And here we go with chapter three.


Ren arrived for his costume prep right on schedule. No amount of still wanting to avoid Kyoko would make him tarnish his work record. And upon arrival he felt a small reprieve when he did not immediately see Kyoko in the room. He felt a little bad for ditching her, but knew that ultimately it had been the right thing. It was her image that needed to be protected. Not his. It was no secret Fuwa would never think well of him.

The door slammed shut suddenly behind him and Ren turned around to see a very unhappy Kyoko staring at the far wall, not really seeing anything.

"Mogami-san?" Kyoko looked up at him and blinked, realizing only now that he was there. Fuwa, his thoughts turned bitter. He's the only one who makes her like that.

"Sorry," she mumbled, clearly still irritated about something. "I just…"

Ren smiled as best he could. She always knew when he was angry and he did not want her to think for a moment that he was displeased with her.

"How did it go?" he asked, hoping to find the issue quickly and clear her head. She shrugged.

"He bought my explanation. It wasn't too far from the truth, but I don't think he'll make the connections he would need to. I don't think he could ever see me acting someone like Setsuka." There was a bitterness in her voice that made Ren go cold. Why did she have to care about that boy at all?

"His loss," Ren stated firmly. Kyoko gave him a weak smile, but he could tell something about his statement had bothered her. "Mogami-san, did he say something?"

She shrugged. "He was just… Sho. It doesn't really matter."

"Ah." His sentence hung in the air for a moment and an awkward silence grew between them. He asked the first thing that popped into his head, trying ease the situation. "What did you tell him?" Kyoko looked at Ren, puzzled. "So that we both have the same story. I doubt he'll talk to me if I run into him, but just in case…"

Kyoko nodded and gave him the same brief explanation she had given Sho. Ren had not expected anything too different from what she told him. She was not a liar, and this really was as close to the truth as she could get without breaking confidences.

"Alright," he said when she was finished. "That sounds good. I'll remember that. Did he accept your explanation about the part he walked in on?" Ren wondered if maybe Fuwa had not believed her. He was frustrated when her face became clouded again.

"He believed me," she said quietly.

"Well, that's good then. Right?"

"Yeah, I guess."

Before Ren could discover what that cryptic statement meant, Jelly arrived and swept Kyoko off to go get ready. Ren spent a few moments talking with the President, who had arrived with Jelly, then went off to change as well.

By the time he came out, Setsu was already there, waiting for Cain. She was at her brother's side in an instant, her hand immediately finding his own.

"Ready for work?" she asked, giving him a warm smile. Ren was relieved and Cain gave his sister's hand a small squeeze.

"When am I not ready?" he retorted, dragging her with him to the door. Setsu giggled and waved goodbye to the president and Jelly. Lory watched them with more than a bit of amusement. Even he had wondered how things would turn out with the two of them living together. But he had trusted Ren, and he had complete faith in Kyoko. It would be alright. They would take care of each other.

Work went just fine. Kyoko had no problem staying in character as Setsuka and Ren let himself relax. Whatever had been bothering her, it was not bad enough that she was going to let it affect her work. She would be alright.

And she was alright, all the way back to the hotel, through making dinner, and she was still smiling when she left to take her own shower. But it did not escape Cain's notice that his sister took twice as long as normal, and that when she came out she was not happy that he was still up.

She gave him a weak smile before scolding. "Nii-san, you should be asleep already. You have work tomorrow…"

Her voice trailed off as she rounded her bed, pulling back the covers and getting ready to lie down herself. Cain reached from his own bed and grabbed her arm, pulling her over and into his lap before she could even voice a mild protest.

Wrapping his arms around her tightly so that she could not escape, Cain leaned in and scolded quietly, "That is not how you treat your brother, Setsuka Heel."

He felt her freeze and pulled her closer, but tried to be careful. He tucked her head under his chin and just sat there, waiting for Setsu to come back, arms wrapped tenderly around her waist. He did not have long to wait before she responded. She leaned back into him and her arms wrapped around his.

"Sorry Nii-san. Looks like I got distracted." Her voice was penitent and she sounded like she was back in character. Cain gave her one last hug before he picked her up and put her in her bed.

"Much better," he gave her a small smile and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Now we both need to go to sleep." Setsu smiled back at him before she grabbed her covers and threw herself back onto her pillow, watching to make sure he did the same.

It was only after he had turned the light out and settled down himself that he heard a small voice whisper, "Thank you."

Sho would rather die than be where he was right now, but he had something he needed to do, and he had promised himself he would get the answer. So no matter how much Shoko complained and said he needed to focus on his work, and no matter how much he hated running around on a wild goose chase, he was going to finish this.

He only had a small chance of running into the person he was looking for, but he had done enough research to guess that he might stumble on them if he looked for them right now. And as luck would have it, he did run into them, in a somewhat deserted corridor. So there was no one to think it strange when he called out.

"Hey!"

Ren and Yashiro both turned to see the young musician moving towards them with purpose. He was not looking happy and Yashiro took a nervous glance at Ren. The actor was also clearly not pleased to see the other man, but was doing a slightly better job of hiding it. Well, it would be more strange if they were pleased to see each other, but for Sho to be calling Ren out...

