Chapter 202: An Invitation

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko's list of important people would continue to grow.

Kuu believed with all his heart that the young woman he loved and cherished as a daughter could have come straight from his loins in another lifetime. Regardless of her blood, she fit perfectly within their little family. Kyoko's appearance at the location of their son's audition ten minutes after his arrival with Julie sealed it.

It was purely coincidental. Their mutual love for Kuon was just that strong. They hadn't planned what they would do beyond stalking him from the parking lot. The idea to come here was a spur of the moment. It was all Kuu could come up with to ease the ache of his wife's already breaking heart.

Since they couldn't technically follow Kuon around without drawing attention to him, Kuu convinced his wife that it would be a good distraction to go back to work while the kids were busy during the day. It was sort of a way for them to ease back into the routine of it being just the two of them again. It proved to be a big mistake when Julie called him upset that she couldn't focus on her lines and was holding up filming. The director kindly granted her a short reprieve and allowed her to take an early lunch break. It did nothing but give his wife more time to wallow in self-pity.

All Kuu had to do was tell Mac that Julie needed him and his director was waving him away to take care of his wife. Kuu didn't hesitate to leave and rushed off to be with the love of his life. It had been a blissful week of family reconciliation and togetherness that Kuu feared the low that was bound to follow. If taking an early lunch to spy on their son would delay the inevitable, Kuu was willing to make it happen.

The initial plan was to show up incognito, which meant raiding the costume room on Julie's set. Kuu's physical presence alone was enough to raise her mood exponentially. The scheme to watch their son was the cherry on top. With the help of the wardrobe team, they were quickly disguised as "tourists." It was amazing how easily they blended in with people when they weren't dressed as if they just stepped out of a magazine.

Their time for tagging along to their son's auditions had come and gone. Kuu and Julie had failed in that retrospect, both too busy with their careers to pay attention to their son especially when Kuon wanted to succeed on his own. They relied on caregivers to manage his schedule and accompany him wherever he wanted to go.

Being in the limelight, Kuu could now see that Kuon was forced to grow up too quickly. Their son was intelligent and grossly independent by the age of ten and if he said he no longer needed a babysitter, Kuu and Julie respected his wishes and complied with the request. A huge blunder on their part. If only they had paid attention back then, they would have discovered the mistreatment Kuon suffered at the hands of this director long before they read it in their son's journal.

Any parental permission slips Kuon brought to them were signed out of guilt with barely a cursory glance at the contents. They trusted their son when he gave them a quick summary of his work and any contracts received were sent directly to the lawyers for review.

He was well into his cooking challenge game when Julie interrupted. "Kuu, do those women look familiar to you," his wife asked, distracting him from taking a pizza out of the oven and inevitably burning the food. Needless to say, Kuu lost several customers at that moment.

Shutting off his game, Kuu peered through the windshield, lifting his sunglasses for a better view, and followed her index finger toward the two women who had just disembarked their vehicle bearing a remarkable likeness to Kyoko and her bodyguard. Without thinking, Julie and Kuu abandoned their hiding spot and joined their future daughter-in-law.

"Kyoko," Julie called out, gaining the attention of the women.

"Can I help you?" The woman he now confirmed to be Nicole immediately intercepted, stepping in their path before they could reach Kyoko. Kuu smiled at the fierceness she displayed to protect her charge. He would have to put in a good word to her boss.

"Mom, Dad," Kyoko startled, recognizing them through their disguise. It was thrilling to hear her address them in that way without hesitation.

"What?" Nicole turned stunned eyes toward Kyoko. Kuu understood the bodyguard's confusion. It was difficult to recognize them.

"It's us," Kuu chuckled, pulling off his sunglasses. "We can never fool you."

"Mr. Hizuri!" Nicole gasped and stepped back. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"Don't worry, Nicole," Julie assured her. "We'd be terrible actors if you knew. Kyoko on the other hand has a strange superpower. We can never fool her."

