Chapter 215: A Banana?
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kuon would get to meet Shotaroach XD.
Kuon's concentration was interrupted by the sound of a screeching chair. He glanced up from his papers to see a flustered Manami gathering a folder.
"I'll be right back," she cried while rushing through the door where the other candidates had left.
He knew what her hasty exit meant. It would soon be his turn if they allowed him to participate. A peek at his watch indicated that he still had over an hour until he was due to meet Yashiro, and these things didn't take long. As the ticking hands rotated, nerves began to set in. His gaze shifted to the door that led to the hallway. It would be so easy for him to slip out and leave before there was no turning back.
Kuon stood abruptly. His head swiveled between his choices. The voice of a game show host floated in his mind. "Which will it be? Will you choose Door #1 or Door #2?" The difference between his life and a game show was that he knew what awaited him behind each door or at least he thought he did. If he chose the 1st door, nothing would change. He would go back to the life he had cultivated in Japan for the past six years, hiding his identity, and never acknowledging his parents. After their time in L.A., could he really do that to them? They've been so patient, giving him the breathing room he needed.
His mind shifted, remembering what it was like to be Kuu Hizuri's son. The way he eventually folded under constant pressure and spiraled out of control. Images of his notable failures drifted through his mind until it wandered to that summer when he met a little Japanese girl who impacted his life for the better. For several hours a day, he forgot he was Kuu Hizuri's son and pretended to be a fairy to cheer her up. The memories of their time together brought a smile to his lips and peace to his mind.
His original goal had been to reveal himself in America and prove to the industry that so viciously spat him that they didn't break him. That dream seemed so short-sighted to him now that he thought about it. His home was in Japan, and so was his heart. It was right outside that door with her as she worked hard tonight to find the right man to be by her side. That man could very well be him if he had the guts to go out there and show them what he could do. His alter ego wouldn't be able to pass as a student, so he had to call upon his carefree self if he wanted a fighting chance.
"Hizuri-san," he heard the faint voice of Manami call from the open door. That's what they would call him if he went public. Hizuri-san, like his father. That's how society would address him once he came clean about his true identity.
Was he ready for that? He was so lost in his thoughts, pacing the floor, that he didn't hear Manami's approach.
"Tsuruga-san," Manami called hesitantly, drawing closer to him. "I'm sorry. You didn't answer. I wasn't sure…"
"Oh, sorry. I was thinking..." He shook his head, not finishing his sentence. "Did they agree?" He wondered. She had been gone for far longer than he expected.
"Yes! They said you can audition," she clapped her hands excitedly and gestured for him to follow her. "Shingai-san was a little mad that I broke the rules but calmed down after I insisted he at least look at your profile. He seemed skeptical, but the president didn't hesitate when he took a look."
"Yeah?" He exhaled. "Thank you, Manami-san. I appreciate your help. If there is anything I can help you with in the future, please let me know."
"Oh no, I could never. I'm very happy to help you," she insisted. "It will be a reward in itself if you win the part."
"I'll do my best," Kuon promised. The time for him to slip out had elapsed. Kuon had no choice but to follow through with his decision. He picked up his discarded bag and followed the assistant out.
"It's just through here." Manami guided him to an open door that fed into a storage room that housed boxes, furniture, and other equipment needed for whatever production or event occurred in the main room. The stage curtains were open, and his height allowed him to see the top of a few heads sitting beyond the stage.
Another assistant greeted them and motioned to the stairs to climb the stage. Kuon nodded his appreciation, dropped his bag, and mounted the stairs. From the very first step, a calm flowed through his body as he glimpsed the top of his girlfriend's brunette head while ignoring the faces around her already coming into view. His steps hastened to get a better visual of the woman that grounded him, ready to surprise her with his presence.
Kyoko was chatting with Seiji as Kuon moved toward the mark in the middle of the stage. The sound of his footsteps drew their attention in his direction. When she finally locked eyes with him, Kuon could only hold his breath. They never once discussed him being a potential male lead in her debut film. Now, he wasn't so sure how she would take the intrusion. Her amber eyes widened, and her lips parted in a gasp. The shock had her jumping up from her seat. He chuckled at her extreme reaction. Fucking adorable. The fact that he even entertained the idea of bailing seemed so stupid now. Had he done so, he would have missed such a welcome.
