Chapter 129: Feathered Friends

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kuon would reunite with old friends.

Cedric ran his hand over his face and sipped at the styrofoam cup filled with black coffee. He shouldn't have drunk that bottle of scotch last night once he made it home. His mind couldn't make heads or tails over the article Liam gave him nor his parting words the night before. The two seemed mutually exclusive. If his manager had not called to give him a ride this morning he would have been late for work. He was lucky that a meet and greet was the first thing on his agenda. That didn't require too much out of him.

The quiet ride had him reminiscing to the calm months he spent in Japan. He had no business longing for those days. He wasn't entirely honest with the information he shared with the "friends" he made overseas. The language barrier helped him immensely. He chose his words and thoughts carefully. He didn't want to give off a bad impression when it came to his past so he omitted some details intentionally when he spoke.

They didn't need to know that he was a white privileged prick. They didn't need to know that as a teen he used Japanese racial slurs on the guy he bullied because he knew it would deliver the most powerful punch to his gut than any physical attack would. They didn't need to know that he used to be a pompous ringleader that let other people do his dirty work. But most of all, they didn't need to know that he scurried away like a frightened away one night to save his hide. They didn't need to know because he wasn't that guy anymore. That was the sole reason he wouldn't be calling Liam; however, it didn't stop him from saving his contact information just in case.

Kuu felt blessed holding his wife's hand as they walked behind their son and daughter-in-law. He wore a permanent smile on his face as Kuon took Kyoko on a tour of the grounds and only interjected if something new was added since he left. His heart overflowed with love while Kuon enthusiastically recounted things to her that happened to him in certain places of the property. When Kyoko first informed them of her work here with fashion week, they never expected Kuon to show up with her. He was worried that soon he would wake up and find that the morning spent as a family was nothing but a blissful dream brought on by his inherent need to piece his family back together.

"Kuu, you're squeezing too hard," Julie wiggled her fingers against his hand.

His eyes widened, loosening his grip. "Sorry, darling." He lifted her hand and kissed it. "I got lost in thought," he told her with an apologetic smile.

"It's okay…" she responded and resumed walking with him still holding his hand.

"Don't they look adorable? Let's take some pictures," Julie suggested. Kuu pulled out his phone from his back pocket and paused to take a picture of the young couple walking in front of them. The fall colored leaves surrounding the trail they were on provided the perfect backdrop. He snapped another quick picture just as the kids turned around to see what was the holdup.

"You're worse than paparazzi, Dad," Kuon accused with a soft chuckle. If only Kuon knew the half of it. Kyoko tugged on Kuon's sleeve and whispered something into his ear. Kuon's green eyes flicked up and made brief contact with Kuu's. His son agreed to whatever Kyoko just told him with a nod.

Kyoko adjusted Ren's clothing while he ran his hands through his hair. When he was presentable, they did the same thing to her with Kuon flirtatiously messing with her hair only to stuff her straw hat back down over it. Kuu stared at them curiously as Kyoko walked to the edge of the path and leaned back against a tree. Kuon positioned himself in front of her with his arm resting against the trunk above her head and another in his jeans pocket.

"Okay, we're ready," Kuon said, addressing his parents. "Get it out of your system."

Kuu stood confused as he watched his kids...pose? At least that's what it looked like they were doing to him.

"Photoshoot," Julie squealed, startling him. His wife clapped her hands with glee and practically skipped toward the kids. "Come on, Kuu. We can update the album with real pictures rather than magazine cutouts."

"Mom, please tell me you didn't."

Kuu laughed. " Your mother has become quite the scrapbooker.''

"Ooh, may I see," Kyoko asked eagerly. Her golden eyes dilated to the size of saucers.

"Of course, sweetie. But first, you have a job to do," Julie said in a no-nonsense tone. She was taking this seriously. "Kuu, I want my pictures!"

