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Author chat: I'm melting, here we have 40 °C... I'm panicking, my exams aren't finished, yet... Still, while I was repeating the program for the nth time, my mind went blank for almost 20 minutes...Do you know where my mind decided to go, without my knowledge and approval? To this chapter! ò_ò *Big sigh* Fine, I give up...You (story) won! -_-''

I'm grateful to all of you, for your support and suggestions, kind words and patience... This chapter is for everyone who supported this story, everyone of you. Sorry if my thanks are so generic, I promise I'll make it up...^^''

Side note: written text

thoughts – Kyoko's grudge

7th chapter : Magazines.

The tick tickof the heels was amplified by the silence in the corridor. Her steps didn't falter, it didn't give away any of her worries. But Shoko was extremely worried. She tried to talk to him, at first, but he ignored her, like she was a part of the wall. She tried to scold him, because he was giving her a really hard time like he never had, neither in Karuizawa. She tried to give him his space.

But he simply ignored all her efforts. It wasn't a matter of performance, he was still able to do his music properly. It was a matter of appearance.

He was catatonic for much of the time. A catatonic singer, who risked his popularity every time someone recognized him and he was in that state and that was too usual, lately.

Shoko stopped to the door. This time she had to recover his normal attitude (if arrogant and selfish was anywhere near normal), or they would be in trouble.

She entered the room and sighed at the usual sight of him plastered in a messy position on the couch. She said "You have an appointment with Kyoko-san" he snapped back immediately.

" Really?" his eyes were full of hope. Shoko hated to lie to him, but she had to do, for his own sake.

"Yes, really. She will be at TBM for her drama, you can meet at the coffee shop at the first floor." he jumped and went out the door, calling her because they were late.

Shoko sighed again. If making him hopeful and after that angry (she was so sure he will be angry soon...) can give her back Sho Fuwa, the rising unbeaten star, then she was willing to make him angry. Little she know about the real situation.

But then, when Sho was on air, she happened to see a piled up magazines. Trying of distract herself from the future slashes of anger from Sho, she took the first one.

The girl in the cover was strangely familiar, with auburn hair and golden eyes... Shoko eyes widened and her chin dropped. She flipped the magazine pages and found the related article.

Interview with Kyoko, LME actress and rising star

Interviewer: Yuuko " Here we are with the newest rising star of LME! Hi, Kyoko-san!"

Kyoko " Good evening. Thank you for you request, it's a pleasure to work with you"

Y. (laughter) "Come on, Kyoko-san! It's my pleasure, instead. Your humble attitude is quite famous and I was curious about it, now I can see it wasn't an exaggeration! How can someone who had such success in this short time in the showbiz maintain this kind of refreshing attitude?"

K (embarrassed) " I don't know, sorry..."

Y (chuckle) "Let's skip the boring questions. What people are dying to know is where you come from and why you choose this path"

K (smiling) "I come from Kyoto. At first I wasn't much interested in showbiz. But as soon as I entered in LME and because of a particular sequence of events, I found myself falling in love with acting. I never have enough of it. I want to experience all the roles I can. And I met beautiful people, who I admire and like very much"

Y " What kind of events?"

K(chuckling softly) " Sorry, that's top secret! But I can tell you this..." (she leaned and whispered secretive and suspicious) "the LME President has a big part in this" (burst in laughs, followed by Yuuko)

Y " Is there a special person in your life?"

K (a wonderful smile) "Not at the moment. But I love dearly my friends and the people who permitted me to be who I am now"

Y "And this people are..?"

K " My best friend, Kotonami Kanae, the President and Sawara-san. My coworkers, like Chiori Amamiya; director Ogata, thanks to whom I debuted as Mio; and many others...I can't list all of them! And, of course, Tsuruga-san."

Y (eyes wide open) "Do you know well Tsuruga-san?"

K "He is the person I admire the most. He scold me when I'm being unprofessional and he helped me so many times that I lost count..." (a soft laugh)

Y "Is this only admiration...?"