"Stop being stupid and sit down, you blockhead."
Their eye contact broke as Kuon's gaze snapped to the owner of an annoying yet familiar voice. What in the actual flying fuck?
His eye twitched at the sight of Fuwa fucking Sho tugging on the sleeve of his girlfriend's blazer. The sound of blood pumping to his racing heart clouded his hearing as rage filled his veins. Kuon was on the verge of jumping off the stage and ripping his filthy hands off her. Instead, he placed his hands behind his back, curling them into fists. The idea of breaking the little bones of the hand touching her so he couldn't play an instrument for weeks seemed like a good one right about now.
"Don't touch me, idiot," she shrugged her arm away, quelling Kuon's rage a fraction. If he touched her again without her permission, he would make good on crushing his hand.
"Well, sit down and stop making a spectacle of yourself over every single guy that walks on that stage," Sho retorted and proudly folded his arms across his chest.
"I did not," Kyoko hissed and cast a worried glance his way.
Every single guy? What is that asshole talking about? Coming in late, he still saw at least half of his competition sitting in the waiting room. Depending on their skills, he thought they all had a chance at being picked by her. His gaze shifted back to Kyoko, sitting in the seat that was way too close to that bastard for his liking, trying to get a read on just how she'd been reacting to the men parading in front of her.
Jealousy slowly seeped into his bones. Maybe he went about this all wrong. He should have talked to her, and together, they could have convinced Seiji to give him the part instead of wasting company resources and time. The stylists could have figured out how to make him look the part and everyone would know she was his.
No, no, no, no…that's toxic as fuck Kuon. He berated himself internally. This was the right way. He was doing the right thing. Studying his younger co-stars on set was all in preparation for this moment. He had to do it without pulling rank, and technically, Kuon was a nobody; albeit, a nobody with exceptional acting skills. He planned to utilize every technique he gained as Tsuruga Ren without holding back to obtain this role.
But why the fuck is he even in here in the first place? Those spots were usually reserved for the judges…like the director and the lead cast and… No fucking way!
His gaze shifted to the others in the room, searching for the man he wanted to strangle at this very moment.
You!
Kuon spotted him off to the side, dressed in one of his many ridiculous costumes. The moment his eyes landed on Lory, a delighted smile stretched across his face. Kuon internally glowered, knowing what this troublesome man was thinking.
"Aren't you, Tsu…" Seijii started, rising from his chair, seeming to have finally worked it all out in his head.
'Kuon, my boy!" Lory's voice boomed at the same time, cutting off the director's words. The zombie king rose from his tattered throne and closed the distance to the front of the stage. "It's been too long, son. I could hardly believe it when Manami-kun told us you wanted to audition," Lory continued, stretching up to shake his hand.
Kuon smiled in return. One of the gentlemen smiles he perfected as Ren to hide his true feelings. The kind that his sweet girlfriend thoroughly hated when directed at her. It reminded him of their fight last night and the apology that followed. His smile changed to a genuine one just thinking about Kyoko. He reached for the president's hand, his ire somewhat quailed, and shook it firmly, still adding a little force to the squeeze. The slight grimace of pain was almost lost under the rotting flesh of his stage makeup, but Kuon noticed and grinned with satisfaction.
"You've grown quite a bit since I last saw you," Lory commented, rubbing his hand once it was released. "If I had known you were interested in acting again, I would have welcomed you."
"I wanted it to be a surprise," Kuon replied, flashing Kyoko with a warm smile. She nibbled on her bottom lip, eyes glassy and filled with worry. He wanted to reassure her that he was okay.
"It's quite a surprise," Seiji commented; the director's eyes studying him as he stood to join Lory by the stage. He reached out to shake Kuon's hand with a welcoming smile but said nothing more.
"I appreciate you giving me the opportunity, Shingai-san," Kuon greeted, not bothering to hide that he knew the director's name. His name and face were well-known in Japan's show-biz world, so it wouldn't be hard to explain.
"Anything for Kuu-san's son," Seiji offered. Kuon tensed. He wasn't sure how much the director knew of his family history, but he couldn't take it any other way than a dig at his possible career. Before Lory interrupted, it sounded like he might have made the correlation between him and his alter ego.
