Author's Note: Hey guys! I apologize greatly for the long absence! But, I have still been writing, so I have a couple chapters with my Beta, Miss AiramLove! Thank you, nice Lady, for putting up with my random shenanigans! Much love!

To the rest of all my readers, thank you yet again, for keeping with my stories. I know I need to post more frequently, and believe me, it's something I'm trying to work on. Life is a hectic, chaotic mess, and we all get swept up in its maelstrom occasionally.

But enough of the sentiment. On to the story! It's short, but more material will follow!


On the way to Darumaya, Ren interrogated Kyoko on her behavior and routine when she was at home. How she addressed her landlords, where her items were kept, even the layout of the house aside from the small parts Ren had already seen. He asked her if there was anything that she wanted. Once he promised that he would collect Princess Rosa along with the rest of her things; he grilled her a few minutes more on anything else she could think of that would be relevant to their act.

When Sebastien finally parked in front of the restaurant, 'Kyoko' confidently walked into the building with a proper greeting towards Taisho and Okami-san. She succinctly explained that President Takarada had assigned Tsuruga-san and herself to an executive project that required they stay at a remote location for a couple weeks. The older adults looked dubious, but said nothing, so Kyoko turned towards her taller counterpart. With a playful glint in her eye, she addressed the actor, "Please, Tsuruga-san, have a seat. I'll be down in a moment." With that 'she' disappeared quickly up the stairs.

Ever the hostess, Okami-san chimed in, "Yes, Tsuruga-san, please sit at this table. Would you like some tea?"

Gratefully, the real Kyoko folded herself onto a chair while smiling Ren's 'polite' smile, "If it's no trouble, Okami-san, I would love some." Kyoko was amused when Taisho's wife blushed a pretty shade of pink. Okami-san laughed self-consciously and backed away, assuring the 'young man' that tea would be coming right up.

Kyoko used this quiet time to look around the restaurant. It was early afternoon and the supper rush had yet to hit. With the tumultuous day she'd had, it was nice to just be still and calm. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, reveling in the familiar scents of her Tokyo home.

The abrupt sound of someone clearing their throat caused her to open her eyes and look at the figure looming over her. A stern-faced Taisho stared down at 'Tsuruga Ren' with crossed arms and a belligerent air. Kyoko hid her initial panic and maintained Ren's calm façade, "May I help you, Taisho-san?" She ventured neutrally.

The owner's stoic face and crossed arms didn't change as he silently scrutinized the younger man's face for a moment. "This work project you're working on with Kyoko-chan. How long is it supposed to last again?" he asked gruffly.

Internally, Kyoko was severely confused. Taisho had never shown such an interest in the details of her work before. And why did he stress the word work? "I believe President Takarada had scheduled this particular project to last around two weeks." She responded levelly, yet fervently prayed that it would be less!

"And she has to stay with you?" Taisho's voice was cold and flat.

Finally, Kyoko had a slight glimmer of understanding. The Taisho was an old-fashioned man. His sense of propriety must be affronted for a single woman to stay with a famous bachelor! "I assure you, Sir," she maintained eye contact with the older male, "that Mogami-san will have her own separate quarters and that nothing untoward will happen to your tenant. She'll return here after the project's finished none the worse for wear." Kyoko replied evenly, trying to put the man's honor at ease.

"She'd better." Taisho growled. He leaned down next to 'Ren's' ear and whispered savagely, "That girl is like a daughter to me. If you harm so much as a hair on her head, the police will never find all the pieces that used to be you." Kyoko's eyes widened at the statement and she paled. Taisho huffed out a satisfied laugh at the reaction and added in that sinister whisper, "I'm very good with knives, you see…" and just like that he straightened and vanished back into the kitchen, whistling. Kyoko was left a stunned wreck at the table.

The Okami bustled in just then with a pot of tea and three cups on a tray. She busied herself with pouring and tittered bashfully as she grasped a filled cup. She looked up to present it to 'Ren' only to see the shocked visage of the actor. "Oh dear, Tsuruga-san," she hastily put the tea back on the table in front of Kyoko and came around the table to stand at 'Ren's' side. "Are you all right?"

Kyoko struggled to shake herself out of the stupor. She couldn't break character this early in the game! She schooled her features once more into a neutral expression, "I'm fine, Okami-san. I appreciate your concern."

"Tsuruga-san! What's wrong?" The question came from Ren as he stood in the doorway looking at the pale face of Kyoko.

Kyoko looked up to see Ren staring right back at her, "I'm perfectly fine, Mogami-san. Nothing to trouble yourself with." She pasted on a vacuous smile and furiously thought about why Taisho would say those things to Tsuruga-san?