"Yes, dear!" Kuu moved closer and held his phone up higher. With the direction of his wife, they managed to get some really good shots of the young couple and several of them as a family.

"Come on," Kuon urged, tugging on Kyoko's hand. "We're still about ten minutes away."

Kuu was glad he made their landscapers maintain the area. It was a place that Kuon liked to frequent when he was younger. Aside from his room, this was another spot where Kuu and Julie felt the presence of their son the most. They would often take Sunday strolls to this part of the garden and have the occasional picnic if weather and schedule afforded them the luxury.

…

Kyoko's heart raced with excitement as Kuon tugged her along the trail. Kuon had overloaded her in the last twenty minutes with tales of his adventures as a kid traipsing through his family's property. Once the area surrounding the house was covered, she was shown the different nature trails surrounding the outer perimeter. If she wanted to, she could take a nice walk through the four acres of property. There was no natural water feature on the property but Kyoko was reminded of the time they spent as kids in Kyoto. It was sweet whenever Kuu and Julie interjected to add their point of view to a memory Kuon shared. She could tell by the tone of their voices that Kuon was extremely loved and cherished by his parents. She was happy for him.

Kuon squeezed her hand as the width of the trail narrowed, seeming to be overtaken by nature. Since the surrounding property of the house was dense with woods, Kyoko had heard and seen all kinds of animals on their walk. Kuon and Kuu would point out a bird or tell her the American name of a furry animal scampering in the brush. She had a feeling it was something they used to do together.

Kuon slowed down as they came around a bend which made Kyoko focus on the path in front of them. It looked like they were approaching a dead end with the woods getting thicker.

"Dad?" Kuon asked, unsure about their path forward.

"It's okay, you'll see when you get closer," Kuu reassured him.

Kyoko tugged on Kuon's hand this time. She wanted to uncover the mystery in front of them. When they got closer, she realized it wasn't closed like they initially suspected. The opening was just at an odd angle giving it the appearance of a dead end. There was a wooden frame structure covered in thick vines that blended with the surrounding trees. She bet it was probably covered in beautiful flowers during the spring. It led to an open area that Kyoko couldn't see through the woods. The space featured a pergola with a wooden bench sitting beneath. She watched a couple of birds, Kuon identified earlier as scrub jays, swoop in and land on the birdbath in the middle of the clearing. The whole place reminded her of a secret garden.

The sound of clucking immediately caught her attention.

"Brian?" Kuon whispered approaching the rooster.

If Kyoko remembered correctly that was the name of Kuon's chicken that Rick gave him. He really did have a pet chicken. She squatted on her haunches next to Kuon as he tried to coax the rooster towards his hand. It looked at him suspiciously and continued to peck at the ground around him.

"Brian, don't you remember me?"

Brian continued to ignore him and instead began to walk away. It was so adorable how her boyfriend tried to communicate with his old pet. He was so gentle and sweet, she could imagine him playing with his chicken friend in this clearing.

"Ugh, Kuon," Kuu said reluctantly. Kyoko and Kuon both turned to face him. His dad was rubbing the back of his neck, obviously uncomfortable about something.

"This isn't Brian, is it?" Kuon asked with a heavy sadness.

Kuu shook his head. "I'm sorry. He was just gone one day when I came to sprinkle some feed for him. It was wrong to replace him but we got used to having him around whenever we came here."

The rooster pecked his way towards Kuu.

"Oh, he's familiar with you," Kyoko exclaimed and watched its head twitch around Kuu's outstretched hand.

"The trick is to hold treats, which I don't have." Kuu chuckled as the rooster lost interest in him too once it confirmed he was empty-handed.

Kuu stood up and walked to the side where he lifted a lid hidden beneath decaying foliage. He rummaged through the contents and returned with a bowl.

"Want to feed him? It's organic," He held the bowl down for Kyoko and Kuon to take a handful.