K "Is this a licit question?"

Y " Well, your fans want to know..."

K "My fans want to know more about me and I have already said that Tsuruga-san is the person I admire the most. Shouldn't we talk about other things? (polite and firm smile)

Y (cough) "Well then... How do you create a character..."

Shoko was abruptly interrupted by a handthat snatched the magazine. She paled when she saw Sho read the interview, then trow it away. He walked angrily towards the elevator, Shoko couldn't kept the pace of his long strides so she watched as the elevator doors closed just before she could get in.

Shoko thought someone wanted to punish her, because the day has started awfully and the things kept getting worse.

It wasn't a matter of punishment. It was a matter of luck. And Shoko simply didn't have luck, that day.

When she finally reached Sho, he was sitting with his foot on a little table. He seemed strangely himself... but then Shoko saw why he was in his "cool" mode.

Because Vie Ghoul were there, right in the couch opposite to him. Shoko froze at the palpable tension.

"Ah, here comes the star..." Shizuru said

" Aren't you ashamed of your attitude... Fuwa-chan" said Kiyora

"A cool guy isn't someone who barked a laughter like you did..." completed Dasuku

But Sho ignored their comments and simply snorted, the kind of "Say-what-you-want-I-know-I'm-better-than-you" snort.

Reino didn't say anything, even if Sho was staring at him, expecting one of his unnerving remark, but the beagle just sat there, flipping a magazine on his own.

Then Miroku said, glancing between Reino and Sho "Isn't that your sweetheart, Reino?"

Reino smirked "Oh, how I miss her dark aura...I should anger her again...very soon..."

Sho snapped for the second time that day and actually tried to tore from the beagle hands the magazine (to Shoko's horror). Reino predicted it, so he swifted position.

Sho didn't reach the magazine, glared at Reino and said "Give me that"

Reino smirk became even more evil (if that was possible) "Why should I? This is mine"

Forbidden words said from the forbidden person. Sho was now standing, his gaze like a mad bull, but the magazine was already in others hands.

Shoko couldn't believe it: they started a tag play, where Sho actually kept losing from his hand the object he wanted the most, the magazine where there were the photos of Kyoko's modeling job of the previous week.

And like a real bull, Sho temper kept rising and rising, when it overwhelmed him and he grabbed one of the beagle and trow him to another, made stumbling another one and charged Reino, who had the magazine.

Of course bad temper is always a bad adviser, everyone know that.

But Sho was in "bull-mode", reason had flown away when he saw the magazine with Kyoko's photos, which he haven't the chance to see, yet.

Many things happened at once: Sho grabbed the magazine, Reino pulled it, then he suddenly released his grip...Sho ended in the floor in a rain of little pieces of paper.

He stared at the space with a very dumb expression.

Before anyone could do anything, they heard a voice everyone know too well.

Shoko's face was now a horror mask, she couldn't do anything to prevent the situation...again. She really didn't know that Kyoko would actually be at TBM. She would have change the schedule, otherwise.

While she was still panicking, Kyoko appeared from the corner corridor, holding a bottle and talking animatedly at the phone.

But she wasn't Kyoko. She was Setsu, even if the guys didn't know.

Sho had already seen her dressed like that, still he couldn't believe his eyes...She really went around the city dressed like that?

The Vie Ghoul members were too stunned to say something. Reino didn't seem too surprised, he was staring at her try to figure if this look could suit his taste. " Well, I should see the inside character first to decide..." he thought, shrugged like it was nothing to be concerned about, then directed his wicked smile at her.

Something unexpected happened then... She ignoredeveryone and kept walking and talking at the phone. "Nii-chan! Stop that! It's really stupid, you know! I said I'm on my way back to you...on the first floor...right, be quiet, I'll be there in minutes..."

This made the beagle snap. Dasuku, who was still on the floor, said "Oh, if it isn't the fake angel! Well, this look should be fine for us...why don't you try to be our pv star? Your dignity will rise again, especially after being his fake angel..." Kyoko pass him without even a side glace .

