I had to wait to the chapter 176 to see what Murasame really did; so take care - spoilers to 176! Since now a little spin-off begins - imagine the scene ended after 176, as Murasame left Cain Heel's dressing room scared to death.

Great thanks to Leelish and her heavenly endurance with my grammar and weird writing habits.

2. Tsuruga Kuon, Trouble over the Corn...er

Ren searched the passages of LME. Kyoko was nowhere to be found, but he knew she had to be here. And he knew that he had to do something, after what happened at the lunchtime. Cain Heel surely should not do anything else but to glare at the men ogling his sweet sister, and there was no excuse for him slipping so badly.

He remembered Setsuka interacting with Murasame. She stayed character, of course. And Murasame in fact did not do anything too bad. He didn't touch her in an improper way or something (of course, EVERY way any man could touch Kyoko was improper). He just looked at her with interest; but after that he played the role of "the good guy, the cooperating teamplayer" which was much worse. Ren knew he was prejudiced against Murasame. He has done nothing Ren, or even Kuon, would not do. But that was the problem. The jerk was too much like him, but not the actor enough to create his "new and nice persona" bulletproof. Ren knew how it felt. He knew too many young boys like him, wild and crazy and craving for fame, acknowledgement, love, money and other things, who, growing up, found out that they get their goals easier when they behaved on the surface. Hell, he used to be one of them, or pretended to be at least; and so he knew immediately. Murasame wanted to piss off Cain Heel, and he liked Cain's cool and cute sister too much to let her be.

She, as Setsuka, stayed cold to his attempts and was unruffled when Cain scared the sucker to death. But inside she still was Kyoko, the biggest team player, caring and attentive, and she felt sorry for the guy, Ren was sure. Today she understands she is playing for another team, and so she has to play the ice princess without any hint of agreement with Murasame's demands; but as a real human, she has to disagree deeply with the behaviour she has to display. She would never agree with anyone appearing so rude to people and deciding not to speak their language. Plus, she has no idea how her appearance affects the men around her. One day she might show her real face for a moment, and Murasame will take advantage at her, because Murasame wouldn't understand that is wasn't the cold Setsuka giving in to him, but Mogami Kyoko, slipping out of her role.

Ren paused for a moment with the feeling he was underestimating Kyoko's acting ability. But everyone has weak spots; he slipped today very seriously and he has to begin even more dangerous play to cover the deadly mistake. If it could happen to him, it surely can happen to her. And she will be scared, or worse - she could take the bait and falls for the arrogant, bigheaded jerk, because he can pretend to be so lovely and caring and witty and... crap. It must not happen. Any hour of hesitation could be deadly. He has to do it today.

At last he found her. Deep in her thoughts, and somehow sad, she walked a dark corridor from the storage rooms.

"Good morning, Mogami-san."

Kyoko woke up from her musing and returned his greeting. Ren could've sworn she blushed faintly.

"Are you going to work here?" she wondered.

"Actually, I was hoping to find you, Mogami-san. I have a task for you."

"Oh, a Love-me task?"

"Oh no. Actually, I really need to talk to you very soon. Privately. What about a dinner somewhere? Are you free at eight?"

Kyoko shrugged. "Yes, I am. But please tell me, what... Have I maybe done something bad?"

"Not at all. It's... I need to make sure... I need to tell you something. In fact, maybe you'll be angry with me."

"Me angry with you?" frowned Kyoko. "How could I possibly be? Well, you have many reasons to be angry with me, 'cause I always do something silly, but me with you?"

She tried to imagine. Maybe he wants to tell her about the high-school girl he's in love with, and he is sorry for not trusting Kyoko so long ago. Or maybe he wants to tell her about his past, as a practice, because he wants to see how another girl will react to it? Or he allready confessed to the girl, now he wants to share the truth about his life and she is honoured to be the next one to be told? Every possibility was a bit heartwarming, because it meant he trusts Kyoko enough to tell her secrets. But every possibility was killing in the same time. She felt the purse with the Corn stone in her pocket, but she didn't feel the strength through the fabric layers, even if she touched the pocket discreetly. Please, help me, Corn!

Kyoko did her best to look unconcerned, but she could not hide the confusion. He could almost see the bunches of ideas running one and other side behind her forehead, struggling and panicking all over. She looked so adorable when confused, you wanted to hug her and tease her and kiss her... oh no, stop. But maybe he could afford a bit of innocent teasing?

His face went to a mix of Emperor of the Night and the Teasing Elf of the Fairy Garden. He went near her side, bowed to her ear, and whispered softly: "There are many secrets in the world to be revealed, Kyoko-chan," and whispering, his lips touched her earlobe very tenderly.

If there was a shock-measuring machine, it surely would have exploded.

Well, a bit less innocent teasing than he counted on before. But he could not resist the temptation.

Kyoko froze like a stone pillar. Her heart seemed to stand still. She could not do anything.

Ren bowed. "So, we'll see each other at eight at your place, Mogami-san."

She was not capable movement, and so she was left in the lonely passage, utterly perplexed.

After a while, her body started to work again, her face flushed in a dangerous way and the heart raced so quickly as if trying to catch up. What should THIS of all things mean? Had she been daydreaming? She felt the kiss... no, it was only a touch! An accidental touch! But he called her "Kyoko-chan", like the time he's been ill. Considered together, it couldn't be both an accident.

Was it another one "american gesture"? Is he really such a playboy as to kiss other girls when he is in love with someone else? Or is she completely misinterpreting something that maybe never happened? If it is this possibility, it could be the reason why the Corn stone didn't help. But wait, Corn always helped, even if she needed only to lift up her mood, so why not now?

She took it out of the purse. It looked the same, but somehow the comfort she always got was gone. It seemed like the stone was smirking at her with its blue-ish eye.

Is Corn going bad? Maybe the Beagle was right when he tried to take it from her? Oh no, it could not be. But maybe it's purpose was only to take away sadness, not these dangerous feelings she is fighting right now. Maybe it is too weak. Oh, my poor fairy stone, you can't help me this time.

And the worst thing, the worst thing of all is: he left, and so she could not take back her consent. She has to go to the dinner. Whatever awaits her there.