Now even the greatest planners make mistakes, and this was exactly what had happened with Lory. It was 4.37am exactly when the frantic call came through his private phone. It was lucky Lory was such a light sleeper otherwise who knew what would have happened if he hadn't answered?
"My son! How is my son?!" Lory's mistake registered instantly as Kuu's voice belted through the phone into his ear as he heard the sobbing, screaming voice in the background shouting about how she was going to kill him! She was going to tear him limb from limb for making her precious baby work himself half to death until he became seriously ill. She then broke into floods of tears about how she would never see her baby again.
"Kuu..." but Lory was not getting a word in edgewise as Julie demanded to speak to the kidnapper, Lory could hear them arguing over the phone as Lory sighed. He really was too tired to be dealing with this right now.
"KUU!" Lory literally screamed down the phone as all sounds on the other end went silent for a moment. "Kuu you insufferable black hole. Stick the phone on loudspeaker and listen to what I have to say before I put the phone down and never contact you about your son again!" he rubbed his sore eyes tiredly as he waited for confirmation of the phone settings. Just as Julie began ranting again Lory cut in.
"Your son is not ill Julie, that was a false trail we have put down to protect his identity as Cain Heel." He heard the sudden and abrupt stop of the two people as he sighed. Sitting up in his bed he switched his laptop which was always on his bedside table and swiftly sent the file he had created on the newest movements of his favourite couple to his friends.
"I've sent you the information, it's all in there. Just watch the first video and we will talk." the line was still almost silent, though he could hear what he thought was quiet deliberation as he guessed someone was setting up the laptop to receive the message he had just sent. Laying back in his bed Lory dozed fitfully as he awaited the verdict of the couple who he knew held his life in the balance. Both were scary when it came to their child and if he thought about it that way this story really related to the two of their children. He could hear it very quietly almost like background noise as they played the first news report. It was Makoto Yui from The Daily Scoop before the Heel's exited the building. She asked about the story that had sprung up about the incestious siblings and then questioned them when they left the hotel right up until Kyoko, or rather Setsu, kissed Kuon or maybe Ren, no it was Cain.
God this was even getting confusing to me! Lory thought as he awaited the repercussions.
"I told you she was an amazing actress!" he heard Kuu proclaim loudly. He couldn't help but smile as he agreed, but it was Julie's comment that really made Lory smile.
"Yes, but I think Kuon is enjoying that a little too much to be acting." he heard Julie chuckle as he too had noticed how the lad's eye had gone wide before melting into Kyoko's embrace.
"So will you believe me now?" Lory asked as he awaited his judgement.
"Kuon really isn't ill?" Kuu asked.
"No."
"And he is safe?" this was Julie and Lory wondered how he should reply
"Safe enough." was all he could think to say as the phone exploded again with two shouting voices.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SAFE ENOUGH!" Julie shouted.
"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU GOT OUR SON DOING!" Kuu screamed.
Lory sighed again. "All I meant was he is safe, though I'm not sure how safe his emotional state is since he will have to be around Kyoko 24/7." he noticed how Julie went instantly quiet, but Kuu ever last to catch on to a meaning that wasn't work related had to ask.
"What do you mean?" Lory almost laughed, but Julie beat him to it.
"Can't you see for yourself Kuu? It's obvious that Kuon is completely and utterly head over heels in love with that girl and now he will have to spend every waking hour in her presence. From what you and Lory have told me, Kuon is going to have to be very careful not to scare the poor woman." Lory waited slowly counting to four before the penny finally dropped.
"WHAT? The hell? He better not be doing anything to my son at all or I will kill the git!" Lory had to smile as now Kuu was threatening to kill the boy he had called minutes ago to check if he was still alive. He really was a Baka when it came to his children real or not!
"Oh Kuu don't be stupid!" Lory heard the sound of a slap across the phone and almost smiled at the image in his head of Julie's hand connecting with the back of Kuu's head as he pouted. Around now he would be pulling out the puppy dog eyes Lory knew.
"Julie..." Yep there was the pout, and then the sound of whining, and there were the puppy dog eyes.
"Don't you use that look with me Kuu!" Julie admonished with no real force behind her voice, as Lory could see the image of Kuu wrapping his arm around his wife and hugging her tightly.
"She loves him you know." Lory felt in that moment that he had to make this entirely clear, as he wondered just how close Kyoko was to confessing her love to Japan's number one star. Though he doubted it was going to happen within the next few weeks, he felt obliged to put in a good word for the girl, even if Kuu was already a parental baka over her.
"Well who wouldn't love my son?" Kuu asked, the pride in his voice making Lory shake his head at the man's folly.
"Really?" Julie asked in a very thoughtful tone. She had always been the more composed parent though she too was an obsessive parent at times.
"Yes, though at this moment in time I wonder how she is going to be handling the situation. One can hope even if the experience will be difficult for Kuon...as it would be for any hot blooded male." Lory added when he suspected another Kuu outburst "I wonder if this time together will not be a good thing for that girl who fears love just as much as Kuu fears spiders?" Julie laughed at Lory's comparison. Who would have thought the Japanese hero, and Hollywood superstar would be scared of something so normal?