"You did a great job protecting her from us. Your reaction was impressive," Kuu said, making the bodyguard blush under his praise.

Eventually, Clint joined them as they talked about random topics while they waited for the audition to end. He couldn't be sure how much time passed, but when Ren walked out the door with Yashiro, Kuu was relieved to see the beaming smile plastered on his son's face as he came face to face with his girlfriend.

Kuu had worried about Kuon auditioning for this part based on his son's brief experience with the director. He had tried to dissuade Kuon from auditioning, but his son was adamant about following through with it. Kuu could only assume that this was another obstacle his son needed to overcome to move on from his past.

Kuu's impression of the director, Sam Wilson, was not necessarily a bad one initially. He barely knew the man. They had one interaction at a party where Sam had said some condescending things about a mutual acquaintance. Kuu knew it was a crude joke, but the Japanese half of him found it in poor taste and wasn't afraid to say so, gaining favor from the other guests. Sam had begrudgingly apologized, which Kuu saw right through. When Sam came sniffing around wanting to collaborate with Kuu on a movie, he had to turn it down due to other commitments. More projects followed, but the same excuse truthfully applied each time. By this time, Kuu's career was skyrocketing and he was stretched thin to the point that his home life took a back seat to work. The timing was never right and soon Kuu forgot about working with the man until the discovery of Kuon's journal.

If he had just done his due diligence as a parent and protected his son, Kuon wouldn't have been hurt. Kuu happily added the man to their shit list.

Kuu's heart fluttered at the sight of his wife and son embracing. He had to have whispered something remarkable to her because she pulled away from the hug looking happier than he had seen her all morning. Julie wasn't even disappointed when their son resisted those large pleading eyes that Kuu never failed to succumb to and turned down her lunch invite. His promise of dinner probably helped.

Julie's good mood continued throughout lunch with the girls and lasted the whole drive back to the studios. She gushed about the kids and even began to make plans for their trip to Japan this Christmas. It was good to see his wife cheerful and animated again. Her happiness was so infectious that Kuu genuinely found himself blurting out suggestions.

"What about gifts?" Kuu asked, taking his eye off the road to smile at his wife. "I'm not opposed to going overboard."

"Yes!" Julie squealed and pecked him on the cheek. "I can't wait to go shopping. Maybe, I'll even hit up some of my designer friends for some custom products."

"It's Kyoko's birthday too so let's ask Kuon if he would like to have a separate celebration apart from Christmas."

"That's a good idea, Kuu. I'll start planning."

"But ask Kuon first. The last thing we want to do is ruin his plans."

"Of course," Julie agreed, her emerald eyes sparkling with excitement.

"We could visit my hometown. I'll book us a room at one of the best ryokans. We can see if the kids are free to tag along."

"That sounds perfect, Kuu," Julie sighed contentedly. "We should also see a realtor while we're there too."

"I like how you think, Mrs. Hizuri?" Kuu grinned and kissed the back of her hand entwined with his. They seemed to be thinking along the same lines. Finding a permanent place to stay near the kids during breaks would be at the top of their to-do list. They would have to run it by the kids first, he didn't want to set Kuon back with their presence. If he still wasn't ready to acknowledge them as his parents, they would respect his wishes. Kuu pushed away any misgivings brewing in his mind and focused on the positive.

When he kissed his beautiful wife goodbye outside of her studio, he was confident that she would be able to finish her job successfully. As he drove away, Kuu focused on their upcoming visit. His mind raced with a million other things he would do with his wife and kids once they reached Japan. Planning for their trip would easily make the time pass quicker.

Cedric squinted at the ceiling counting what his eyes viewed as the imperfections on the tiles above for what seemed like the hundredth time. Even with all the morphine pumping into his system, he still felt like he got run over by a freight train.

A soft knock at the door had him debating if he should feign sleep. It could only be his mother coming around to keep him company. He didn't know if he could take another round of her constant chatter of the latest gossip in town. His mother had a knack for storytelling where he could just visualize everything she was saying. It was like his own personal hell full of Real Housewives reruns. Cedric knew if he ignored her again she would probably harass his recovery team to do more.