"I need to talk to you," Sho directed this statement to Ren, ignoring his manager completely. Ren stared at him for a moment, contemplating the demand, then turned to his manager with a gentlemanly smile firmly in place.

"I think I need to talk to Fuwa-san for a moment. You go on ahead, I'll meet you outside."

Yashiro nodded, trying to keep a straight face and not betray his concern. Clearly something had happened, because he could not imagine Ren agreeing to talk to Fuwa Sho about anything just out of the blue. But if something had happened, and Ren was willing to talk, Yashiro was not sure he wanted his charge to be having this conversation. Especially if he was already smiling like that. On top of that, things involving Fuwa that actually had to do with Ren meant they involved Kyoko. And Yashiro cared enough about both his charge and the girl to want to know what was going on, for her sake as much as his.

"That's fine, but we do need to leave soon if we are going to make in time for your next job." He decided to put his trust in Ren. After all, the man was a professional. If he was willing to discuss something in public, he would not choose a topic that would put him, or more importantly, Kyoko, at risk. Ren nodded and gestured to Sho to lead the way. Sho turned and headed down to an even less used corridor, which reminded both men of the one they had been in not too many days ago.

They stood in silence for a moment, facing each other. The look in their eyes was hard, neither one willing to budge, no matter what the other said.

"You needed to talk," Ren finally prompted, aware that he did have limits on his time. Sho frowned and stiffened.

"Did you sleep with her?" he demanded. Ren sighed. You have got to be kidding me…

"I thought Mogami-san explained this to you already. Was she really that unclear?" Ren folded his arms and reclined against the wall, allowing himself to project an aura of nonchalance and disinterest. From what Kyoko had told him, this should not be a conversation that was actually happening. Best to play it down and stick to her words.

"She told me that you weren't in a relationship and that you were acting out siblings. She didn't say whether or not you had actually slept together." Ren blinked as he tried to process what was actually being asked.

"I'm assuming that your vague question is actually alluding to us acting out being siblings and not the relationship the Kyoko clearly explained we were not in." Sho gritted his teeth in frustration at Ren's statement.

"Yes." Ren rolled his eyes, not feeling the need to hide his impatience.

"Why does that matter? She's an actress. Her role right now is with just the two of us, but there is a possibility that she would have to act out a very similar role and scenario in the future in front of a camera." He could see that Sho was very unhappy with this idea.

"She can do whatever kinds of jobs she likes," he growled. Ren felt his temper rising at the implications, but refused to show it. He was in control of this situation. He would not be manipulated by a stupid boy.

"Then your question doesn't matter," Ren said pointedly.

"It matters because it's you," Sho stated, his temper rising. Ren raised an eyebrow.

"So?"

"It isn't me!" he growled, his voice not quite shouting.

Ren's posture tightened a little and his face grew cold. Though he hated to admit it, Sho could feel the superiority Ren held in a single glance, directed with great distaste at the suddenly uncomfortable singer.

"I sincerely hope," Ren said softly, "that you did not make the mistake of telling her that."

"I didn't say that to her," Sho stated quietly, looking away. But his posture and actions told Ren what he needed to know. Even if those had not been his words, she had gotten the message loud and clear.

"You don't own her," Ren stated simply. "In fact, you renounced all claim to her, and not just once. She doesn't need your permission to be an actress, and she doesn't need you evaluating her roles. She is extraordinarily professional and does not let a role interfere with her judgment. What she chooses to do, and more importantly, what she chooses to share with you, is her business. You want to know what happened, ask her. If you can keep your head." he added blandly.

Sho stood silent for a moment, trying to think of a good comeback. When none presented itself, he opted for a change in subject.

"What were you two arguing about anyway," he asked, directing his gaze back to Ren. The older man smiled mischievously, and relaxed again against the wall. Sho felt ill watching the sudden change, from polite warning to complete confidence.

"If she didn't tell you," he said simply, "I'm not saying."

Sho bit back a retort and chose instead a simple glare. Ren's look did not change. In fact, his grin grew wider. Sho tried his best glower, but Ren was not impressed. This was a fight he could win, and he was going to win it, no matter what it left this boy thinking.

"I guess we're finished," Sho grumbled, before he turned and left.

Ren stayed against the wall until Sho's footsteps had faded, then made his way quickly back to Yashiro. His manager looked at him questioningly, but Ren just gave him a quick, reassuring smile and made his way to the car. Yashiro let it go. They still had work to do.


And end chapter three. Hope that you liked it. For those who are wondering at Kyoko's frankness with Ren (I have had a review or two mention it), I say two things. One, Kyoko is one of the few people who will scold Ren when she feels fully justified in doing so. I point out situations like the one where he got sick, or when after he kisses her cheek, she scolds him about the conservative nature of Japanese women. And secondly, in a situation like the one she was put in, Kyoko would most definitely have something to say, regardless if it was Ren or not.

I have also been causally suggested to expand on the actual incident between chapters one and two. I have not written it, but if people are interested, I could. It would end up being a bonus chapter after I post part four. Just let me know. Thanks for reading.