The sun set in the west, disappearing behind distant mountains. The sky was streaked with amazing colors - orange, red, pink, and purple. At the Kusanagi ranch house, Kyo stood in the doorway of the backyard, staring at the sky. He wore casual clothing, loose black denim pants, and a white collared shirt. Black boots cased his feet.

He turned, heading back into the house. The living room was decorated in all browns, and his father was sitting on the sofa, reading a book.

"Kyo, you have a visitor in your room…" Saishu Kusanagi informed.

"Okay," Kyo acknowledged.

His father didn't keep his eyes off his book as Kyo bounded down the hallway to his room. The house was a solid wood structure decorated with unique designs. Blankets woven from hand were hung on the walls. Shaped designs woven from baskets also added flair to the house. Kyo entered his room and frowned immediately. A brown-haired man wearing a white denim shirt, matching denim pants, black and white boots, and a white bandana tied around his neck was propped on his bed, his feet crossed.

"Ahem." Kyo cleared his throat.

The man flushed. "Kusanagi! I-I…I was-"

"Shingo, what the h*ll are you doing here?" Kyo crossed his arms.

"Oh…I…I came here to see if you needed my help with anything…um…yeah…"

Kyo shook his head. "Not today."

"Your dad told me you're leaving tomorrow," Shingo began. "And…"

Kyo reached into his closet to pull out a duffel bag. "What about it?"

"Where are you going?" Shingo asked. "Maybe…I can help you on your trip or something…"

"I don't think so. And I can't tell you," Kyo replied.

"Kyo!" came Saishu's voice. His father entered the doorway. "You have a telegram from Chun Li." He handed the piece of paper to his son.

Kyo's eyes scanned the paper before ripping it into shreds and tucking the pieces into his pocket. "Thanks."

Saishu left while Shingo stared at Kyo, his jaw dropping.

"You're…going away with a woman?" Shingo asked.

"No," Kyo lied. "She's someone I met in town…knows another rancher who might be willing to offer some land…"

Shingo gasped. "But…you're leaving tomorrow! I saw it through the paper! 'I'll pick you up at seven tomorrow.' Kusanagi! Are you cheating on Yuki?"

"What?!" Kyo was stunned by Shingo's accusation.

"Where is Yuki?" Shingo asked.

Kyo cleared his throat. "She's on the East Coast, visiting relatives…"

"And you're cheating on her!" Shingo accused. "Kusanagi, why? Is your relationship with Yuki that bad? I wouldn't think you'd resort to having an affair with-"

"Shingo, I'm not having an affair!" Kyo shouted. He blushed furiously as Saishu's head appeared in the doorway.

Saishu's eyebrows shot up. "Is…everything all right?"

Kyo scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah…everything's fine, Dad." He distracted himself by packing his clothes.

Saishu entered the room and perched on the edge of Kyo's bed. "Son…we never really talked about the relationships between men and women…"

Kyo threw up his hands. "Dad!"

Saishu cleared his throat. "I…I just never got around to it, that's all…In all honesty, I didn't know I had to talk about it…I always assumed that when you were ready, you'd tell me, and I'd give you money to buy the company of a saloon girl for a night…"

Kyo's eyes widened. "Dad!"

Shingo's jaw dropped.

"We're all adults…" Saishu reasoned.

"I am NOT cheating on Yuki. End of discussion!" Kyo declared, astonished that Shingo would think of such a thing. Yuki had been his girlfriend for several years. Why the heck would he be cheating on her?

But from the expressions on their faces, the other two didn't believe him.

The next morning, Kyo quickly got dressed and bounded to the front door. It was six forty-five a.m. Pretty early. But his father and Shingo were earlier than he was. They sat patiently in the living room. Kyo moved his eyes heavenward.

"We thought we would wish you farewell," Saishu informed.

Kyo refrained from saying anything, knowing full well they wanted to meet the woman he was going away with.

"Did you want some coffee?" Saishu offered.

"Might as well…" Kyo grumbled.

Saishu poured a steaming cup of coffee into a tin mug. Kyo sipped it slowly.

"Before you leave, I feel we should continue our discussion," Saishu said.

"Dad!" Kyo groaned.

"I feel it's my fatherly duty to inform you about the relationships between men and women…"

"Dad, I'm not cheating on Yuki."

"Then why are you going away with a woman?" Saishu asked.

"I…" Kyo faltered. "I'd rather not say…"

"That leads me to believe that you are cheating on your girlfriend."

Kyo remained silent, sipping his coffee, nearly spilling it as a bell rang. The ranch house had a bell that hung inside the house, and the cord to ring it wove through one of the boards of the house. A visitor could yank the cord and the Kusanagis would know that they had a visitor.

Saishu jumped up to answer the door.

"Wait!" Kyo called, wanting to answer the door first. But unfortunately, his father was much faster.

In a few moments, Saishu walked in with Chun Li trailing behind him. Kyo's jaw nearly dropped. Shingo's jaw was past dropping. It was on the floor. She looked different. Maybe because she was dressed differently. Her brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail and it curled in ringlets. She also wore a pale blue dress with long sleeves. She looked classy and sophisticated.

"Hi," Kyo greeted. "Chun Li, this is my father, and this is Shingo."

She smiled warmly at them. "How do you do?"

Saishu bowed as did Shingo.

"Well…ma'am…I am certainly surprised…I didn't expect to meet a lady so…" Saishu faltered. "Um…so where exactly are you taking my son?"

Chun Li glanced at Kyo and said innocently, "You didn't tell them, did you?"

"Um…no." Kyo lowered his gaze.

"We thought you were eloping," Shingo exclaimed.

"Shingo!" Kyo's eyes snapped up.

Chun Li laughed with delight. "No…although I could see why one think so. I think Kyo is very charming, and it's easy to tell where he gets his looks from…"

Saishu's back stiffened with pride, and he puffed out his chest. Kyo rolled his eyes.

"But…actually…I'm a freelance photographer. My father recently died, and I want to keep his business going…" she explained. "While I was in town, a man tried to steal my purse, but your son stopped him. So I offered him a job as my assistant."

Kyo's jaw dropped but closed as soon as Saishu turned his eyes on him.

"That's it? You…took another job?" Saishu asked the same time Shingo said, "Kusanagi, I'm sorry…"

Kyo shrugged and try to look sheepish. "I…just thought I could try something else along with ranching…thought you wouldn't like the idea…"

Saishu smiled. "I'm so proud of you…My boy is willing to expand his horizons…"

"Right…." Kyo hedged. "Um…should we get going now?"

Chun Li nodded. "Absolutely."

"Have fun, boy!" Saishu shouted out the door as Chun Li and Kyo climbed into the carriage waiting outside. He put his arm around Shingo. "Don't worry! Shingo and I will be okay!"

After the driver secured Kyo's belongings, he got in the seat and clicked his tongue. The horses moved forward.

"Have fun, Kusanagi!" Shingo cried out.

Kyo waved to them then settled back in his seat, across from her.

"You're good at giving honesty a good twist," Kyo declared.

Chun Li shrugged. "I couldn't tell your family what you were up to. Guile said to keep it low profile. You can tell your family what really happened after Yagami's in custody."