"No. Something is the matter." 'Kyoko' responded firmly. She walked over to the table and plunked a duffel bag on top of it, then reached over to feel 'Ren's' forehead. "Hmm…you're pale, but not running a fever."

Hastily, Kyoko shoved Ren's hand away, "It's nothing. I'm fine." She smiled at Ren in the hopes that he'd relent.

It was clear that he wasn't convinced, "Hmm…be that as it may, I'll still make sure you get a good meal tonight. We don't want you getting sick." Ren grinned and turned back to the Okami, who had been watching the display with wide eyes and blushing cheeks.

"Well, I'm all packed, Okami-san!" Ren added brightly, "I'd better get Tsuruga-san settled before he decides to push himself and work more." Ren levelled a stern look in Kyoko's direction before throwing a playful wink in the Okami's direction.

Kyoko took that as her cue and stood up from the table. "Thank you, Okami-san, for the tea. Even though I couldn't enjoy it, the thought was appreciated just the same." Kyoko bowed slightly to the now flustered woman.

"Oh, come now, Tsuruga-san, it was no trouble. I know! When the project is completed, you could have a spot of tea with me…er…us, when you bring Kyoko-chan home!" Okami now looked almost shy as she looked up into Kyoko's face.

Was she…was Okami-san batting her eyelashes? Kyoko was thoroughly confused by the whole encounter. Nevertheless, she maintained Ren's character, "I'd like that, Okami-san. It's the least I could do." She added with a smile and turned to look at Ren who was struggling not to laugh. Kyoko glared at Ren, trying to convey the unsaid message of 'let's get the hell out of here' with her eyes.

Amused, Ren couldn't stop the un-ladylike and un-Kyokolike snort from escaping. He struggled to keep a straight face and covered the sound up by clearing his throat. Once he had composed himself, he addressed 'Tsuruga-san', "Well, I suppose Sebastien is waiting outside," he hefted the duffel bag onto his shoulder and moved to the door. Kyoko stepped up in Tsuruga fashion and held the door open for the smaller 'actress'.

Once out in the car, Kyoko collapsed against the seat in relief. What a weird situation! Were all their encounters going to be so strenuous? She never expected that the Taisho and Okami-san were going to be so difficult. What would happen when they were at work? And what was with the Taisho anyway? She didn't know what to think as she absently scrubbed a hand over her face in exasperation.

Ren was amused by the sight of her. She'd unconsciously sprawled exactly like a guy would have across the bench seat of the sedan. Her legs were splayed akimbo as she scoured her face in thought. Just what she was concerned about, he intended to find out. "So…what did Taisho say to you?" he asked smugly and grinned when his astute guess brought her gaze sharply up to his and her face lost all color.

"Wh-why would you think he said anything to me?" She stammered.

Ren grinned wider and he settled back into his seat, "Because the few times I've come into the restaurant to pick you up or drop you off, the man has always given me the evil eye." Ren nodded to himself as he extrapolated on his hypothesis. "The fact that Okami-san left you alone for several minutes to make tea confirms the fact the man had ample opportunity to speak to you." He looked up into Kyoko's eyes again, "So what did he say?" He watched Kyoko blanch once more and figured it wasn't pleasant. Ren didn't blame the guy for being protective of Kyoko. She was a treasure, no doubt about it.

"Oh, it was nothing really," Kyoko backpedaled.

"Kyoko. Enough. We promised honesty between us this morning, remember?" Ren's voice was stern.

Instantly, Kyoko went meek, "Well, it's just that Taisho is a very old-fashioned man. Honor is everything to him…" She wheedled.

"What were his exact words?" Ren was genuinely curious to hear what the older man had said. But more than that; he wanted to understand Kyoko's reaction to it all.

"Well, he asked about our living situation while on the project. He didn't seem to approve of the purpose of the project. That it was even for work." Kyoko truly looked confused at that, "I mean—it is a work project. If we hadn't read those stupid scripts, we'd never be in this predicament in the first place. However, it doesn't explain Taisho's disbelief over its reason."

Ren knew exactly what the old guy was thinking it was—a flimsy excuse for Ren to secret Kyoko away to have his way with her. So, the old man was suspicious. He didn't explain any of this to Kyoko just yet. He wanted to hear what else was said. He merely nodded and prompted, "Go on, how did you answer him?"

Kyoko sat up a little straighter, "I assured him that we would have separate sleeping arrangements and that at the end of two weeks, Kyoko would return none the worse for wear. At least I hope so." Her response started out strong and confident. A pupil answering a teacher's question, but the last sentence was half muttered under her breath as she skewed her gaze askance towards the floor.

