Chapter 112: Morning Compliments

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would befriend Tina.

Kyoko slowly stirred from a fitful sleep, aching with need. She gasped as fingers tweaked her nipple through the T-shirt she wore and sighed as another hand slid down her belly, dipping inside her lace underwear. The erotic moan that followed as her lover rolled his fingers over her clit could wake the dead. She didn't even need to see. She knew these hands well, and they knew exactly how to please her. She tried to turn, but the strong arms held her in place. If that was what he wanted, she would oblige. Her hands gripped the sheets, and her legs parted, beckoning him to touch her most intimate flesh.

She felt hot lips on the back of her shoulder penetrating the soft cotton. The heat traveled up the side of her neck, causing a flutter in her belly. She arched her head to give him better access as his mouth caressed the sensitive skin behind her lobe. His teeth grazed over her neck and gently nipped. Her reaction was so strong she moaned loudly.

"Shhh, baby," came the sensual voice of the man that only earlier invaded her dreams. She bit her bottom lip from crying out as he pulled her lobe between his teeth and nibbled. The hand on her breast slid up her chest over her neck until the tip of his fingers traced her lips. She parted her lips and bit. Her tongue snaked out, swirling around the long digits. They curled and pushed slowly into her mouth. She sucked two into her mouth, hard. It was tantalizing. She imagined him filling her mouth as she ran her tongue up and down their length.

Kyoko bowed her back and rolled her hips to rub her entrance against his bulge. The teeth on her lobe bit harder as a groan escaped his throat. She bit in kind, making him hiss with pain, but his fingers remained. He ground his hips and pinched her clit instead. She inhaled sharply and released a shuddering breath when he rolled his fingers around her sensitive nub soothingly.

She trembled in his arms while his erection stroked her aching mound in an agonizingly slow rhythm. His fingers dipped. Kyoko spread her legs wider. He stroked her slit and then plunged roughly into her pulsing core. She gasped around the fingers in her mouth. Her tongue worked feverishly on his fingers, sucking and licking as both hands thrust within her.

"I love that you're so wet for me, baby," he whispered huskily into her ear, sending a flood of heat straight to the juncture of her thighs.

"Mmm," she croaked out. Her body quivered for release. He buried his face into the back of her neck as his dexterous hands worked her in all the right places. She could feel his hot breath coating her skin, sending shivers down her spine. Her hips bucked wildly against the heel of his hand as he increased his strokes. She bit down hard on his fingers when she finally reached her breaking point. He grunted into her hair and pulled his fingers out. He continued stroking until the contractions of her inner walls stalled.

When Kyoko finally returned to Earth, she turned her head, seeking his lips that trailed her jawline to find hers. His lips were soft yet firm as they closed over hers. She reached up, burying her fingers into the silky locks of her lover, and returned his passionate kiss. When they broke for air, she twisted in his embrace to face him, forcing his hands to stop teasing her body.

She raised her head to gaze into his emerald eyes in the faint light cast by the streetlamps outside. They were hooded and hidden behind his dark fringe. She swept his hair away and searched his eyes. He opened his lids fully, questioning her gesture. The twinkle she saw and the smile that graced his lips were all the answers she needed. He reconciled with Tina.

She smiled with relief, brushing the tip of her nose against his. Her arms encircled his neck, pulling him in for a steamy kiss.

...

Kuon broke away and rolled out of bed, saying nothing as he walked to the bathroom. He rummaged through the cabinet and then turned on the shower. He walked back to the room where Kyoko sat in bed her golden eyes wide with confusion. She looked breathtaking with her long hair tumbling wildly over her shoulders. He removed his boxers and gripped his cock. He fondled himself as he walked to her side of the bed. Kyoko uncoiled and licked her lips. He ripped the foiled pack and slid the condom down his length. He knew he didn't need it anymore but wanted the extra precaution. He would continue to use it until she was on the pill for at least a month. He was worried about any side effects that may affect her body. If she needed to quit the medication for some reason, he wanted them to be covered.

He reached down and pulled her up into a standing position on the bed, making her tower over him. Kuon wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. His fingers skimmed the hem of her shirt, tugging it up and off her. He loved that she always wore his shirts to feel closest to him when he wasn't around. She gripped his shoulders for balance as he shimmied her out of her underwear. Kyoko blushed beet red when he lifted the lace to his nose and inhaled.

