DISCLAMER:

I do not own anything.

~~~ TUE.17.05.16-18:00 ~~~

May 16th of 2017 was a day every journalist in showbiz would remember for years. It was one of these moments in a career that you don't want to miss. And if you asked any of those who were present, they would tell you that their first reaction was to laugh.

He had kind of expected that. Hilarity had taken the whole room. Some people called to director Konoe, what kind of a joke was that, they asked, while the other actors on stage looked interrogatively at him, apparently wondering where they were going at.

His eyes met Taira Murasame's suspicious ones, and he smiled his most gentlemanly smile. Argh, just to see your face I want to tell you who my father is. He turned to Kyouko. She was the one who'd warned him about his decision. How did she know? Did she know, for real, or was she just lucky with random words? His recent behavior, the things he'd said to her, were probably reason enough for her to worry. She really sees through me.

The audience was regaining their calm, and director Konoe gestured for him to come to the front of the stage with him. "Thank you" he whispered in his lucky charm's ear, and she smiled sweetly, a smile that was all hers, Setsu was gone.

"Alright, alright everyone", the director had started talking, leaving the host to the side "Please make it loud for Tsuruga Ren!"

He came closer in the mute excitement that had taken over the room. He was completely different when he spoke again. It was hard to believe he and Cain Heel were the same person.

"First I would like to apologize for lying to you all." a whisper spread in the crowd "As director Konoe explained to you earlier, he wanted to surround the character with mystery, and he thought this trick was necessary." The room was growing louder again, as everybody recognized him for who he claimed to be "He thought I could do it, and I took the challenge." He stopped talking when the chatter had become cheers and applause.

The director spoke again after him, and explained how the idea came to him, and other details about how they did it. He looked satisfied with his big reveal. After a few questions were asked and answered, the rest of the cast was also invited to share their reactions. They were shocked, to say the least.

"And… And…" Murasame concluded his stuttering comment "I mean, if Cain Heel was an invention, then who's that?!" he pointed at the girl in the Gothic getup, who had been silently sitting in a polite position for the last few minutes.

All eyes turned to Kyouko.

"That's right" Manaka got up "if there's no Cain Heel, there can't be a sister!"

"Well yes" the director answered "we hadn't planned for the sister, that was an idea from LME's president Lory Takarada..."

"Allow me." Kuon cut him curtly. He gave a short smile to Kyouko "Cain's character was given a sister, that's true. She was to be a barrier between him and the cast" he smiled apologetically to his co-actors. "I was not aware of this, when I took the role, but I couldn't have done it without her." he turned to her "The actress, Kyouko!"

She stood up, took off her wig, and gave a quick bow before she sat again. He walked to her and guided her to join him in the front.

She was welcomed by a round of applause, and waited for it to subside.

"Thank you Tsuruga san. Thanks to director Konoe and president Takarada for entrusting me with this job, it was an honor to be a part of this movie." she bowed again.

He couldn't help but smile at her. She was so modest. He was the one who should thank her, and the director and Lory all the same, for that matter. She's so brave he thought, as she started to answer the questions that were directed at her. He knew it had to be hard for her to be associated with him in this way. She needed to make a name of her own, and not all publicity was good publicity. He was decided on supporting her in any way he could.

But apparently, she could take it! People had recognized her as Natsu and congratulated her. They were now asking how it was to work with him. He listened carefully as she answered.

"What can I say? Has anyone ever answered to this question with complaints?" the audience laughed "I'll tell you the same thing as anyone who's worked with Ren" she looked at him, making his heart race "he's an amazing professional, who is wholly dedicated to bettering himself and giving his best for the projects he works on. He is also a wonderful human being, generous and kind. He is an inspiration to me, as an actress, and as a person" she paused as her words caused an uproar. She smiled to him and back to the audience before she spoke again "Plus, he's easy on the eye, which doesn't hurt." she finished with a conniving smile.

His insides twitched while the people in the room laughed some more and clapped at her.

What? Easy on the eye? Before he had time to actually react, Murasame intervened.

"Excuse me, Kyouko san." he came to the front of the scene "I don't mean to be nosy or rude, but there have been a number of rumors on the set, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about..."

The crowd was shaken by a sudden renewal of interest, as the word "rumor" was associated to Tsuruga Ren and a young newcomer actress. Kuon was ready to answer himself but she spoke first.

"Ah, yes, Taira san… I know what you mean, and I'm sorry that I had to be rude to you…" she looked at the others "to all of you, actually." she bowed politely. "As you understand, this was necessary to create an aura that would keep people at bay," noise grew louder in the room "and it worked."