"Are you sure you could refuse such offer? This is the best opportunity of your life" tried to say Kiyora. But she ignored him too.

"Don't worry, bro, they aren't talking to me...Really! Please, don't do that...I said, wait!" she looked exasperated and happy at the phone. She sighed and decide to wait at the elevator, just few steps further.

Sho couldn't say anything to her. He knew what was going to happen. He was trying to resist the urge to run like hell was going to chase him...well, Hell was going to chase him if he was seen there. So he got up in a rush and said "Kyoko, it's polite to greet a friend, you know..." he was cut off by her glare, with one of her eyebrow arched.

This time was Reino's turn to talk to her...he was too curious to know in what kind of person Kyoko changed into "Well, my dear Kyoko" no reaction from her, so he persisted " Shouldn't you give a kiss to your future husband?" this got her attention (while Sho was trembling in anger)...but in a way none was expecting. She started to laugh.

" Well, he should come in few moments..." then a really sad expression gave them another blow "It's not like I can marry him..." she sighed "Still, he is the only one I want to marry and live with my entire life..." her eyes where now sparkling.

The stunned silence didn't last long. The elevator door opened and a dark shadow appear.

Sho grabbed amazed Shoko and get away as soon as he can.

Reino twitched and backed away, behind Miroku. No way...he couldn't possibly had slashed that thing around...

But it was already too late. Cain appeared near Setsu's side, glance at her to be sure she was fine, the he turn the power of his gaze towards them.

It was the first time they really turned in little shivering dog.

"Setsu, were you bothered?"

"Nope, nii. I've said it! They were talking about some fake angel..." she had a doubtful expression for a moment, then shrugged and smiled beautifully at him "but they said something nice to me! They said I should give a kiss to my future husband..." she grabbed his arm and yanked him to her level, gave him a loud kiss on his cheek "The only man in my life will always be you, nii!" she was still smiling. He grabbed her shoulder and messed her hair playfully "Stop that, bro!" she said laughing. His arm still around her shoulder, they went at the elevator and pressed the button.

While Setsu was whistling, he glanced at them with the most murderous eyes they ever seen.

The last one who he glanced at was Reino, who stepped back until he reached the wall and collapsed to the ground.

"Don't even think to try to come near her ever again" were saying those eyes.

And then the elevator closed and everyone could breathe again. Everyone except Reino.

Miroku looked at him worried "Reino, are you fine? I can understand someone like you could feel his murderous intentions even more than us, and that alone would be frightening...but not be able to stand...?" Reino shook his head many times before he could grab his hand and stand again.

"Do you remember the lion I was talking about...?" his voice was feeble, Miroku nodded "This guy...he is even worst than that lion... he is a dragon...almost tore my soul away with just the hate he was slashing..." he shivered "I don't want to see him ever again, not in this life, neither in any other...".


Kanae was flipping an abandoned magazine. She had a pause between a shot and another. She was trying not to focus too much about her stalking role, it was giving her so many headaches that she gave up of medicines already. She wasn't the type to read that kind of magazine, but everything was a welcomed distraction. She stopped, seeing the model in the page.

She was staring at the camera, in a pose so Natsu-like, yet different, so full of confidence, that Kanae needed a minute to decide if it was really her. In the next page Kyoko's back were on Tsuruga's back, they were staring at the camera collected and sexy. In the next he was lazily sitting on a office chair, she was on his lap, twisting his tie, her shirt open to reveal a black tight camisole, they were staring at each other with the same expression, predator and prey at the same time. In the next, he was sitting on the ground, his head tilted toward her, his eyes at the camera with an amused and intrigued expression, who was whispering something in his ear with secretive and playful eyes, like some sort of secret joke was between them. The last one was a real shock for Kanae: Kyoko was on a couch sleeping, her expression serene and beautiful, like she was having a really nice dream, one of her arm under her head, the other dropped from the couch, landed nonchalantly on Tsuruga's shoulder, who was sitting on the ground, his back on the couch, his fingers laced in Kyoko's, he was kissing lingering her wrist, still watching the camera.