"Pervert!" she hissed, smacking his shoulder. He chuckled and tossed it over his shoulder. He gripped her ass and devoured her chest, then made his way up to claim her lips. With his lips fuzed with hers, he lifted. Kyoko instinctively locked her legs around his waist and secured her hold around his shoulders. He carried her to the bathroom, stumbling when she rubbed her hot wetness against his abdomen. Kuon held her with one hand to open the shower door, letting a waft of steam surround them. He kept walking until he pinned her against the wall under the hot spray. Every nerve in his body came alive as the water caressed his skin. He could feel her tender flesh pressed against his abs, and her taut nipples brushing against his chest drove him to the brink. He was susceptible to every part of this woman touching him. Even the pain from her fingers digging into his scalp was pleasurable. His tongue entangled with hers passionately. All he could think about was sheathing himself within her. Reluctantly, he tore his mouth from hers.

He slid her down several centimeters hooking her thighs over his forearms and drove his cock deep inside her. She screamed against his chest as he invaded her roughly. He felt extreme gratification from the bite of her nails clawing at his shoulders as he rammed inside her with quick hard strokes. Kuon threw his head back and closed his eyes. He concentrated on feeling her heat surrounding him. He was worried that he was becoming a sex addict with her. Barely a day went by when he didn't claim her physically. It was torture not having her home with him for one day, physically and mentally. Kyoko whimpered against him, breaking through his thoughts. Was he hurting her? He looked down but couldn't see her face from this position.

He slowed his pace, worried that he was being too rough. "Uh, don't stop," came the throaty voice of the woman in his arms.

It was all the permission he needed. Kuon tightened his grip and resumed his quick pace. The sound of their wet bodies slapping against each other filled his ears, and the smell of their sex invaded his senses. It felt amazing to be inside her.

"Kuon...harder," she begged, panting against his chest. He felt her trying to wiggle against him, but there was no room for her to move. All she could do was hang on and go along for the ride.

His desire grew from the mewlings of her pleasure. He let out a guttural sound from deep in his chest and leaned forward, pulling her hips away from the wall for more leverage. He left her upper back pressed against it and spread her legs wider, jerking his hips powerfully. He fucked her harder.

"Fuck baby, you're so beautiful," he grunted between thrusts. "I can't get enough of you!"

Kyoko's cries grew louder below him, ricocheting against the small space. He knew they had a guest and thought the shower would deafen their sounds, but it was highly doubtful. If the main apartment walls weren't soundproof the whole complex would have received one erotic wake-up call. Her lips brushed his chest, causing him to react. Kuon pressed himself against her mouth, hoping to stifle her sounds without suffocating her. Kyoko latched onto his skin, sucking on his flesh. That hushed her voice some. She sucked harder, pressing her teeth against him. She was going to leave a bruise, and he didn't care. He rested his forehead on the wall above her and deepened his thrusts. He felt her tightening against him, her lips released him as she screamed his name.

A mere seconds later, everything blurred. Kuon saw white spots. His body convulsed from his powerful orgasm. His once sturdy knees now felt like jelly. He slid down the wall with Kyoko still in his arms. He kneeled on his haunches, seated deep inside her, but loosened the hold on her legs. His arms were heavy as lead but still had the energy to lift her chin to gaze into her eyes. The golden orbs glistening with tears tore at his heart. He cradled her face in his hands and licked her tears away.

"I love you," he cooed, kissing her gently. "I'm sorry, baby. I was too rough again."

Kyoko shook her head and smiled weakly through her exhaustion. "And again, I demanded it. Please don't ever hold back with me."

Kuon's smile grew with relief. They finished up their shower quickly and prepared to meet their guest.

"Morning, Sunshine!"

"Sota? What time is it?" Tadashi grumbled after picking up the offending device.

"Early or late, depending on how you see it," Sota answered cryptically.

"What's going on?" Tadashi asked, sitting up in bed and turning on the bedside lamp.

"We have a problem. The Princess's footage was leaked. It already spread."

"What? Isn't this what I pay Spectre for?"

"Sorry, man. He's only one guy, and you're not our only client."

Tadashi sighed. He couldn't be angry at them. "Was he able to take it down?"

"He's blocked it from most sites but shared exponentially. The damage is done. I told him to let it go. No point wasting resources."

"Can you figure out the source of release?"

"One step ahead of you there."

"Good. Send me the info. Can you put tails on the Morizumis?

"Will do, Boss."