He heard his mother whisper as she opened the door slowly. "Ceddie, are you awake? You have a visitor….oh, you're in luck he's awake," his mother's voice rose in volume after discovering him elevated and staring in her direction.

"Are you sure? I don't want to intrude," a familiar female voice loudly whispered, questioning his mother. Her tone made him laugh and groan immediately from the pain it caused. His face, including his eyes, was still bruised and swollen. He could barely make out his Japanese co-star coming in with his mother through the narrow slits. His condition would make anyone question

"I apologize for the intrusion, Mr. Bennett," Kyoko greeted politely and dropped into a bow.

"Ms. Kyoko?" Cedric rasped, thrilled that she came to see him and nervous to find her alone with his mother. After the fiasco at the fashion show, Cedric didn't think Kyoko would want anything to do with the woman. He glanced at the door half expecting her boyfriend to be right behind her, doubtful that he would let her come by herself.

"Is Ku-, I mean, Tsuruga with you today?"

"I'm alone, well, not alone alone. I need to have a bodyguard with me now," she explained, nervously. "Ren had an audition today and Mr. Yashiro had to accompany him," Kyoko continued.

"I'm sorry," Cedric replied solemnly. It was after all his fault she needed a bodyguard.

"Oh, it's no big deal. Ms. Nicole, my bodyguard, is great company," Kyoko answered and glanced at his mother.

"Mom," Cedric nudged his head to the door.

"Well, I'll leave you two kids to talk," Karina chirped, taking the hint and leaving the room.

"My mother didn't offend you, did she? I'm sorry if she did. She's been really high strung lately and my accident isn't helping her at all."

"No, not at all. She was very kind to allow me to see you," Kyoko smiled warmly.

"Good," he replied. The tension in his body gave way and he relaxed in his bed. "Would you like a drink?" He offered. "I can't get it myself, but if I ring for the nurse he could bring you something."

"Oh my gosh, no!" Kyoko gasped, mortification written all over her face. "I couldn't possibly have him do that and besides, your mother already offered me refreshments."

"Do you want to sit," he nodded to the chair, wondering if she meant to stay long or just pop on by.

"Yes, thank you." Kyoko took the seat beside his bed and placed her bag on her lap. Her sitting was a good sign to him. It meant she was comfortable being here despite his role in bullying Kuon, or... Judging from her pleasant smile and the formal way she was sitting, Cedric concluded that she was here to end him. It didn't matter that those traits were Kyoko's natural way of being, he knew how scary she could be.

"So," he began nervously. "Thank you for coming. I honestly never expected to see you or...Tsuruga again after, you know…" he shrugged. He thought he saw Kyoko's eyes flash with irritation, anger, and possibly death? Most definitely death! They returned to their normal golden hue in an instant that Cedric thought he imagined it. The hair prickling on the back of his neck told him otherwise. "W-what I did to him," he stammered out the rest.

"Hmmm," Kyoko hummed, her eyes boring into him, making his body squirm. He held his breath while waiting for her to continue. "What you did was wrong?" She stated bluntly. "But I believe your behavior was a product of your environment. What your mother did and the other adults that hurt him were wrong. That doesn't mean you're off the hook. You made mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. The reason I am here is that you have shown me...shown us that you've acknowledged your mistakes and you are trying to atone for them. That means something, and lucky for you, I'm a firm believer of second chances."

"Second chances," Cedric murmured, a small smile ghosting his dry, battered lips. "Is that why you guys decided to help Charles even after...?" Fuck! I just keep ruining lives. If I didn't put him and Martin up to fight Kuon, none of this would have happened.

Her eyes widened, probably surprised that he knew about the help they extended to the man he still couldn't figure out was a friend or foe. The detectives that came around to take his statement disclosed that information and naturally his parents and grandfather hunted down all the details. He wanted to talk to Charles himself and question his motives.