"Be careful, his beak is sharp. I don't want you getting hurt," Kuon warned her. Kyoko nodded and held out her hand nervously following Kuon's lead. The rooster that was not Brian pecked lightly at her hand. It felt ticklish making her giggle. Kuon took this opportunity to stroke the back of the large bird. He appeared at peace.

"Does he have a name?" Kyoko asked curiously while the rooster continued to eat.

"I never thought about it. I've been calling him 'Roo' which is short for rooster. It's hardly a name. How about we choose a name together?"

"Eh? You don't think he's too old to go by something new?" Kyoko asked.

"Everyone, smile," Julie interrupted. The trio turned in her direction and smiled as she snapped a picture using Kuu's phone. "I have a lot of good ones." She said excitedly while swiping through the phone.

Kyoko smiled fondly while the three Hizuris looked happily over the pictures. Kyoko shoved a nagging thought that reared its ugly head to the back of her mind. There was no room for her negativity right now.

…

Kuon tapped the horn on the steering wheel and waved to his parents as he took a right turn. His parents were on their way to work while he and Kyoko went off to tour the area.

Their first stop was the observatory that Julie swore was a must-see when visiting LA. His parents brought him when he was much younger but had not been since. The drive from his parents' house up to the site took over an hour. By the time they got there, it was lunchtime.

Kuon paid for a space in the parking lot closest to the building saving them a lot of time. He expected Kyoko to protest at the outrageous price for parking but she was too engrossed with the view out the window to pay attention.

"Do you want to eat first?" Kuon asked, reaching in the back seat for the lunch bag Kyoko packed. His father suggested they pack a lunch since the cafe inside wasn't very good. It took Kyoko no time at all to whip them up a meal of sandwiches and leftover fruit and veggies from this morning's breakfast.

"Yes, let's eat. This place looks rather distracting. I don't want us to lose track of time and forget to eat. This way we won't have to carry the bag around. Should we get out? I don't want to dirty your father's car."

"Are you kidding? You should have seen the food trash my father removed before handing me the keys."

With a laugh, she gave Kuon his container with a bottle of water first and then opened hers. They sat in the car and ate their meal.

"I didn't get a chance to ask earlier but are you okay? You didn't say much in the clearing. You were probably looking forward to meeting Brian again."

Kuon gazed into his girlfriend's concerned eyes and smiled weakly. Seeing Brian again was the last thing on his mind during this trip. It was good to know that his parents took care of him after he left. He didn't give his feathered friend a second thought when he boarded that plane to Japan. The memorial bench they dedicated to him in that space was a nice touch.

"Chickens don't have a long life span to begin with. I wasn't expecting to see him at all but when I saw Roo I thought maybe just maybe he made it." They ended up sticking with the name Roo. Kyoko's suggestion to rename him "Charming" was instantly vetoed by none other than Roo himself. He refused to acknowledge it even with bribery. It turned out that Roo had a little family. A couple of hens and some chicks arrived to partake in the treats they provided. Kyoko named each one using the characters in her favorite Disney movies.

"I'm sorry," she said hugging him. She pecked him on the cheek then turned her attention to cleaning up their mess. He looked amused as she made sure there wasn't a single crumb in sight.

"Ready?" He asked once Kyoko finished stuffing their dishes and trash back into the bag. She did a double-take when she glanced at him. "Is there something on my face?" He picked up a clean napkin and wiped around his mouth. She reached for his hand and guided it to the side of his cheek where she had kissed him earlier. He must have had her lipstick on his face. He didn't like the idea of wiping her kiss away.

"Let's go, baby," He put on a baseball hat of an LA team and a pair of dark sunglasses. Kyoko did the same. He wasn't expecting to be recognized but wanted to be preemptive in case the place was teeming with Asian tourists that could recognize Kyoko.

Kuon let Kyoko take in the exterior of the building. On the drive up, he told her that the place was also an iconic movie set. She looked up the scenes it was used on with her phone and watched it.