Kanae closed the magazine with a smile.

If Kyoko could overcome her fears and fails to be able to do such a job, no way she couldn't do the same. She was called back on the set. She breathed in and out deeply and then she was on her feet, the usual challenging stare back in her eyes.


Ren was troubled.

He said to Kyoko modeling that wasn't hard. In truth that modeling job was the hardest he ever had in years. Because she was different when she appeared on the set, he almost tripped when he saw her. The confidence that wasn't never in her eyes, was there now.

She looked at him with those beautiful eyes of her and smiled her most beautiful smile to him.

He was officially cursed, he knew that.

He could see how she was blooming under his "sempai" care. He was even glad he gave up one of his request for the sake of her experience (well, not only for that...). He was happy he did. He knew the modeling needed touching and poses she barely could maintain, still he couldn't help himself from wanting her with him. But after she opened her dressing room door... he could sense something changed.

He sensed it the night before, when he arrived and saw her expression.

Maybe his efforts were paying him. He sighed, he shouldn't hope, he knew that too well already.

But in the following weeks signs of change appeared here and there.

So he was troubled now. What could he do? Should he be even more open about his feeling? She would assume it was part of their sibling interaction. He had to wait.

Still he could try to be more open when they were Ren and Kyoko, nor Cain and Setsu.

He started to think about it. His eyes dropped on the bottle on the table and he chuckled really evilly, remembering that morning. The "stalker-kun" face was so priceless...how much he wanted to snap a picture of it! He was finally able to let him understand the full threat under his words. This time he would be away from Kyoko for real, no Valentines blackmail, no White Day payback...

White Day! A 1000 watt lamp lit in his head. He smirked, unconscious he was slashing his pheromones so much that they actually hit a girl who was passing by his dressing room door.

Kyoko looked at her concerned for a moment, but after seeing her eyes in a heart shape, she shook her head and knocked at the door, before opening it.

She was hit by that higher dose of pheromones, so she froze. Ren was looking at her in a speculative way.

"Kyoko-san, what should I give to you for White Day?" soon after the shoot finished, Kyoko started to call him again "Ren-san". Well, he couldn't have everything in life, could he?

Kyoko eyes widen in surprise, then she reverted to her old habit " Ren-san! You have already give me the opportunity to model with you and that is already too much! I don't need anything..." she was taken aback by seeing the Demon Lord.

" You can't give me something for Valentine and really expect from me nothing in return, can you, Kyoko-san? Who do you think I am?"

"But...but...I don't want to burden you..." she whispered. In some part of her mind New sighed 'When Master is like this is kind of discouraging for me...Well, I can't really expect sudden change...considering how is Master, I should be glad already of the progress we had...Not that I'm the compromising type!' New smiled at herself proudly.

Ren was staring at Kyoko with that expectant and scolding look, who had became overly familiar for Kyoko. She gave up "Fine" she though about what he could give her that wasn't too expensive "I need a new bag...mine is starting to fall apart"

Ren obviously read her thought "Kyoko-san, you give me something really good for Valentine's day. You spend your precious time for it. I couldn't possibly give you something that don't have the same worth. So, this is my proposal: what about we choose something together this weekend?"

Why he could always surprise her, she never knew "But...I can't possibly take your precious time for rest..."

He smiled at her really dangerously and she shivered a little " Then this is my fifth request, Kyoko-san: you'll go to shopping with me and accept everything I'll choose for you as a White Day gift"


Sorry if the modeling shots are hard to understand...let me know what you think about it! ^^

Special thank to: MangaAddict2688, you helped me a lot with the beagle names! I couldn't find them in the lexicon..-.-''

Side note: if you ever wondered why many times the thoughts aren't in italics, it's because you aren't reading they direct thoughts, which are written in italic, instead.

Still, I hope I'm able to let you see the different way of thinking of every character, that is my true intention... ^^''

Hope you enjoyed it! ^^

[Thanks for the correction, Lian! ^^]