"Mr. Charles warned us before accepting our help. He confessed all about his crime and incarceration. That night, all I saw was a worried friend as he tried to stop the blood from flowing out of you. I saw him fighting against our attackers to help you ...to help us. So yes, in my opinion, he deserved a second chance despite what he did as a teenager. He served his time and I believe he's sincere."

"Thank you. That information makes the night a little clearer. I didn't want to believe that he led me out there to my death, but my family is angry. My father is out for blood."

"He must really care for you," she happily replied.

Cedric snorted. "Doubtful. He's probably doing damage control to save the family's reputation."

She frowned cutely. It was probably hard for her to believe that his father would act like that when she had fathers like Tadashi and Kuu doting on her. He stamped down the green-eyed monster that threatened to rear its ugly head.

"He might surprise you. I saw a worried father anxiously waiting for the results from the doctor."

"Second chances, huh." Cedric attempted a grin and winced from the pain while trying to imagine his father upset on his behalf. Stupid mouth. He was glad it was only bruised and not broken; otherwise, he would have to put the measly skills he acquired at six years old on his journey to becoming the world's greatest ventriloquist to speak if his jaw was wired shut. His passion for the skill didn't last long. He sucked. After four days, he eventually gave up. In a fit of frustration and rage, Cedric got the man his mother had hired to teach him fired. Yes, within a day of expressing his desire to project his voice without moving his lips, Karina went off and found him a tutor. Damn, I was such a little prick.

"We have a late flight, or early, depending on who you ask. I wanted to come by and give you an invitation." She held up a black envelope with a silver script and a deep purple ribbon wrapped around the heavy card stock.

"An invitation? Are you getting married?!" Cedric gasped, making his vital monitors light up and beep for a few moments until they settled again.

"Are you okay?" Her eyes were glued to the monitors, but Cedric could see how red his question had made her.

"I'm fine. You just surprised me. These machines are very sensitive. Any minute increase in heart rate and they light up like a Christmas tree. The nurses have gotten used to my little outbursts though. They used to run in here like I was dying every time they flared up. Now, they give me a minute to see if I calm down."

"Oh," Kyoko muttered and looked in the direction of the door. When no one came through, her gaze turned back to him.

"So you aren't getting married?" Cedric cocked what he thought was his brow. He couldn't be positive he raised it since his face still felt numb.

Kyoko giggled and shook her head, "I haven't been asked."

"Yet," Cedric emphasized, noting the blush darkening on her cheeks. With the way she had Kuon wrapped around her little finger, he guaranteed it was only a matter of time before they tied the knot. Even a blind person could see how much they loved each other.

"So what kind of invitation are we talking about?" He asked, genuinely interested in what she was inviting him to.

"It's for a party I'm throwing with one of my best friends, Maria Takarada, on Christmas Eve. Your grandfather came last year and I'm sure Maria would invite him again. It's a way for us to thank the people that have touched our lives."

If Cedric's puffy eyes could have widened, they would have been as big as saucers. Did he hear her correctly or had his ears taken a beating too? He remembered his grandfather going to Japan last Christmas. Attending his parents' festivities, surrounded by their pretentious friends was a dismal affair without him. With Viola and copious amounts of booze, Cedric managed to survive the evening. The sting of betrayal was minimal now that he got closure with his ex-girlfriend.

"You're inviting me to your party?"

"Yes, you literally took a bullet for me, for us. We owe you our lives."

"It was my fault you were there in the first place!" He retorted and winced from the excitement.

"You'll hurt your head thinking so hard," she laughed. "I'm inviting you and you could bring a plus one."

"I'll consider it," he answered as a flash of a beautiful Japanese woman floated through his mind. "I mean, there's not much I could do in my state. I have to start physical therapy, but all my contracts have been postponed or canceled until I've recovered."

"I'm sure a couple of people in Japan would be happy to see you again." The twinkle in her eye had him wondering who she had in mind.