Tadashi hung up the phone and looked around the room for his laptop. He spotted it lying on a moving box in the corner. He was packing his things in preparation for moving them to storage. He would be finalizing the purchase of his new place at the end of the week and hired an architect/designer to remodel the interior while he was abroad. Just when he thought things were settling down, it became complicated again. He had to call Lory.

Yashiro disentangled himself from the limbs of the raven-haired beauty that slept beside him. He searched his nightstand for gloves to stop the incessant noise. He slipped them on and then picked up his cell phone.

"Hello," he answered groggily.

"Yuki-kun, it's Takarada. We have a slight hiccup. Please clear Morimoto-kun and Ren's schedule this morning. I would like to see them in my office at ten sharp."

"Mmmm, Yuki, who is it?" Kanae asked sleepily.

"It's the President. Go back to sleep. I'll take it outside," Yashiro informed her, holding his hand to cover the mouthpiece. He knew the President had heard her. He waited for the LoveMon to make his usual comments, but they didn't come. This little hiccup had to be serious. He walked out to the living room and grabbed the throw blanket draped on the couch to cover his nudity.

"Am I interrupting something?" The president asked, amused.

Yashiro could imagine the smirk on the man's face at the other end of the line.

"No, nothing. No interrupting. Can you tell me what's going on, sir?" Yashiro asked in an attempt to deflect the president's curiosity.

Lory hummed. "Yuki, has life become so busy that you aren't trolling your usual sites? You'll see when you check your favorite couple. I leave you to inform them of the change. Please ask them to lay low until the meeting."

"Will do, sir. See you soon," Yashiro promised and hung up the phone.

He sat on his couch, staring blankly at the TV screen, then looked at the bedroom door. He could only think of one thing that would rattle the President at this hour. He picked up his laptop from the table and powered it on.

Once he was logged in, he pulled up his browser. His home screen opened to the entertainment page, giving him the latest celebrity gossip news. Grimly, he read the articles springing up. He knew there would be a few regarding the trial from the media coverage outside the courthouse. He recognized the main article by the Fuji News investigative reporter Kagayama Koki. It was so detailed that it was as if he witnessed the whole affair firsthand. He must have had a reliable source in the room because he wrote every minute occurrence. There was no crime in talking with the press about the trial afterward. It was only closed in the first place to keep it from developing into a media circus. Something like that would have hindered the trial's progress.

"Is everything okay?" Kanae asked as she walked out of the bedroom and snuggled next to Yashiro on the couch.

"It's okay. It's just that things are going to become a little hectic for Kyoko-chan again," he explained, turning the screen toward her. Kanae's lips pressed into a tight line as she watched the video.

"I have to call them," Yashiro said, reaching for the phone while the news video played.

"Good Morning," Tina greeted Kuon as soon as he stepped into the living room, startling him. She sat on the sofa holding a mug. Her eyes twinkled with mirth.

"Morning, I...um...hope you slept well," he stuttered, trying to hide his embarrassment. Maybe it wasn't his wisest move to have sex with someone else in their house.

"Not at all," she replied. Kuon flushed. She smirked, making him squirm. "Jet lag's a bitch."

Kuon nodded, trying to regain his composure. He had not made the flight from LA to Japan since he came here but easily recalled the exhaustion he felt the first few days until his body adjusted to the time change.

"Will you be flying out today?" He asked Tina.

"Yup, in a few hours. I have a high-profile client that I pushed off to come here. Gotta make that dough."

"I'll get started on breakfast. You can eat first."

Tina looked horrified at his suggestion. She shuddered probably recalling the two instances in the past when he attempted to cook for them.

"I'm good with...coffee?" She politely declined, holding up her mug.

"Tina-san, coffee is not a suitable meal to start your day! Is this an American thing? Does everyone over there only drink coffee for breakfast?" Kyoko scolded as she walked into the middle of their conversation.

Tina shrugged. "It beats whatever this kitchen disaster is attempting to feed me," she said, waving her hand toward Kuon. "It's a good thing he's pretty and can attract a wonderful woman like you, Kyoko-chan," Tina teased with a little laugh.

Kyoko giggled and blushed under the praise.

"FYI, I have improved," Kuon said with a pout. "I'll prove it." His phone rang, diverting his attention to the other room.

"Saved by the bell! Come on. I'll help you cook." Tina stood and pulled Kyoko to the kitchen.

"Yukihito? Is everything okay? It's quite early."

"Well..., the media is in a frenzy this morning."

"We knew they would be after the trial."

"Someone posted the footage."

"What? How?"