"Kyouko san, what were the rumors?" a journalist yelled.

"Oh, I'm sure Taira san will tell you if you ask!" she chuckled, looking in his direction "I don't intend to comment on the rumors, I just did my job" she continued on a light tone, brushing the matter like it was nothing "just know we were acting the roles of incestuous siblings, and then, well… acting is acting." Kuon watched dumbfounded as she took the questions up front. "As for the rumors…" she rolled her eyes "that's all they are, rumors" she blinked jokingly at the cameras "I take responsibility for everything that Setsuka did." she had not blushed once when she said those words.

[...]

"Nice work Tsuruga san!" she smiled to him as they exited the stage.

How could she act so carefree? After what she'd said? He was amazed.

"Nice work Mogami san. You surprised me out there." he said, honestly.

"Ha ha, I can see that. You probably thought I would be embarrassed and panic, didn't you?" she laughed.

Is this nothing to you? He watched her intently as they walked to their changing room.

"I just gave them what they wanted." she walked on. "Tsuruga san?" she waved her hand before his eyes "you here?"

He gathered himself and smiled to her. Something wasn't right.

"So… Easy on the eye?" he teased.

"Yes?" she smiled.

No reaction. Normally, he would have expected her to minimize her words, rationalize it, or, what did he know, apologize? Was she calling him good looking and expecting him not to be fazed by it?

"Wait." She stopped in front of him, causing him to halt as well "don't tell me..." she drew a hand to her mouth in a thinking position "you didn't know? Nobody ever told you?"

"You're making fun of me." he noted, and resumed walking. She laughed and tailed after him. One thing he didn't know, for sure, was how to take it. He was at the same time relieved, scared, happy and stressed out. And he was mentally challenged by the way things were going. Was she coming on to him? The way she smiled at him, the way she looked at him… The words she used, and… She brushed his hand.

"I'm sorry, but this is funny." she spoke in a more serious tone, looking down at the floor "have you looked in a mirror lately? I mean…" a small blush crept up her cheeks "Of course I think you're handsome, I'm not blind, you know."

"I wonder, sometimes..." they had reached their door and he stopped there, looking at her intensely.

"What's that supposed to mean" she grumbled as she opened the door and headed to where her things were.

He watched silently as she gathered her belongings. Calm down. He reminded himself. You're probably just imagining it. He went to get his things too, and after a while, they met at the door.

"Care for a ride?" he asked, trying to sound cool. They were going to the same place anyway.

He watched as she furrowed her brows and seemed to hesitate.

"Sure" she smiled, reaching for the handle.

"Mogami san" he stepped in front of her. "earlier… before we were called on stage..."

"Ah." she looked at her feet, and then she blushed.

"What… What was that?"

"That was all Setsu." she looked up slowly "Her way of… saying goodbye, I guess…" she bit her lip. "was that bad?"

"No!" he answered a little too quickly "No, I mean, it was definitely in character..." he brushed his hand in his hair. "And what did you mean don't do it?" he walked closer to her "Was that Setsu too?"

To his surprise, she didn't take a step back, she let him get closer and looked at him almost eagerly. She closed her eyes for a second and shook her head, then she put her hand on his chest, and she smiled. There was something new to this smile, wasn't there?

"That was… just a hunch?"

He was so close to her, he wanted to kiss her so badly. She was so inviting. She absentmindedly traced random lines on his chest, and at the same time she bypassed him, getting closer to the door.

"Are you ok, Tsuruga san?"

"Nn..." he touched her hair in the same way he had done many times as Cain. Except there was just him now. Well, there's "me" and "Ren"…

He felt like she looked at him pensively, but it only lasted a second. She cleared her throat.

"We should go, Muse sama will be waiting." she smiled and exited the room.

That smile again. He followed after her. She looked so at ease and confident… In his original plans, she would have known everything by now. He had intended to reveal his identity to the press. Why had she stopped him? Did she think I was not ready? Was she not ready? He was beginning to wonder if she knew more than she led on. Well, all in all, she was the first person he needed to talk to, about his truth.

"Mogami san." He gathered his courage. "You know how I said I wanted to talk?"

"Hum?" She turned to him lightly "Oh, what you said yesterday? I told you there's no need to..."

"I want to." he brushed her shoulder as they walked.

"Ok then." she answered with an unreadable expression "Do you have time next week?"

"Next week?" I'll never wait that long! "Huh, yes, but well, hum, I'm also free tom..."

"I think next week is better." she seemed to concentrate on what she wanted to say "I'm not sure it's such a good idea to be seen together so soon, well, you know, after..." she shook her hands in the air "All that!"

"Oh." That made sense. She really did seem more mature.

She smiled her enigmatic smile again, and hurriedly changed the subject

"Is Yashiro san going to meet us there?" she asked

"I believe he is waiting with Miss Woods right now"

"That's good! I bet he must be really excited!" she smiled innocently.

They reached his car.

"I bet he is." he answered somberly as he opened the door for her.