Cedric smiled at the prospect of seeing Honoka again…and if he did end up in Tokyo he supposed he could check in with his buddy.

"Anyway, I'll place this over here." She stood to place the invitation on his side table. "Oh, this script," she said, noticing the bound document already sitting on the table. "Are you auditioning too?"

Too? Is Kuon going for the same part? If so, it would be our teenage years all over again. Or would have been.

"I was. I think this is fate telling me to step back…or karma collecting," Cedric snorted. In a way, he was relieved for the excuse of not having to compete with Kuon for another part. With all the recent events, Cedric didn't think his self-esteem could have taken the blow.

Kyoko frowned in confusion. "I won't be out of the hospital in time to do the audition and since I decided to never use my family name to my advantage again, I will have to let this one go."

"But you are planning to continue acting, right?" Kyoko asked hopefully. "It would be a shame if you stopped. You're very talented."

"Yes, acting is still very much in my blood, but there's something very important I also have to do. Maybe I'll tell you all about it at your party," Cedric teased, ignoring her curious stare.

Kyoko let it go and they chatted for a few more minutes before she got up to take her leave.

"Thank you for stopping by and for the invitation," Cedric commented.

"You're welcome, take care, Mr. Bennett. I wish you a speedy recovery."

"Thank you. I'll see you soon," he said, once again attempting to smile.

Cedric stared at the door a little longer after she left, sad to see her go. Maybe when the swelling on his face went down a little more, he would allow more visitors. The problem was, he just didn't know who to trust.

With Nicole's help, Kyoko was gradually checking off all the items on her list. They had hit up several shops where Kyoko found gifts to bring home to their friends and family. She kept Kuon updated along the way through text so he wouldn't worry. He had yet to respond, but that was expected while getting his hair dyed. Kyoko couldn't wait to see her fairy prince again.

"Thank you," Kyoko said as she entered through the door Nicole held open for her. The jingling bells hanging over the door announced their arrival, but there was no one around. The place looked different from the other night without all the extra barriers and tables filling the space. All the small spotlights were on, shining down on blank walls that were once occupied. Soft instrumental music filled the space, but there was an eerie feeling to the place that had her nerves on edge. She had checked in this morning and received permission to come by any time. Kyoko realized she should have called first before coming unannounced. If she wasn't here, Kyoko would have to spend more time tracking her down. She just couldn't leave without saying a proper goodbye. Since she was already here, Kyoko might as well find out if she was too.

Nicole's hand shot out, stopping Kyoko before she could move deeper into the room.

"Let me check it out first," she whispered cautiously, her hand moving into her jacket just in case. Kyoko's eyes widened in panic. Nicole must have sensed something amiss if she was taking this approach. All the "what if" scenarios drifting through her mind had her wanting to rush in and inspect the place.

"I'm not letting you go alone," Kyoko hissed stubbornly, following close behind. Her main concern was her friend's safety.

"Fine," Nicole grumbled. "You have to follow all my instructions even when I tell you to run, you run."

Kyoko nodded her assent and kept close, her eyes peeled for anything out of order. The tension in Nicole's body made her nervous. They had yet to come across anything suspicious as her bodyguard inched toward the last turn to do another one of those tactical peeks that military-trained people often do to confirm there is no danger lurking around the corner. As soon as Nicole's head twisted, high-pitched shrieks erupted from behind the wall and something clattered to the floor, startling Kyoko. Nicole didn't even bat an eye, reacting with lightning speed and trained precision. Her bodyguard was badass.

Kyoko followed immediately and found Nicole pushing a man up against the wall with his right arm twisted behind his back.

"Cam!" A female voice screeched, bursting out from the back room.

"Tina, help," the man wailed in agonizing pain while his free hand tapped on the wall he was pressed against. His begging only resulted in Nicole applying more pressure on the arm she had locked behind him.

"Oh my gosh, please let him go," Tina shouted, rushing toward them just as Kyoko yelled for Nicole to free him. She recognized the assistant they met the night of the exhibit.