"Wow, movie magic is amazing," she murmured recalling the destruction she witnessed earlier on her tiny screen.

Before they went inside, Kuon took a picture of them with their sunglasses removed. They would look silly wearing sunglasses inside the building anyway. The place was busy so he doubted anyone would be paying attention to them. Once inside, he collected a pamphlet from the display to look at the map and showtimes.

He purchased tickets for the next show in the planetarium. While they waited for their time slot, they busied themselves with the interactive displays on astronomy. That wasn't all that caught their attention, following several other visitors the couple looked up. The ceiling of the rotunda depicted what humans in the past used to make of the sky. Beneath the dome painting, were more murals illustrating the advancement of science.

Kuon waited for Kyoko to finish taking her pictures and led her toward the planetarium to catch their show. The show wasn't long but he spent most of the time gazing at Kyoko instead of the projection above. Her eyes lit up as they journeyed back in time to when the Vikings believed the aurora borealis, the northern lights, were warrior spirits guiding fallen soldiers to Valhalla.

"Did you like it?" He asked as they made their way outside to the observation deck afterward. It was the perfect show for her. Gods, spirits and mythical creatures were right up her alley. He wanted to hear her say it anyway. Unless they were in disguise, they rarely had a chance to go out like this in Japan. It was nice to just be an ordinary couple for a few days.

"Very much. Thank you for bringing me here. This place is wonderful." Kyoko wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his chest. She was being cute in public. He hugged her back and kissed her forehead. She gazed at him intently.

"What are you staring at?"

"I'm trying to imagine you as a Viking with long blonde hair and a beard. Have I told you how much I liked your long hair?" She asked coyly twirling the hair at his nape.

"Behave, you little minx or the Emperor will have to come out to play." He made his eyes smolder to get his point across. Kyoko jumped away from him with a tiny squeak.

"Do you want to look at the skyline or the Hollywood sign? There's a telescope open over there."

While Kyoko looked through the telescope, Kuon scanned the pamphlet for anything more they could do. Maybe another time he could bring her later in the day to watch the sunset and stargaze during the observatory's telescope sessions.

"Do you want to walk around the park? There's also a hike to the Hollywood sign but it brings you out behind it. It's about two hours, round trip.

Kyoko opted for the hike claiming she wasn't tired at all. True to its word the hike there and back took over two hours since they stopped often to take pictures of the breathtaking views. It was good that he had the foresight to buy some drinks and snacks to take with them.

They left the observatory and headed to their next stop. It was at the famous Chinese theater. The courtyard was crowded with many visitors trying to find names and handprints of their favorite celebrities on the concrete slabs. Kuon pointed out the names he recognized and gave Kyoko a short description of the famous roles they played to get their names on them. He admired many actors for their talent but there was one above the rest that he was looking for. Kuon was beginning to think that it was rotated out with another name due to space issues. They finally found Kuu's name surrounded by Asian tourists. After adjusting Kyoko's hat and sunglasses, Kyoko and Kuon patiently waited in line for their turn. The people before them were courteous of the line forming and did not linger over the superstar's name any longer than what was necessary to gaze upon it and take a photo.

When it was their turn, Kuon placed one hand over his father's handprint while Kyoko placed a hand on the other.

"Corn's hand has grown so much. It's bigger than the Fairy King's now. I know your time will come," Kyoko whispered to him with a soft smile. Kuon inhaled sharply and looked at her with amazement. How did she always know? Just when he was feeling that old familiar pressure of never surpassing his father, she managed to pull him back from those crushing thoughts with her simple words.

"Excuse me, would you two like me to take a photo of you together," interrupted the woman standing next in line.

"Ah, of course, thank you." Kuon set up his phone for the woman to take their picture. They kept their hands on the prints and twisted to face the camera with a smile. The woman commented on what an adorable couple they made and wished them luck. They thanked her and moved out of the line before more attention was drawn to them.