~~~ SAT.24.05.11-09:00 ~~~

Classy. She was lacking the vocabulary to describe the house she was in.

Modern, maybe? The walls were a fancy shade of white, but there were casual touches of colors here and there. The encasement of a door, a picture frame, a pretty orchid flower… Well, let's just say everything seemed to be in its right place, every detail was to her taste. Sober but elegant, in a word, tasteful, she could see herself living in this place.

All this from staring at a doorknob, she sighed.

Guessing from her exploration, this had to be the door to the kitchen. That's where he said he'd be. She felt her stomach squeeze, inexplicably. She had already wandered in what seemed to be the living room and came across a flight of stairs, two different bathrooms, a guest room, a room containing what seemed to be some kind of sports machines, and what she could only assume was some sort of office space. She shrugged. Honestly, who needed so much space?

She wondered what she would say to the man waiting for her on the other side of the door. She had lost total control of her heartbeat ever since she opened her eyes 20 minutes or so ago. She concentrated on keeping herself together, and shook her head. Everything so far was coherent with what she had theorized. Let's say she was right, and this was a vision of her future with… Argh… Let's say she was right. This meant he really loved her.

She fell to her knees and rested her forehead on the door, thinking. He loves me. She started standing up again. At least in this reality, he loves me… She tried to calm down. It all makes sense if he does love me. She shrugged, she felt so stupid, clinging to that desperate hope, that was the only thing that could make sense in the mess she found herself in. She touched the ring on her finger.

She clenched the doorknob and started to open the door, revealing a spacious dining room. No way, is this still not it? There was an opening at the end of the room. She heard noise coming from there.

Coming closer, she thought she would melt from what she saw. On a bar were 2 plates, and behind it he was there, fully dressed, wearing an apron and… cooking. He was cooking eggs.

"Now I know this is definitely a dream" she let out as she climbed to sit on a high chair.

"Hey!" He turned around and smiled curtly. "Good to see you haven't lost your sense of humor," at that moment toasts jumped out of the toaster and he picked them up, putting each of them in a plate "but please, this is my specialty." he cut the gas and grabbed the pan "Delicious scrambled eggs on a toast," he served the perfectly cooked eggs on both toasts "please, have some." He smiled again and sat in front of her.

She scanned his hands and saw he was wearing a ring too. She gulped.

He looked embarrassed, like he didn't know what to do, what to say. And he was eating. He was eating even though he was under no menace; he was eating something that he had cooked himself! Looking at her plate brought back this haunting question…

"What year is it?" she broke the silence.

He looked troubled.

"Must be some years later, considering you're that surprised to see me cook."

"And to see you eat."