Nicole released her hold slowly and stepped back. She kicked what looked to be a small easel out of reach. Cam must have had it on him when Nicole accosted him.

"I'm so sorry," Kyoko instinctively apologized, dropping into a deep bow. "We didn't hear anyone and thought the worst. We're a little on edge after the other night," she explained while straightening up. "This is Nicole. She's my bodyguard," Kyoko said, introducing her for Cam's sake.

"I'm sorry," Nicole responded dryly. Kyoko pursed her lips to keep from smiling. She didn't sound sorry at all. "Just a bit of advice, if you think there's an intruder in your shop, make sure to bust them over the head. Don't hesitate next time."

"Cam!" Tina scolded, picking up the wooden contraption off the floor. In Tina's hands, Kyoko recognized it to be a tabletop easel. If he had connected, one of them might have been injured.

"I'm so sorry. I thought they were robbers. In my defense, I did ask you to lock the front door while we were in the back."

"You did and I'm sorry. I got a little distracted."

Cam groaned at Tina's lapse in safety. Kyoko remembered she had done the same thing the night they met Damien. It put Tina and her staff at risk. Anyone could just waltz into the gallery at will.

"I have a security guy coming next week," Tina offered, trying to pacify a grumbling Cam.

"It doesn't matter if you fail to use it," Cam pointed out.

"Perhaps you can ask this security person to rig it so a chime like a doorbell goes off in the backroom when the front door is open...And you should get cameras so you can view on a monitor who actually entered before greeting them."

"That's a good idea. I wasn't thinking that creatively. Thanks, Nicole," Tina replied. "I'll be sure to ask about it."

"No problem…I'll wait up front," Nicole informed Kyoko and headed back toward the entrance with Cam hot on her heels. Kyoko could still hear Cam chatting with Nicole as they walked away.

So your name is Nicole. I'm Cam.

How did you get so strong?

Kyoko shook her head, followed Tina to her office, and took a seat.

"Congratulations on selling your work, Tina, it's amazing."

"Thank you. The auction at the gala helped tremendously. I didn't even think donating those prints for charity would have such an effect, but I guess rich people need something to spend their money on. I even have so many personal requests coming in. I'm going to be busy for months."

"I'm so happy for you," Kyoko bounced in her seat and clapped her hands. "I wish we could celebrate your success."

"Thank you, Kyoko," Tina said. "You stopping by is more than enough. I'm going to miss having you guys around. Don't hesitate to call me if my bone head of a 'little brother' starts acting up. I'll fly across the ocean and ring his ear," Tina threatened, her eyes flashing wildly with promise.

Kyoko laughed. "Thank you for watching out for us…and speaking of flying across oceans. I came here to give you this." Kyoko procured another black envelope from her bag and handed it over to Tina then went into her spiel of the grateful party origins before she could assume that it was a wedding invitation.

"I know it won't be easy given your responsibilities here, but if you can make it, I will have a flight arranged and you can stay with us…. You can bring Damien! I'm grateful for all his help here," Kyoko said, adding him as an incentive. Technically she owed a lot to the kind bartender for his help with the videos and for taking care of Tina.

Tina blushed at the mention of Damien which was a good sign in Kyoko's book. Her friend looked so sweet in love. Kyoko didn't know how hard it was for her to move on from losing her first love, but Tina stunned her with her strength and forgiving nature.

"Okay, I'll ask Damien. At a minimum, consider me there, but I'm finding my own accommodations. It will be awkward in that apartment with you lovebirds."

"What do you mean?" Kyoko asked, her face burning red.

"I mean, your walls aren't exactly soundproof and Christmas eve for a couple without kids is usually an intimate affair."

"I would never," Kyoko sputtered.

Tina laughed at Kyoko. "Kyoko, if you don't present yourself in red lace with a bow wrapped around you for that man I will be disappointed."

"Waaa! What do you mean?" Kyoko exclaimed again. How in the world did they get so off-topic?