"I don't know. I'm rescheduling your morning. The President wants to meet. I'll pick you up in a few hours. It's best if Kyoko is picked up by her father separately."

"Okay, I'll see you then," he told his friend and hung up. Holding his phone, he walked out to the living room and overheard Kyoko exchanging recipes with Tina.

"Eh? So this is something Americans eat for breakfast?"

"Well, this American does. There's a diner that I frequent near my work. They make the best potato hash. It's a lot of carbs, but so worth it. While I still have my metabolism, I'm going to eat what I want. I starved myself for too long in my teens."

"Why? Why would you starve yourself?" Kyoko said, sounding aghast.

"Oh, I ate if you count salads as food. As a model, I was always on a diet and working out. It was such a pain in the ass. I think I was such a bitch because I lacked carbs. I may have put on some weight now, but I'm much happier with my overall self despite everything that has happened."

Kyoko's eyes widened at her choice of words. "Weight? What weight? You have a very nice figure, which is more than what I can say about my—."

"Kyoko-chan, please don't tell me you're one of those women that put themselves down just so they could get compliments out of people?"

"Wha? Wha? I would never! I'm sorry, Tina-san!" Kyoko exclaimed wildly.

Tina laughed genuinely. "I'm messing with you. Stop it! You might hit your head on the counter. "

Kuon leaned against the wall, covering his mouth with his hand to muffle his laughter. He could imagine Kyoko bowing profusely right now. Their conversation was so natural. No one would guess that they only met yesterday. It surprised him how casual Kyoko was around Tina. It would be perfect if Rick was here with them. He reminded himself that his current scenario would have never been if Rick survived.

"You're naturally beautiful inside and out. That's rare. Plus, Kuon thinks so too."

"He talked about me?"

"Yup! I may not understand Japanese, but I'm pretty sure I heard him saying how much he enjo —"

Kuon took this as his cue to intervene. Tina had no filter. "Oh hey, what did I miss?"

"We were just talking about how you complimented Kyoko this morning," Tina said, giving him a conspiratorial wink.

"Oh yes, I remember. We were talking about the pictures in the living room. How stunning you looked on awards night." Kuon interjected as a cover. He gave Tina a friendly but warning smile. It was a good thing Kyoko was late on the pickup and didn't realize Tina was teasing them. He came up behind Kyoko at the stove and kissed her on the cheek.

"But I think you're just as gorgeous like this," he told her, complimenting the oversized t-shirt and leggings she wore.

Tina cleared her throat. Kuon stepped away from Kyoko, wanting to kick himself. It was heartless of him to flaunt his happiness in front of her.

"I'm going to get my camera," Tina said, excusing herself.

"Is everything okay, Corn? Was that Yashiro calling?" Kyoko asked as she pulled the mixture of potatoes, veggies, and sausage off the stove and began cooking the sunny-side-up eggs to put on top.

"I have good news and bad news. Good news first?" He teased. Kyoko nodded.

"You get to skip school today." He smiled brightly and chuckled at her frown.

"I guess for someone like you who loves school, there's nothing good about that. Well, the bad news is we have to meet the Boss."

"That is bad news," she replied solemnly and shut off the stove.

"What happened? Did you two fight in the few minutes I was gone?" Tina asked as she took her seat.

"No, no, no, we didn't fight," Kyoko assured her, waving her hands.

Kuon's phone buzzed with an incoming mail. He opened the concierge's message. It was as he thought, only this time, more reporters were camping outside their complex. He glared at the message.

"Whoa, there's a face from the past. Bad news?" Tina asked, surprised to see his expression.

"Sorry." Kuon smiled weakly. "It seems today is going to be rather annoying."

Kuon turned on the TV when they were finally settled on the floor and clicked through the channels until he found what he was looking for.

"This is why Yashiro called." He raised the volume so they could hear the reporter.

"Oh my gosh!" Kyoko gasped as she watched the program.

"I already called the institution. They'll be expecting us today," Jiro said into his cell phone as he peeked out of the curtains to look at the front gate. "I'm waiting for the police transport to take Kimi to the airport."

"Is there anything you want to do about this?"

"Nothing will change if I did. If they want to do something about it, by all means, but count me out. I should have left with her sooner. Please tell them I'm sorry for what Kimi did yesterday. I'm afraid she made things worse."

"She didn't. Yuri-chan was on her way to self-destruction without Kimi-chan's help. I doubt it would have ended differently."

"How is Kusa-chan holding up?"