"Kuu-san?!" Sho exclaimed. It was his turn to rise from his seat. "Are you telling me he's the son of that famous Japanese-American actor in Hollywood? The actor in Her Darkest Desires? You remember right, Kyoko, we watched it? The one where the wife seduces the son of her…mmmph."
The movement was so quick that it took Kuon a second to understand what happened. Kyoko had jumped from her seat and smacked her palm so hard to the singer's lips that he staggered and fell into his seat. In turn, his sudden fall caught Kyoko off balance, practically landing her in his lap. While he was grateful she wasn't hurt, Kuon's vision darkened. All he could see was her body draped across the singer and the bastard's hands resting on her hips. My hips!
"Let me go," Kyoko screeched, righting herself and smoothing her uniform. She glanced at Kuon, her eyes pleading to forgive her.
"Hey," Sho raised his hands defensively. "You threw yourself at me, remember."
I'm fucking breaking his hands now! Before he knew it, Kuon hopped off the stage, making a beeline for Sho.
"That wasn't my intention," Kyoko growled. "Of all the movies he is in, you bring up that…" Kyoko's lecture froze, and her whole body shivered at Kuon's closeness. He would have to revisit her reaction in the first place, but right now, anger overruled logic.
"Whoa dude," Sho's eyes flashed angrily as he stood, bravely challenging Kuon. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"You need to keep your filthy hands to yourself," Kuon seethed, glaring down his nose at the bastard. Sho was lucky the table was between them, holding him back from choosing violence.
"I'm okay, Kuon," Kyoko murmured shyly, gazing up at him through her lush lashes. A cute blush dusted her cheeks. Kuon's anger thawed as he focused on his sweet girlfriend. "He's not worth it," she added nervously. He moved toward her and bumped into the table, momentarily forgetting the obstruction.
"Wait, what? Why did you call him without any honorifics?" Sho demanded.
"Isn't it only proper for family?" Kuon answered smugly before Kyoko could respond. She gasped with a few others in the room, not expecting the response.
"Family? Do you know him, Kyoko?" Sho pressed, pinning Kyoko with a hard stare.
Kyoko squirmed under his scrutiny, her mouth opening and closing in an attempt to respond. She turned confused eyes toward Kuon, her eyes pleading for answers. It was wrong of him to put her on the spot when he had selfishly sprung himself on her. Hell, he had no idea either. Kuon was flying by the seat of his pants right now and Fuwa Sho was never part of any of the scenarios he had running through his head.
"She's my sister," Kuon confessed bluntly. All Kuon could do was grin like a loon, proud of his answer until he saw his girlfriend gaping at him like he lost his marbles. More gasps exalted around the room. No one said anything else, not even the president. The man was probably enjoying the show.
"What the fuck?!" Sho exclaimed, bumping into his lifesaver. "Didn't you just say your name was Hizuri?"
"My parents practically adopted her, which makes us siblings," Kuon shrugged, winking at Kyoko and making her giggle.
"Are you kidding me right now, Kyoko?" Sho wagged his finger at her. "Why are you even flirting with this guy? Did you forget you have a boyfriend?" Kyoko clammed up at the accusation.
"She has a boyfriend, you know," Sho whirled to face him. "He's Japan's top actor, and he's tall. Taller than you." He looked Kuon up and down with contempt. "He's great at martial arts and has luscious locks…unlike that fake shit, looks like a wig." The singer nodded towards Kuon with a smug look.
Kuon turned a shocked gaze toward Kyoko, unable to believe what he just heard. Did Sho just inadvertently compliment him? The look on her face told him that his ears did not deceive him and the singer had said what he said. They stared at each other for another moment and then doubled over laughing, both clenching at their middles.
"What's so funny," Sho staggered backward, miffed at their laughter.
After wiping tears from his eyes and regaining his composure enough to speak through tiny fits of laughter, Kuon just couldn't help himself. "It sounds like you really admire the guy," he managed to get out as another round of laughter shook him.
"No, I don't," Sho huffed like a petulant child. "Whatever, he's better than some Hafu riding on his daddy's coattails. Must be nice to have it so easy," Sho sneered and plopped back into his seat.
Kuon sobered up quickly.
"Shotaro!" Kyoko scolded, her beautiful golden eyes flaring with anger on his behalf. "You don't know anything. Kuon works har..."
"It's okay, Kyoko," Kuon waved her off.