"Thank you," Kuon said, pulling Kyoko to a secluded corner where he rested his head on her shoulder.

"I don't know what I did but you're welcome," she replied and hugged him. "Are you tired," she asked, stroking his back. "We've done a lot of walking and I know you barely got any sleep. You even went to the beach this morning."

Kuon shook his head against her shoulder. Maybe he was tired and didn't realize it. Perhaps he was too overloaded with endorphins that he didn't even notice his fatigue.

Kyoko began vibrating beneath him which made Kuon pull away in confusion.

"Sorry, it's my phone." He leaned against the wall while she took the call.

"Hello, this is Kyoko Morimoto," she answered without checking the ID.

"Tina?!...yes, yes we're here already…"

Kuon straightened when he heard the caller's name. They did plan to meet with Tina while here but not so soon.

"Hmm...tomorrow...hang on, I'll put you on speakerphone so you could talk to Kuon too," The area was still deserted so they wouldn't be bothering anyone with their call.

"Hi Tina, how are you?"

"Hi, I'm good. How does it feel to be back?" She asked cheerily.

"Strange," he responded honestly.

"That's understandable. Just try not to be too hard on yourself. You tended to do that a lot when you were younger…"

When Kuon didn't respond immediately she continued, "Anyway I was calling to ask if you two would be free at the end of the week to attend my exhibit."

"I think we're free. We'll have to double-check our schedule," Kuon told her.

"Great, I'll email the information...So what are you guys doing right now? I can recommend some good places."

"We just finished looking at the Chinese theater. We were going to walk down the sidewalk with the stars then find a place to relax before doing anything else."

"Ooh, you're hitting the tourist hot spots. Well, there's plenty to do over there with the museums and shops. The diner is that way if you're feeling nostalgic," Tina suggested. Kyoko perked up beside him at the mention of the diner.

"I think Kyoko would like the diner," Kuon said with a small laugh. It was a spot he went a few times with Tina and Rick in the wee hours of the night after Rick's gigs.

"Ask her if she wants to join us?" Kyoko whispered. He had to admit the three of them didn't get to spend much time together when Tina was in Japan. He trusted Tina to keep his secret.

"If you aren't too busy, would you like to join us?"

"You guys don't mind? Won't I be a third wheel?"

"You and Rick never treated me like a third wheel," Kuon blurted out. He winced at his careless response. "Sorry."

"It's no problem, kid. I won't be able to be there for another hour. Are you sure you want to wait?"

Kuon looked up at Kyoko. "There's plenty to do in the area while we wait," Kyoko responded.

"That settles it. I'll give you guys a call when I arrive." Tina said before hanging up.

The sun was setting as Kuon drove them back to his parents' house. He had called ahead to ask if they were missing anything for dinner. He would stop by the grocery store if need be. His mother assured him that their presence was all they needed.

Kuon glanced at Kyoko softly snoring in the passenger seat. Fifteen minutes ago, she stated vehemently that she would stay awake while he drove. It was entertaining to watch her struggle to keep her eyes from closing and her head from drooping. She finally lost the battle. He reached over and arranged her head so she wouldn't strain her neck.

They had spent a couple of hours with Tina at the diner swapping stories and overall teasing each other. Well, the girls were having a good laugh teasing him. Sometimes Tina would grow quiet with a distant look in her eyes. Kyoko also noticed and did her best to keep the mood light. They parted ways with somehow promising a couple photoshoot with Tina.

It was dark by the time he pulled the car into his parents' garage. He leaned over and caressed the cheek of the beautiful woman sleeping in the seat next to him. Kyoko jolted awake.

"Hey, it's okay, we're back home," He told her as she struggled to pin her location.

...

Kyoko buried her hands in her face with embarrassment. How could she have fallen asleep so easily? He had to be so tired right now even if he did have a couple of cups of coffee at the diner.

"I'm sorry, Corn. I'm a horrible girlfriend."

