. "It's late but have you had dinner?" He nodded yes thinking about the quick, high-calorie, nutritionless meal he had with Yashiro between appointments tonight.

"Are you okay with your English lessons now?"

"Yes, it's fine. I'm more confident now," she concluded with a smile. "Thank you for your help."

"Okay, if you're sure…" he waited for her nod. "I have something for you," he said, pulling her by the hand out of the room. Kyoko's heart quickened in anticipation. The last time he had something for her he gave her a strip tease. He was always surprising her with something.

Sitting on the coffee table was a small jewelry box, a bouquet of red roses and white chrysanthemums, and a small dessert box.

Corn! What did you do? She looked at her boyfriend suspiciously. Something happened at work and he's trying to appease me.

She raised her eyebrow at him, "Did somebody steal a kiss from you again?"

"What?!...No," he cried, shocked by her reaction to his gifts.

"Ah, that's a relief…I'm sorry for assuming the worst. It just seems that Corn is trying very hard today." She kneeled at the table and lifted the flowers to inhale them, smiling as the sweet fragrance invaded her senses. He sat down beside her, crossing his legs as she went through his gifts.

"May I?" she asked and gestured to the box. He nodded excitedly. She picked up the box and opened it. Inside, on a bed of satin, sat a crystal charm in the shape of Cinderella's glass slipper.

"You can add it to your bracelet," he suggested with a wide smile. He had strategically given that bracelet as her return gift so he could continue to add to it. He had commissioned the jeweler to create this charm and was a nice coincidence that it happened to be ready a few days ago.

"Thank you, Corn. It's lovely!" she gushed, moving to his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. Instinctively, his arms slipped around her waist and pulled her close.

"So are you going to tell me your news or should we eat cake first?" Kyoko asked, brimming with curiosity. This was very reminiscent of the fateful night everything in their lives changed so she figured he had something big to tell her.

How does she know? Did she hear from Boss or Yashiro? It doesn't matter who, I have to tell her myself. "How about I tell you while we eat?"

"Sounds like a good compromise. I'll get some plates," she offered, trying to stand, but he held her in place.

"No need," he told her. She sat on his lap while he opened the box. Using the fork that was provided, he plunged right into the strawberry shortcake. Kyoko reached for the fork, but he pulled back, insisting on feeding her. With a huff, she finally complied and took a bite. Pleased, he took a bite for himself.

"Start talking," Kyoko demanded when after a few scoops. Kyoko refused to eat anymore until he told her what was going on. He sighed and put the fork down, resting his forehead against hers.

His silence terrified her. What could be so bad that he was having trouble finding the words to speak to her? She could only conclude that it had something to do with his family back home. Could it possibly be? Kyoko tensed in his arms.

"I received some job offers from producers in LA," he finally spoke. It wasn't at all what she expected.

Kyoko exhaled shakily, relieved and happy at his wonderful news. "That's wonderful, Corn! I'm so proud of you! For a second, I thought you had a hidden love child," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him and raining kisses on his face. She stopped when she realized he didn't seem happy and pulled back to gaze at him.

Her words shocked him. What the hell is going on in her mind? First, I'm kissing other women and now I have a child. He took extra precautions in the past to prevent such a thing. He would be the first to admit that he had been young and stupid but he wasn't that stupid.

He ignored her words for now and focused on the purpose of this discussion, "I turned them all down."

Kyoko jumped off his lap. "What?! Why?! Isn't this what you've been working for? So you can return home to your family with your power!"

"You're my home! You're my family!" He confessed, his voice rising with emotion.

It was her turn to be shocked speechless. Kyoko's eyes grew blurry from the tears pooling in them and she bit her lower lip to still the tremble. While her heart soared with love over everything he just said, Kyoko couldn't stop the wave of guilt that followed.

Did he decline those parts because of me? Am I holding him back?

"Shit, no, wait!" He sputtered seeing her anguished expression. "Don't take that out of context. That's not why I declined the roles. Can you please listen to my reasons?" he begged, reaching out for her from his knees.

"The parts I was offered weren't leading roles. I know it's arrogant of me to not take what I can get and slowly build a portfolio in the States. I can't help but think that I'm still not ready if I can't even land a leading role straight out of Japan like my Dad. In other words, I'm still a coward."

Kyoko kneeled in front of him and flicked him hard on the forehead the same way Kuu had done to her when she played young Kuon.

"Ow!" They cried in unison. Kyoko cradled her aching finger and he rubbed his smarting forehead. Did I do it wrong? How did Otou-san do that?

"Kuon, I know if Otou-san was here, he would have done the same thing if he heard you talking bad about yourself," Kyoko scolded and wagged her hand in an attempt to shake the numbness out of her finger.

Kuon sighed in defeat. She was right, his Dad would have flicked his head, but harder. I'm so lame. Maybe I haven't changed at all. He shook that thought off since he knew it was far from the truth and watched his girlfriend massage her hand. He was grateful for that little wake-up from her and was sorry she hurt herself in the process.

"You're the bravest person I know Kuon, so stop belittling yourself! If you're having problems, you should tell me. I want to be your support the way you are mine."

He nodded, took her injured hand in his, and brought it to his lips for a kiss. That should make her pain go away.

She tried not to get distracted by his sweet gesture and asked, "So what's your plan? You can't hide in this country forever?"

"I'm not! I plan on continuing to strive for excellence in my work here until I find the right role even if I have to audition for it."

"Good, because if you haven't noticed, I'm kind of in love with you. The actress vying to represent Japan can't have such a lame-o boyfriend," she claimed, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Why you?!" He growled, lunging for her but missed. Kyoko was fast, pulling a few of her Momiji moves to evade him; however, he was always faster. She squealed as he threw her over his shoulder, lightly swatted her ass, and carried her caveman-style to their bedroom.

"Wait, Kuon! My cake!" she whined pitifully, glancing longingly at the rest of her abandoned cake.

"I'll buy you another one," he replied, giving her ass a hard squeeze. I need to get to the bottom of her misconceptions later. He couldn't change his promiscuous past, but apparently, she needed reminding of how much he loved her.

AN: Hiya! I got carried away but as always, thank you for sticking with me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Thank you for reading, and I appreciate all your reviews of the last chapter.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^