Fuck! She's so sexy when she's feisty! Yup! It was a good thing this table was between them because Kuon was itching to pull her into his arms and kiss the hell out of her.
"But…" she protested.
Kuon shook his head, stretching out a hand to caress her cheek with his knuckles. He loved the way she sighed and visibly relaxed into his touch.
"He's not the first to say that to my face, nor will he be the last. I'll just have to prove myself, okay."
"Okay," she agreed, forcing a smile to be supportive even if she didn't like it.
"Excellent!" The president erupted with a round of applause. "As entertaining as that was, how about we focus on the audition?
"Right, sorry," Kuon bowed, realizing he had wasted everyone's valuable time with his antics.
"No worries," Seiji assured him with a glint in his eyes. "We're all interested in your performance." The director gestured to the pair of judges who had remained silent throughout his exchange.
Kuon recognized the casting director, having worked with him on a previous project a few years ago. He didn't seem to recognize him as anyone other than Kuon Hizuri.
The woman beside Iwagami waved kindly toward him when the director introduced her as the screenwriter. Kuon thanked Ran for a job well done in translating the source material to something that could showcase a side of Kyoko her fans had rarely seen. He was excited to see the finished product regardless of whether he got the part or not. Ran blushed like a schoolgirl at the compliment. Kuon noticed the cute little scowl on his girlfriend's face from the corner of his eye. Her little show of jealousy had his blood pumping with the need to kiss her.
"Now that introductions are over. Let's get started." Seiji rubbed his hands excitedly together and moved around the table to take his seat.
"Is this even necessary at this point?" Sho asked, upset by Kuon's appearance.
"What do you mean?" Seiji frowned at the singer's question.
"Aren't you going to choose him anyway? What's the point?" Sho grumbled and slouched lower in his chair.
"Sho!" Kuon heard his manager hiss from somewhere in the room. He had been focusing on the pair, he didn't notice she was back there. Shoko made her way closer with Kyoko's manager beside her.
What the fuck? Why is Linh-san with her? Kyoko has some major explaining to do when I get home. Linh's narrowed eyes made him gulp and a small chill ran down his spine. She looked pissed…at me. What did I do?
"It's fine, Shoko-san," Seiji assured her, making the manager halt. "I'd like to know why he thinks we would just choose Hizuri-san without having him audition."
"Isn't that how this world works? It doesn't matter if you have the talent, it's all about who you know, and this guy," he nodded bitterly to Kuon, "knows the man on top."
Kuon stiffened, annoyed by Sho's perception of him just because of his father. If it were that simple, he wouldn't be here. A glance at his girlfriend
"We saw a lot of young men full of potential today, right?" Seiji questioned Sho, who nodded in agreement. "What if I told you I'm expecting more from Hizuri-san because of his parentage? I know his father's capability, so my expectations are high. He could be better than any of those men who auditioned, but it wouldn't matter because my mind is already comparing him to his father. And it's not just me. Every person in this profession will do the same."
Sho's eyes widened as he made brief eye contact with Kuon and then looked away.
"Do you think it's fair for me to judge him based on his father's success?" Seiji questioned.
Kuon's jaw locked, and his fists curled. Hearing the director speak so bluntly about his expectations dredged up too many painful memories for him. The pressure of being Kuu Hizuri's son had already begun, and he barely even started. This was the result of bearing the Hizuri name.
A slight movement from his girlfriend caught his attention, making Kuon turn toward her. She smiled at him, her eyes shining with nothing but love and faith in him. It was all the encouragement he needed, reminding him of the arduous journey to get to this point in his life. His body relaxed, letting the warmth she projected spread through him, wrapping him in a sweet embrace. He might be coming here as Kuon, but he had years of experience as Ren under his belt. Kuon was ready to rise to the challenge, prepared to make Kyoko and his parents proud.
"No," Sho mumbled and shook his head, avoiding eye contact.
Reluctantly tearing his gaze away from Kyoko, Kuon tuned back into the conversation between the singer and the director.
"Do you have any more questions, or can I do my job?" Seiji continued. The singer shook his head and apologized.
"Good. Now, Hizuri-san, if you please," the director gestured to the stage.
"I can help," Kyoko announced excitedly and began moving along the table.