"You know, you're cute when you drool," he teased.

"Whaaaa!" Kyoko screeched as she swiped at her mouth to remove all traces of slobber from her face. It wasn't fair that he looked like an angel while he slept.

"Are you ready to go inside? Mom and dad have already started dinner. I know you had that large banana split but you need real food."

She was not expecting such a large dessert to come out. With little help from Tina and Kuon, she managed to finish the whole thing. She made a mental note to remember that portions in America were much larger than in Japan. She had done a lot of physical activity today so she wasn't worried about the empty calories she consumed. She just couldn't eat like that every day. She hoped dinner would be healthier.

Kyoko helped Kuon retrieve their shopping bags from the front of the car. She bought souvenirs and postcards for her family and friends back home. She wanted to get something for his parents but couldn't find anything remotely suitable for the King and Queen of Faerie. Kuon assured her that they didn't need anything.

Kyoko followed Kuon as they weaved through the house from the garage. She could hear the music clearly as they neared the kitchen. "The way you swept me off my feet, You know you could've been a broom…" Kyoko giggled at the silly lyrics. When she finally reached the kitchen she was awestruck. Now she knew where her boyfriend got it from. Kuu and Julie were playing off each other by dancing and singing in the middle of the kitchen. They had yet to notice their entrance.

"Well you could've been anything that you wanted to, I can tell, The way you do the things you do, I like... the way you do the things you do," the vocalist continued.

Kuu pulled his wife into an intimate embrace. Before their lips could meet, Kuon cleared his throat loudly interrupting the moment.

"Some things never change," Kuon muttered, making Kyoko giggle through her embarrassment at witnessing something so intimate. It was amazing to see the older couple so in love after many years of marriage. She was getting ahead of herself but she wished to have something similar with Kuon. It was romantic.

"My babies, welcome home. Did you two have fun?" Julie asked, leaving her husband in the lurch.

Kyoko gushed about all the sites she saw today. She showed Julie some of the pictures they took today while Kuon helped Kuu set up dinner out on the patio. Julie surprised Kyoko with several shopping bags of her own. Inside the bags were wetsuits for both her and Kuon and several swimsuits.

"I wasn't sure if you brought your swimsuits or not. I would have much rather shopped with you but I figured you may want to swim tonight. I have a good eye for sizes so they should all fit."

Kyoko hugged Julie and said, "Thanks, mom. I'm sure they're perfect." Julie gladly returned the hug.

She tucked Kyoko's hair behind her ear and smiled. "It's wonderful to have another woman around. We need to have a girl's date while you're here." Kyoko agreed. She could hardly wait to do experience mother-daughter things with this lovely woman that treated her so kindly.

"Dinner is ready," Kuon informed them. He picked up the plates and silverware.

"What can I do to help?" Kyoko asked, quickly hiding one of the very skimpy swimsuits back in the bag.

"Can you please grab a couple of beers from the wine fridge?"

"Wine fridge?"

"It's this one, sweetie." Julie showed her the small refrigerator hidden beneath the counter. "We use it for more than wine despite its name." Kyoko recognized the Japanese brand on the bottles Julie handed to her. They stocked it at the Darumaya.

"What would you like to drink, Kyoko? We have soda, water...tea?" Julie held up a bottle of tea that Kyoko liked to drink back in Japan. "We asked Kuon for some of your favorites. We wanted to make sure you were comfortable here."

A lump formed in Kyoko's throat making her unable to thank her properly. They had gone through so much trouble for her.

"Come on, let's go eat before Kuu finishes it all."

"I heard that," Kuu called from outside the open glass wall.

"Oops," Julie said with a guilty smile.

Kuu and Julie had prepared steak, sweet potatoes, 'shrimp on the barbie', skewered veggies, and salad for dinner. For dessert, the couple picked up a couple of pies from a local bakery that Kuu claimed Kyoko would love. Everything tasted delicious to Kyoko.