"Well, what kind of gift do you plan to get a man that essentially has everything and can afford anything?"

Kyoko scrunched her brows in thought. She had an idea for a gift that she hoped Kuon would appreciate and needed Tina's help in that regard. Last year, he had sneakily given her Princess Rosa while she gave him nothing. Guilt washed over her for not returning the gesture and so she wanted to give him something special.

"Exactly!" Tina wagged her pointer finger when Kyoko remained silent. "He would be very happy if you were his gift."

"B-but we've already umm...did it, how could I be much of a gift?"

"It's all about presentation. Trust me, when it comes to these sorts of things with men, you can't go wrong." Tina launched into giving Kyoko ideas for the upcoming holiday. It was nice to have an experienced and open person willing to patiently discuss such personal topics. She would have to share her new knowledge with her friends once she got home.

When they finally moved on from the intimate Christmas gift, Kyoko decided to bring up the potential gift she had in mind.

"Tina, how does one go about commissioning you for custom work? Like me?"

"Is there something you want to be photographed?"

"Yes! Do you remember the artwork in the hallway leading to our apartment?"

Tina nodded. "The black and white prints did catch my eye. It was inspiring. Why?"

"I was hoping to add your work to the mix. Could you take pictures of the coastline of the Hizuri house? I don't care how much it costs. I just want him to have a little reminder of home."

"That's a wonderful idea. But I'm not taking your money. Consider it a gift from me."

"No way," Kyoko objected. "You've already given us so many gifts. I'm a paying customer this time."

"Okay, fine," Tina relented and began tapping on her computer. She asked Kyoko questions for the custom order form and threw out a price that seemed low to Kyoko.

"If you insist on paying, you get the family discount," Tina beamed. Kyoko couldn't argue against the warm feeling Tina's words brought her. If the talented photographer wouldn't budge on the price, Kyoko would just have to compensate by giving her a generous tip.

After talking for a few more minutes, Cam returned ready to get back to work. Tina walked her out to the front door and with one last hug, Kyoko said goodbye to the woman she now considered her honorary sister. She was going to miss her.

"Call me for anything," Tina said again.

"You too. Call or message for anything," Kyoko instructed, returning the sentiment.

"Have a safe flight and tell that boyfriend I'm watching him."

Kyoko giggled and waved while Tina shut the door and locked it. Hopefully, they would see her in December.

"Home or…" Nicole asked as they walked to the vehicle.

"Do you know where I can buy car cleaning supplies?"

"That's random, but I think I know just the place," Nicole assured her.

The bodyguard brought Kyoko to a large store that sold practically everything. As if under a spell, Kyoko found herself filling the spacious red shopping cart with random things she couldn't live without. Aisle after aisle, she became entranced with the merchandise the place offered losing track of time. It only dawned on her at the check-out line that she wouldn't be able to fit the new purchases into her luggage and was too embarrassed to put anything back.

Sensing her dark mood as they drove away from the store with nearly a dozen bags, Nicole pried the problem out of her.

"Is that all you're worried about?" Nicole asked. Kyoko could only nod weakly. "Isn't it simple? I'm sure the Hizuris have an extra suitcase you can borrow. All you have to do is pay the airline fee for the extra bag."

"That's allowed?" Kyoko questioned skeptically.

"Sure, people do it all the time," Nicole shrugged.

"Thank you, Ms. Nicole," Kyoko squealed happily and threw her arms around the bodyguard.

"Easy," Nicole laughed, trying to keep the vehicle on the road.

"I'm sorry," Kyoko smiled and settled back in her seat.

"No biggie," Nicole assured her. The atmosphere improved and the drive home was much more pleasant even the traffic couldn't dampen the mood.

AN: Hi hi, thanks for sticking with me. I thought for sure this chapter will get them on a plane back but alas Kyoko was a busy girl. I hope you enjoyed it.

Thanks for always reading and I appreciate the reviews of the last chapter.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^