"I wonder... but Lory-Kun some of these rumours seem very deeply rooted. How on Earth are you going to be able to remove them entirely from the situation to allow them to regain their true identities ...Or in Kuon's case his fake name?" Julie asked softly as Lory heard her clicking away at a mouse through the phone.
Lory sighed. Yes he had realised just how deep the parasite that is rumour and scepticism had burrowed under the characters of his favourite thespians. Truly he too was a little concerned about just how they were going to extract the poison in a way to save the pair and not just them, but the movie too! It was almost like a civil war had broken out between the people of Japan. Some openly accepted the Heel siblings "relationship" while others completely and utterly disagreed with it. Even some Lory knew were already trying to appeal to have the pair removed from the project and shipped back to whichever country they came from and take their appalling relationship with them!
"I feel so helpless!" Julie exclaimed as Lory heard her fist connect solidly with what he guessed was the table, "I'm Kuon's mother and all I can do is sit here and watch what could be the most harmful thing to his built up career! What if something happens? Will this set him back even further and delay him returning to us?" Lory wondered if he should mention that he doubted Kuon would ever return to America while Kyoko was still in Japan, but thought better of it as he supposed Julie and Kuu might just be happy with Kuon confessing his true name to the world for a start.
Yet something in Julie's words got Lory thinking. As he listened to Julie tell Kuu she was packing and getting on the first flight available to Japan, there was nothing anyone could do or say to stop her! Lory's head was running around the idea. He could feel it, almost like his mind was running through a maze getting closer and closer to the middle. Ignoring the argument that was raging in the background across the phone as finally Lory's mind found that clear central point, that clarity he had been searching for as Kuu called Lory back to the phone call.
"Tell her Lory! Tell her she will only be making things worse if she flies to Japan now!" but Lory's words shocked Kuu.
"Julie how fast could you lay your affairs to rest? Can it be, say 3 weeks?" Lory asked as the idea grew and expanded in his mind.
"I could have it sorted out by Wednesday!" Julie said the air of excitement in her voice was electric as she dared hope what this could mean.
"Kuu what about you? Are you up for a little trip to Japan old friend." Lory asked as the smile he felt forming on his lips grew large and calculating.
"But...but... Lory we can't! Kuon said he would come back to us with his own strength! We promised we would not interfere!" It showed just how much Lory and Julie loved their son he decided as he chose his words carefully.
"I was not asking for the parents of Kuon Hizuri to pay a visit, but the parents of Setsuka and Cain Heel."
As he allowed his words to sink into the pair, he knew without a doubt smiles would be forming on both of their faces. Without a doubt they would be smiling at the thought of what Lory's idea could bring!
"I'm sure Ii can have my affairs sorted by Wednesday Lory. You know family matters and all that aside, of course it would be kept hush hush." Kuu answered the happiness in his voice evident.
"Oh of course. It would be very hush hush." Lory agreed as his mind finally found that elusive pathway. Lory hoped it made a clear way out of this maze of scandals and rumours.
Ren couldn't sleep, or was he Kuon at this moment? He really didn't know anymore. The two seemed to mold and merge nowadays because of her. She accepted the darkness in him, though he wondered if she would do so if she knew just how deep and dark that darkness was? After watching the news showing the fake Ren being carted away to the hospital for suspected glandular fever Kyoko had almost flattened herself to the floor, using every objective under the sun to tell him how she had failed. She was unworthy and a terrible person. It had taken every trick Ren, Kuon and Cain had known to get Kyoko in any type of state and able to communicate properly, and by this point he had resorted to just bringing out Setsu.
I will talk to her in the morning about it. He decided as he rolled onto his back from his side.
"Nii-san?" she was still awake? Ren looked over at the small form in the bed next to him.
"Yes Setsu?" he asked hoping she wasn't going to suddenly flip out as Kyoko again. He really doubted he had the energy to handle her right now after the day he had.
"Thank you...for painting my nails for me." Ren couldn't help but smile. The words hid more beneath them than a simple thank you and Ren knew that as he stared into the golden orbs of the woman he loved.
"You're welcome Setsu, you know I would do anything to keep you safe and happy." Ren hoped she would see and feel just how deep his own words went. She was thanking him for not shouting, for calming her and understanding her when the rest of her world seemed to be crumbling around her. He was telling her, no matter when, where, how or why he would always be there for her and he hoped she would one day understand it further to mean, he would always love her.
"Now go to sleep Setsu, we have a busy day tomorrow." He watched her as she nodded.
"Hai Nii-san." as her golden eyes closed to the world, her tired and exhausted body gave into the sleep it had been craving. She was physically,mentally and emotionally drained and it was only by sheer willpower she had lasted this long. But as sleep overtook her she never heard Kuon's faint whisper.
"No matter what happens Kyoko I will always love you." Her gentle breathing lulled Ren into the world of dreams.