"She's devastated. She hasn't left her room or eaten anything, according to Kusanagi-san. Her beloved daughter was sentenced to twelve years in a maximum-security prison. They put her in solitary confinement early this morning for her protection. It seems Kyoko-san's Natsu character has quite the fan base in prison."

"Isn't that too much for Yuri? She's only just arrived."

"I'm afraid it's the policy if they see a threat to a person's life. This is considered her first offense since technically, her record is still clean. If she stays out of trouble, she can be up for parole in a few years. But then there's the investigation with the United States."

"What are her odds?"

"The Americans aren't messing around. They are charging her with aggravated vehicular homicide. Best case she's convicted of second-degree homicide by vehicle. Worse case and most probable case, she's convicted of first-degree homicide. With the circumstances surrounding her case, they'll push for the maximum sentence. If she had only stayed, even under the influence, she could have served at most a year of jail time."

Jiro could hear the weariness in his cousin's voice. "Are you going to continue to defend her?"

"If they extradite her, I'm going to have to transfer her case over to an American firm. I'm not licensed to practice law in the U.S. I can only provide guidance."

Jiro heard the uproar outside and stood to peek out the window again. He watched the black van and patrol car approach the gate while the angry mob of fans and reporters swarmed the vehicles. The gates opened to let the van in while the officers in the car controlled the growing crowd. They were respectful enough not to follow it in.

"Kento, I have to go. The police are here."

"Give Kimi-chan my love. I hope she recovers quickly and returns to her cute bubbly self."

Jiro bit his tongue, not wanting to tell him that her personality probably wasn't real.

"I'll be sure to let her know. I'm sure she would appreciate the sentiment. Good luck to you, Kento."

"And to you as well, cousin. Do you plan on ever returning?"

"I don't think so. After her release, we are relocating to South Korea near my wife's family. I don't think Kimi will be welcomed back in Tokyo, judging by the outpouring of hate outside my home. I'll try to stay relevant over there with K dramas or something. My biggest regret is not having worked with the 'Heel siblings,' but it's time I prioritize my family."

"I wish you well. Don't hesitate to call for anything. Kimi-chan has the right of it. Morizumis look out for one another."

"We do. Take care."

Jiro hung up the phone and went to find his wife and daughter. It was time to leave this place behind. He and his wife would be relocating to be closer to their daughter's institution. He wouldn't be an active participant in movies and dramas in Japan anymore, but he would continue to invest in them as a silent partner.

"Police already have the person in custody who released the videos. He was a court employee responsible for archiving the evidence. The police spokesperson should be releasing a statement soon," Tadashi reported to everyone sitting in the mahogany office of the LME President. He didn't think it necessary to tell them he was watching the Morizumis for any sign of retaliation. He hoped with this information, the family would see that they were not responsible for this leak and not take action.

It was difficult to hold a serious conversation when, every ten minutes, the sound of a crow cawing in the background would fill the space. Lory's office was transformed into a cornfield in honor of the Fall season. The place was decorated with various types of pumpkins, scarecrows, and crows. Ruto greeted them at the entrance wearing blue jeans overalls, a plaid shirt, and a straw hat. To get to the sitting area, they passed through the field in a maze-like pattern guided by Ruto. Lory was dressed in much the same fashion with a piece of straw tucked between his teeth. Today's theme would explain the green tractor sitting in the hallway with a trailer hitched to it. It was filled with straw and hay bails. Tadashi explained the hayride to those who were unfamiliar with the activity.

"Hmm, that information helps things. But it's not looking good for the Morizumis. The industry will bounce back from this." Lory contemplated while chewing on the end of his straw.

Lory turned to Yashiro, "Has any of Morimoto-kun's future projects expressed concern?"

"The only concern so far is if she can fulfill her upcoming contracts in light of the events," Yashiro replied, pushing up his glasses.

"Morimoto-kun?" Lory turned to Kyoko for confirmation.

"I'm fine, sir. I didn't get hurt," Kyoko replied firmly, placing the cup of herbal tea laced with pumpkin spice on the table.

"Physically, you aren't injured. You still experienced something traumatic that I failed to address. I couldn't miss how distressed you were yesterday."

"Ah, I'm really fine now." She assured everyone in the room.

"Really, I am." She emphasized, turning up to Ren as he rubbed her hand with his.

"Good to hear. Please tell me if that changes." Lory's eyes pierced Kyoko with a hard stare. It was like he was trying to determine if she was using acting to hide her true feelings from him. She was guilty of doing that in the past but had no reason to do so now.