Kuon's lips lifted, realizing that she was offering to be Ayane to his Seiichi. His confidence soared. With her by his side, he had this in the bag. She would only push him to do his best, for her, but most of all for him.
Before she could take another step, Seiji interrupted, "Actually, Kyoko-san. I would like Fuwa-kun to assist Hizuri-san on this one."
"What?!" Kuon, Kyoko, and Sho gasped in unison.
"Will that be a problem, Fuwa-kun?" Seiji asked, piercing Sho with his steely gaze.
"No, I mean," Sho gulped. "I just don't have any experience. I don't think I'm the right person," Sho panicked. His eyes darted around the room, hoping someone would agree with him.
Kuon sighed internally. He wasn't sure what game the director was playing, but it seemed it would be at the expense of his audition.
"Were you sleeping during the other auditions?" Seiji challenged.
"No, sir," Sho frowned, confused by the question.
"Then you are more than qualified to help Hizuri-san." Seiji joined the other judges at the table, ending the discussion.
Kuon took one last glance at his girlfriend, her eyes brimming with trepidation. He gave her a reassuring smile, hoping it would allay some of her fears. There was no way he would let Sho fuck this up for him.
"Fuwa," Kuon ground out, biting back a snarl. He raised his hand for a shake when the singer moved from the relative safety of the table, his other hand moving to his back for fear that he would absentmindedly punch him square in the nose and blow his chances at auditioning.
…
"Hey," Sho greeted cooly, reaching for the bastard's proffered hand. He hated that the hafu was so much taller than him.
Fuck! Sho gnashed his teeth to keep from hollering as the guy squeezed his hand in a vise-like grip for a few moments then released it.
"Thanks for the assist. I appreciate it," Kuon smirked and walked away. The fucker did that shit on purpose. With his back to the judges, Sho flexed his hand, trying to ease the throbbing. If his hand ended up damaged, he was going to sue the fuck out of the asshole.
Sho followed close behind Kuon, heading for the stage's stairs. He studied the back of the guy from head to toe and up again. It irked him that this guy was Kyoko's type. Ditch the nerdy glasses and uniform and the guy could easily pass as a model. Did he live in Japan? He was wearing a uniform like he did. Not only was he tall, but Sho could see the muscle definition hidden underneath the school blazer. Sho found himself staring at the back of Kuon's head, watching the way his silky hair swayed as he moved, the color reminding him of spun gold.
I wonder what it would feel like if I ran my fingers through them?
Whoa, what the fuck? Spun gold? Am I some female lead in a Shoujo manga pining over the class prince?
Sho was so deep in his controversial thoughts that he wasn't paying attention to where he was going and crashed into a brick wall, slamming his face. The wall turned out to be Kuon's back, confirming Sho's observation of the muscles the guy was packing.
"Easy," Kuon steadied Sho until he regained his balance. "You good? I didn't think you'd try to walk through me when I stopped at the mark," Kuon grinned, dipping his head to make eye contact with Sho.
Wow. I've never seen eyes so green like that. Sho was mesmerized by their brilliance, eventually snapping out of his trance-like state.
"I'm fine," Sho huffed, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. The fuck! Am I blushing? He turned his face away so no one could see him.
"Is everything okay?" The director called from his seat.
"I don't know," Kuon answered. "His face is a little red. He might have a fever."
"I'm fine," Sho whirled toward the judges." I was a bit disoriented after running into him."
"Okay, whenever you guys are ready to start," Seiji instructed.
"Is there a particular way you want to start?" Kuon asked. "Do you want to sit, or do you want to stand? I tend to immerse myself into a role, but if you're more comfortable with just reading, we can do it that way?"
"Huh?" Sho blinked at Kuon, trying to decipher what the guy told him.
Sho watched the brightness of Kuon's eyes fade into a deeper shade, anger and annoyance evident behind those thick dark frames. The hafu closed his eyes and exhaled slowly before speaking again. When he opened his eyes, the anger directed at Sho seemed to have tempered.
"I want you to act out Ayane's part, not just speak it," Kuon reiterated and pointed to the floor. It sounded like he was no longer giving Sho a choice in the matter.
"Is there something wrong?" Seiji asked. Sho and Kuon turned toward the front and found the director at its food.