Ren was intrigued further. He shared her sentiment about everything going back to normal in two weeks, yet the way she inflected that last sentence caused him to furrow his brows in thought. "Was there something else that Taisho said that made you think you'd be harmed?" he hazarded a guess.

When Kyoko flicked her gaze up to meet his in surprise, then flit out the window, Ren knew he was right. "Kyoko, what else did he say?" he watched as her eyes took a faraway look and her jaw clenched slightly. She looked puzzled and upset at the same time.

"I understand Taisho's sense of propriety and honor. However, I don't understand why he said what he did." She drifted off, still staring out the window. It took everything Ren had not to say anything. He didn't want her to clam up now.

Finally, she turned back to face Ren directly, her eyes genuinely confused, "He said that, 'Kyoko was like a daughter to him and if I harmed one hair on her head, the police would never find all the pieces that used to be Tsuruga Ren. He went on to mention that he was very good with knives' and after that chilling thought he went back to the kitchen."

Ren was quiet for a moment out of respect to her confusion; but couldn't hold back the laughter that erupted out of him. He laughed harder when he saw her glaring at him, "I'm sorry," he composed himself after a few minutes, "Allow me to explain." He'd stopped laughing, but couldn't stop smirking, "Kyoko, he thinks of you as a daughter. Very much like my Dad does. He's trying to protect you from a man's affections. From my affections. Of course, any doting parent would warn a guy from their child."

Kyoko was nonplussed, "How does Taisho know you have…affection for me? And Moko-san too? I think you're all making it up." She shook her head in denial.

Ren couldn't believe that after her best friend had called Ren out on his feelings in front of Kyoko, moreover Ren confirmed those feelings in front of said girl, she still didn't get it. Acutely aware they were sitting side by side on the back seat of Lory's Audi S8 sedan; Ren didn't allow the strangeness in body types to deter him. He looked up at his face and addressed the girl within. "Kyoko," he said lowly, "Taisho knows of my very real feelings for you because he's seen the way I look at you." Ren reached up and cupped her jaw and stared intently into her wide brown eyes.

"How you look at me, Ren?" Kyoko whispered.

"I look at you in amazement, Kyoko. I'm amazed when I look at you. Not just because you're beautiful, but because everything I've ever wanted is right in front of me."

Kyoko squeezed her eyes shut and wrenched her face out of Ren's warm embrace. Self-consciously, she wrapped her arms around herself and stared out the window. "You're wrong." She sounded strangled, voice thick with pain.

Ren resisted the flare of anger at her casual dismissal of his feelings. Teeth clenched, he looked up and saw that Sebastien had just pulled into the parking garage of his flat. Ren took a deep breath and regained his composure. If he were truly honest with himself, he could blame her reaction on himself. It was too soon to be making a move after so stressful of a day. But he couldn't help but feel frustrated after his true feelings were made plain by Kotonami-san and Kyoko didn't even acknowledge them! So switched bodies be damned, he was sick of waiting and holding back.

'And this is what happens when you push too far, too soon, Tsuruga.' He thought darkly to himself. He put aside self-recrimination and decided to give her some space for now. Straightening, he reached for the duffel bag that had a pathetically few pieces of clothing inside. "Well, looks like we're home." He said nonchalantly as Sebastien parked the car at the door.

"Huh? Oh. Okay." Kyoko climbed out of the open door that Sebastien wordlessly held. Ren clambered out after her, duffle firm in hand. He looked up at the silent driver, "Thank you for helping us with this, Sebastien."

Lory's Shadow looked down at the actor-turned-actress, "Not a problem. Besides, I think the next two weeks will be quite entertaining. I shall be here at 8am tomorrow to pick you two up." With that, he closed the rear door, climbed back into the driver's seat and pulled quietly away from the curb and out of the parking garage.

Kyoko looked down at a quiet Ren, who stared wordlessly after the car. "I think that's the most I've ever heard him say." She ventured softly.

Ren nodded in agreement before turning to the door, "C'mon, let's go upstairs."

Once in the flat, Kyoko begged off to go have a lie down since it was too early to start dinner. Ren carried the duffle bag of her clothes to the guest room and began to unpack her meager belongings. A couple of school uniforms, a few professional items of clothing that he could wear when he had to be around the agency. Her hot pink LoveMe jumpsuit was in her locker at LME. He was currently wearing her only pair of jeans and the rest of her street clothes showed significant wear.

Staring at the sparse collection of clothing, Ren started to get an idea. A horribly devious, but well meaning, idea. He rummaged in Kyoko's bag and fished out her cell phone.