"Kyoko, have you tried on the dress yet? I want to make sure it fits you perfectly. I know we didn't ask but we were hoping you would attend a charity ball with us. We want you both to attend. We are one of the major sponsors and would love to have you there. It doesn't appear to conflict with anything on your work schedule but I'm aware that things can change."

"Mom, I don't think I can…" Kuon began.

"Oh no, honey. Ren can attend as Kyoko's plus one. Would that be okay?" Julie pleaded, misting her large green eyes.

Kuon agreed reluctantly.

"Yay!" Julie flashed a dazzling smile in her direction. "I have a friend that can help with a tux. He owes me big but we'll wait until you're Ren. I've already sent your measurements to him that Kuu got from the kidnapper."

Kyoko joined in on the excitement. They were going to attend a real-life ball just like in the fairytales. The dress in her room made sense now even if it was still borderline cosplay.

Kyoko and Kuon were on clean up duty. It went quickly since the majority of the dishes were piled into a dishwasher. Aside from the Ryokan with its high volume of dishes from the guests, Kyoko never used the machine. Even the Darumaya didn't use one. Here in the States, it was common to use the machine daily. Kyoko wondered if the Taisho and Okami would appreciate such a gift.

…

Kuon sat chest deep in hot bubbling water. Somehow his mother had convinced everyone to get into the hot tub after dinner. He couldn't stop staring at his girlfriend in the swimsuit his mother bought her. He wasn't sure how the black suit could be considered a one-piece when it was strapless and missing entirely too much fabric at her back and hips. He found it more provocative than any bikini she could ever wear.

He thanked his lucky stars that it was dark and the water made it impossible to see anything beneath the surface. It would be embarrassing if his parents knew how hard he was right now. He would have to do something about it later when he took a shower. Meanwhile, he planned on looking his fill at his sexy girlfriend.

He was able to keep up with the flow of conversation even though his mind kept wandering into the gutter. Did she know what she was doing to him whenever she glanced up in his direction through her lashes? Did she know that the soft pink on her cheeks was driving him mad with desire? The water came up to her shoulders giving off the illusion that she was bare beneath it. He knew better but his eyes kept tricking his mind. The two beers he had at dinner combined with lack of sleep and the heat of the water probably wasn't helping matters.

Kuon froze. His mind suddenly went blank as all the blood he fought to maintain flooded down to his little head. Did he just imagine that? He blinked his eyes slowly and suppressed a groan. She was talking to his mother without missing a beat but he saw it. She made contact with him briefly at the corner of her eye. He sunk deeper in the water bringing her foot that slid up his leg closer to her intended target.

She didn't betray herself but he could see her face turning a deeper shade of red. She was such a naughty tease. Since when did she have the courage to do such a thing in front of his parents. She giggled but didn't stop.

"Oh, I think someone is a little tipsy off her glass of bubbly. No more for you, my dear." Julie took her glass away.

It was then that Kuon realized that this was the result of the nearly empty glass of champagne sitting on the ledge. Kuon selfishly indulged himself for a few more moments and let her foot slide over his bulge. He was at his limit when she sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled. He stood quickly with the excuse that he probably ate too much and needed to use the restroom. He hid in the bathroom of the pool house until his erection receded. By the time he got out, Kyoko was cleaned up and snuggled in their bed. Just how long did he hide in there. He sighed with defeat and went to take a cold shower.

AN: Thank you for sticking with me. I managed to get all my scenes in on this one and could not leave out some hot tub footsie. Poor Kuon, Kyoko might kill him if she doesn't throw him some leg soon. XD

The song the Hizuri's were listening to was "The Way You Do the Things You Do?" by UB40.

Thank you for the birthday wishes and reviews on the last chapter. I appreciate the love.

Happy belated birthday to the Real Jackie-O. I hope you had a wonderful day.

Until next time, Ja ne! ^_^