"Sure, no problem," Sho apologized and sat on the floor with his knees bent, much like Kyoko and Ran had when they were on stage. He felt stupid doing so, but he wasn't about to endure the wrath of the director and jeopardize his part in the project further. This audition seemed to be a test for him too and he didn't want to screw it up.
His stupidity exponentially rose when Sho buried his head into his knees and acted like he was crying. What the hell? He couldn't see anything or hear what was going on now. Was the jackass even doing anything or was he enjoying leaving him in this spot?
Just when the temptation to peek out from under his arm became too great, Sho felt a presence in front of him that beckoned to him. Shouldn't he be saying something? Sho raised his head, unable to bear it any longer when he didn't speak.
"Ayane," Kuon breathed when Sho finally looked at him. The way her name left his lips had Sho gulping, little fluttery wings taking flight in his stomach…and don't get him started on his racing pulse.
What the fuck? Am I having a heart attack?
"Is that you? Are you okay?" Kuon asked, concern lacing his voice as he kneeled in front of him, surveying the injuries Ayane sustained from her bike accident. Sho was grateful he no longer had to tilt his head to look up. He found himself shaking his head "no" at his questions.
Kuon lightly chuckled as he repositioned himself to sit, crisscrossing his legs.
Sho couldn't help but admire the length of them and the ease at which they folded. His dress pants pulled taught and displayed the rippling muscles on the guy's thighs and…is that a fucking banana?
Holy Shit! Sho buried his face in his knees, eager to hide his burning face. The guy was packing Godzilla in his pants.
"How long have you been sitting here crying by yourself?" Kuon asked. The intensity of his gaze on him had Sho lifting his head to stare at him. He had no clue what came over him, but the singer couldn't remember a single one of Ayane's lines at the moment.
When Sho didn't answer, Kuon continued, "Do you need help getting home? Your bike looks busted," he nodded off to the side. Annoyed by his lack of response, Kuon nudged his foot to get him to engage in the dialogue.
"No, no, ugh, um someone's coming. I mean I already called someone," Sho stammered, fuming at himself for screwing up.
Kuon flashed him a mega-watt smile, exposing his perfect teeth. It nearly obliterated him with how beautiful the guy looked when he smiled. Da fuq! Pull your shit together!
"Do you want me to stay until they come?" He offered.
"No, no, no, no, I'll be fine," Sho insisted, waving his arms to emphasize his point.
Those green eyes twinkled at the ferocity with which Sho denied him. Kyoko and Ran didn't react like this when they were up here, so what was his problem?
His smile dimmed, tempting Sho to ask what was wrong.
"Sorry," he muttered, removing his phone from his blazer pocket. Sho curiously watched as he tapped out a reply.
"I'm supposed to meet Narumi," Kuon sighed, returning the phone to his pocket. Sho felt a throbbing in his heart at the mention of his character's long-time girlfriend.
"You better go, or she'll get mad at you for being late," Sho prompted, surprised that he didn't even hesitate to deliver the scripted line.
Kuon shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. He looked around the street before settling on Sho's face. "I don't want to leave you here like this." His confession had Sho's heart once again beating erratically. Maybe I am getting sick.
"Go, I'll be fine," Sho insisted. Kuon's gaze bore into his for a few beats longer. Something indiscernible flitted in his eyes, but it was gone too fast. He stood to leave and nodded.
"Seiichi," Sho called as he walked away. Kuon turned at his character's name. "Thanks for stopping."
"You're welcome," Kuon beamed. "I'll see you around, Ayane," he waved and continued walking.
Sho watched him go with a sense of longing plaguing his heart. He placed a hand over his chest and rubbed it, hoping to alleviate the ache in his chest.
AN: Gahhh! Please forgive me for delaying this chapter. I think I jinxed myself after the last chapter. I was hoping to finish it before I went on vacation, but that didn't happen. Rather than going to Japan this summer (it was too expensive this time), my family and I decided to hit up London and Paris, we've never been. It was a great experience. We did all the tourist things and enjoyed all the delicious food and desserts. Of course, once we returned, we slowly dropped like flies, starting with my hubs. It took several weeks for the vicious cycle to end, so here I am.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I couldn't help myself with where I went with Kuon and Sho…bwahahaha.
Thank you for the reviews of the last chapter and the subtle reminders to keep me writing. I appreciate you all.
Until next time, ja ne! ^_^