"Outch. Well, I'll have you know the human digesting system is a wonderful thing, your stomach can adjust and you can learn to literally grow an appetite..." She said nothing. "Huh…. Over the years..." he was not smiling anymore. "But if it's that far back, then I wonder…" he continued more seriously "You talked about a press conference?" he paused. "Was it by any chance the Tragic Marker press conference?"

"Yes!" she half screamed "Yes, that was it, did something happen?"

He looked thoughtful.

"Well yeah, you could say that. I'll never forget. It was the first time you kissed me on your own." a slight smile graced his lips.

She blushed furiously, remembering the kiss. That was it, wasn't it? It was that kiss that started all this. How long ago had that kiss been?

"Yeah, I remember that" she said.

"And after?"

"After that, hum… I was here, and..."

"Oh."

Neither of them said anything for a while before he spoke again.

"What do you remember… I mean, about me?" He brushed his hand in his hair nervously.

"You…." she was tomato red. The time had come for her to word her crazy fantasy out loud. And to the man himself. "You're Kuon, right? You didn't contradict me earlier."

"Yes!" he seemed extremely relieved. "Yes, I'm Kuon." he put his hands on hers, very softly as if to not scare her. "Anything else?"

"Well, I…." come on Kyouko, you said it yourself, it's the only way any of this makes sense "I actually… I've just figured if out – I mean I guess I did – and I'm not sure if..."

"Tell me, what do you think?"

"The truth is I… I fell in..." she breathed "I fell in love, with…" just saying it sounded ridiculous "with Tsuruga san." there, she said it. She risked a glance at him. He was expectantly calm. "And last night… I mean, the night before the press conference…" She shook her head "I was thinking, I don't know why… Corn… Father…" she touched her temple "It all came together like a puzzle..." she had spoken in a rush, expecting him to interrupt and correct her… he didn't. He actually nodded.

"Ah that's right, you'd just figured it out at that time. I mean, when you kissed me…"

"Are you saying my theory is correct?"

"Of course it is, what makes you doubt?"

"Corn said..." she hesitated "Corn said something about… love… and me… and-"

She felt strong arms around her and was brought closer to a hard chest (wearing an apron).

"I love you Kyouko, I always have, I always will." He hugged tighter and she felt like she was floating. "You… Love me? Too?"

She looked up into those intoxication green eyes.

"I love you, I do" he caressed her head with a soft smile "I think I've never loved before…" She couldn't stop speaking all of a sudden. "Nothing compares to this, I think I love you so much I could die."

"Shhhh…." he kept caressing her hair soothingly and kissed it chastely. She put her head back down and pressed it to his chest, her hands timidly wandering on his arms... "All I need to know is that you do love me. Now you need to know…" He sighed. "That was 7 years ago." he said finally. "That press conference, Tragic Marker, 7 years have passed since then." she tensed in his arms "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry my love, I..." she was crying now and he could feel it. He just kept her in his arms and tried to console her

"7 years!" she finally looked up, tears in her eyes "I've lost 7 years?" she gripped him "I'm so scared, Tsuruga san!"

He was taken aback by her formality. He caressed her cheek and looked at her intently.

Just his proximity, just the way he looked at her made her feel safer.

"I know you are." he said "I'm sorry I can't give you back those years… I'm scared too but I have to believe that we can get through this, together." They were so close… "All I can do right now is be here for you." He put his forehead on hers and they stayed like that for a minute, with him caressing her neck lovingly. He pulled back slightly. All it took was a slight nod from her and he put his lips on hers.

She welcomed the kiss. It was soft, wet, chaste and so comforting...

"As long as you love me, I'll overcome anything."

She wanted to believe him. They'd find a solution, and, all in all, they were together… She pushed herself up to claim another kiss, which he gave her willingly.

Author's note:

Hi everyone, I'm going to have a busy week end, so rather than being late I chose to be early this week.

I'm sorry if the chapters don't seem to make sense. I tried to leave some clues here and there, but I was afraid this would happen... To be honest, I like to experiment, I hope you will forgive me for making you confused ^^' The next chapters should clarify the situation little by little, but I have more surprises planned, so be patient!

Anyway, as you can see, my depiction of a press conference setting didn't improve, but I felt like this scene needed to be in the story...

Thank you very much for reading!