Caw caw. The crow's cry broke the tension.

"Short term, I've set up a press conference for Morimoto-kun and Ren to address the media and their fans. A follow-up interview may be necessary if it doesn't settle the frenzy."

Kyoko and Ren both acknowledged the President's plan.

"There will be a time allotment of ten minutes for questions, which you may answer at your discretion," he explained as Ruto handed them the statement the PR director prepared. You still have a half-hour before the conference. You can use the time to prepare."

Kyoko stood with the rest, but her father remained behind.

"I'll be along shortly. I have one more thing to discuss with Takarada-san. I will tell you about it later," he told his daughter. Kyoko nodded apprehensively but left with Ren and Yashiro back through the corn maze.

…

As they walked down the hall, Kyoko received a text from Tina stating that she arrived at Narita airport safely. Kyoko was very happy that everything went well with Tina and Kuon. She would make it a point to stop and see her when they were in LA.

Yashiro excused himself to stop in his office. This left Ren and Kyoko alone in the LoveMe room, reviewing the page the PR director provided. It had a set of possible questions the press may ask regarding the trial. There were even absurd questions not related to the topic at all.

"Would they really ask these at such a serious event?" Kyoko asked incredulously.

"You'll learn quickly that reporters have a knack for blindsiding you. The trick is not to react and treat it with indifference," Ren advised. "Feel free to steal your Senpai's powerful phrase, 'no comment.' It infuriates them."

Kyoko giggled.

They were only in the room for about ten minutes when an insistent knock sounded at the door, interrupting the pair. "Come in," Kyoko called out.

"Onee-sama, Ren-sama! I'm glad I caught you!"

"Maria-chan," Kyoko cried in surprise as the girl bounded in. She hugged the little girl.

"Maria-chan, aren't you supposed to be in school?" Ren asked with a hint of reprimand while Maria hugged him.

"Don't tell Grandfather. I overheard him talking to Ruto-san and knew you would be here. I came to give you something," she said, holding a large gift bag.

Maria removed a wooden box with intricate carvings on its lid and sides. She flicked the latch and opened the box. Maria picked up the cards lying on top and placed them on the table. With reverence, she slowly peeled the silk black layer away. Kyoko and Ren peered over the little girl's shoulder to get a better look.

Maria turned up to them excitedly.

"Thank you, Maria-chan. Since I'm ignorant of the dark arts, can you please tell me what I'm looking at?" Ren inquired, feeling a little lost.

"Silly, this is a protection ritual kit. It will banish any negativity or bad luck. If those women weren't already being punished, Maria would have cursed them to oblivion." She shook her fist in the air and then sighed. "But, I'm only a child, and this is all Maria can do to help," she told them, finishing with a pout.

Ren and Kyoko exchanged glances and looked at the girl fondly.

"This is more than enough, Maria-chan. Can you tell us how each item works?" Kyoko cooed, taking a seat beside her little sister. Ren took the seat on the other side of her. They gave the sweet little girl their undivided attention.

"Yes!" Maria exclaimed, suddenly perking up. She picked up the cards and began explaining the significance of each item, starting with the black tourmaline crystal. They spent the remainder of their time studying each item in the ritual kit with their favorite little girl.

...

The press conference went over smoothly as Kyoko and Ren convinced the press that they were both fine and able to continue with work. They thanked everyone for all their love and support and asked them to respect the Morizumis and continue to support them in the industry. One or two individuals should not define a whole family. Kyoko added a shameless plug to The Lotus of the Mire. She was grateful and proud to have worked with Director Morizumi in his historical film.

She was blindsided by the question, "When is the wedding?" Kyoko had no idea how to answer. She didn't think "no comment" could be applied in this situation. She looked to her all-knowing Senpai for answers.

Ren smiled and leaned into the microphone, "It's a surprise." He winked at the crowd. He pulled a stunned Kyoko out of the room and dashed down the hall, looking for a place to hide while the room erupted with renewed chaos.

AN: Hiya! You know I had to start their day outright. My fellow pervs in Discord got me hung up on a shower scene since I left you hanging last time...This was all over the place but I hope you enjoyed it.

SPOILER ALERT 278: I'm just floored at how Sensei explained that ring away. Kimiko is all levels of crazy. I stand by me dracarys-ing her ass. XD

Thank you for your lovely reviews of the last chapter. I'm glad you liked how that went down.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^