AN: I hope you enjoy this chapter since it was a lot of fun to write it.

Chapter Eight - Remember that I love you

Kyoko hadn't wanted to leave the hospital, but she knew that she had a test coming up at school and she needed to have a strong performance on it. Usually she was able to concentrate on the material and handle her jobs, but this time it wasn't like that. Over the past few days, she had only wanted to concentrate on the fact that Ren was in the hospital and she hadn't known the extent of his wounds or even if he was going to pull through or not. Those weren't things that kept you focused on your work.

Although, now, she only had partially complete notes that she was attempting to study from. She was glad that Kuon was asleep and wasn't able to see the notes and how distracted she had been. She knew that she didn't need to get a perfect score to impress him, but Kuon had always been focused on his work … or maybe that was just Ren.

"In American history, what occurred between April 17th 1961 and April 19th 1961?" she whispered to herself as she looked at the man who was asleep in the bed. She hummed as she thought about what the answer could be. She knew this one. "The missile crisis?" she asked herself, "or would it be -"

"Bay of Pigs Invasion," Kuon told her without opening his eyes. Kyoko blinked and nodded as she wrote the answer in. "That was a Cuban invasion that didn't have positive results. It was to do with missiles though," he gave her a thumbs up.

Kyoko paused as she looked at him and smiled, "I thought you were supposed to be asleep?" she asked as she kissed the top of his head.

"Okay, so the next date," she tried to tell herself, "December 20th 1989 to January 31st 1990" she tried to wait again. She didn't know why they had to study the American war dates, but it did make the education that she was receiving more well-rounded.

After she hadn't responded for a few minutes, Kuon smiled, "That's the Invasion of Panama."

"How did - is this because you're American?" she asked with a frown, "because that gives you an unfair advantage, Kuon. If these are things that everyone knows in Ameri-"

"They're not," he smiled. "I bet you didn't believe my dad when he told you that I was intelligent," he gave a sigh, "and here I thought you were interested in me because of my brain."

"I'm into you because of your heart, but yes, I know that you're intelligent," Kyoko smiled. "I doubt that you'd want to get into an IQ challenge with me though," she teased him as she let her fingers roam his gorgeous blond hair.

"Good for me. I know that you'd be able to win that," Kuon smiled as he opened his uncovered eye and smiled to her. "Did you need help with your homework? I can try to talk you through some of the answers if need be."

"You just concentrate on getting some rest," Kyoko told him. "You'll be going to the safe house soon, won't you?" she asked and Kuon nodded.

"Seems so. I wonder if the press will be able to find me when I'm there," his eye turned more serious and he looked like he was in pain.

"Whatever happens, I'll be right beside you," Kyoko attempted to assure him. "I don't care if they decide to spin this into something it's not. I care about you. I care about whether or not you're going to be alright. You promised me that you'd fight and you wouldn't give up."

"I intend to do that," Kuon said, "It'll just be a change."

"Then it's one that we'll have to adapt to together," Kyoko smiled as she kissed him softly. "Now, I might have to leave unless you can go back to sleep," she said as she smiled affectionately at him.

"How can I sleep knowing that you're worrying over your homework?" he asked her as he gave an adorable pout and Kyoko had to stop herself from laughing over how sweet he appeared.

It was at this point that there was even a larger distraction for Kuon. With Kyoko's help, he pushed himself to a seated position and smiled at his mother and then his manager. He hadn't had a chance to thank Yashiro for doing what was needed in such a short amount of time. Yashiro had saved his life, he really needed to show his gratitude for that.

"Hey," the manager said as Kuon looked at him and then saw Kyoko's grin. That was until both of them saw Seiji standing there.

"Hello?" he asked as Kyoko got up and gave a formal bow. Kuon sighed as he looked up, "This is about the contract, isn't it?" he asked as Kyoko turned to him and sighed. "I know that I broke it and it's going to take some time to get another actor. I think in this circumstance -"

"I want to offer you another role. It's not as glamorous as the lead role, but I hope you'll hear me out," Seiji said as Kuon looked at him confused.

"Okay. If it's a minor or background role then at least I'll be acting," he tried to convince himself. He knew with his new appearance he wasn't going to give Shingai's work the praise that he hoped it would receive and he wondered if this was done out of sympathy. Nobody wanted to watch a movie where the lead character had a gigantic burn down the side of his face and he doubted that makeup would really be able to hide it at this stage. There was also the possibility of getting an infection if makeup was applied on top.

"I want to give you the role of the antagonist," Seiji said as Kuon blinked. "I've seen pictures of what is hidden underneath those bandages and I think that in this piece, with a few rewrites, we could get it to work."

Kyoko looked at the director with her face lighting up with excitement. This would give Kuon a chance to follow his dreams again. She grabbed his hand and kissed it. The only thing that made her expression dim was that Kuon's was more hopeful and more eager.

"I think it's important that you see it in person," Kuon said as he attempted to give a more serious look. The director had seen pictures but he wouldn't be certain in his decision without seeing what it really looked like and how a video would capture it more than any photograph.

"Kyoko," he said as Seiji smiled at how strong Kyoko had grown since the time when he had had her stand in for Ruriko to teach her a lesson. "Could you help me with this?" he asked as he gestured to the bandage.

Kyoko nodded. She leaned in so that nobody else could hear and whispered, "You tell me if it hurts or stings and I'll be more careful," she said as she squeezed his hand. "Remember that I love you," she said as she couldn't help but take into account the glee that was spreading over Yashiro's face. She very gently and slowly took the bandage off to reveal the wound.

She could see Director Shingai's eyes widen and saw the sad look on Yashiro's face whilst Julie was trying to take in their emotions. She didn't want for this chance to get ripped away from her son. Kyoko placed the bandages on the side table and sat behind Kuon, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his shoulder.

"It is bad," Seiji said, "but it's usable," he smiled as he examined it. Maybe he could do something such as wrap it and add some makeup and then he could keep the burn open for the majority of the shooting. "Do you think you'll be able to act like that?" he asked as Yashiro's eyes kept taking in the different folds and crisper parts of the very severe burn. If there was a skin graft done, it would have to be from a donor, Kuon didn't have enough skin to really cover it effectively if he was to use a part of his own body.

"I think I can act, but the visuals of your movie," Kuon said nervously as Seiji laughed at that.

"We've done quite a number of projects together, haven't we, Ren?" he asked as Kuon looked to his mother and then to the director. "I thought you realized that I like skilled actors, I like working with the best of the best and you are the best. Your appearance is nice, especially for the modeling work that you've done in the past, but it's not what makes me want to cast you as an actor. There aren't many who have the same discipline and set of skills that you do. To work with the best means that something like that burn isn't going to bother me," Seiji said as Kuon blinked again.

"You know my real name, don't you?" he asked and Seiji shrugged.

"So what? You have famous parents and a stage name. Though, I do have to admit, it would be to my benefit to use your family name to get this film additional press coverage, that isn't as important as you being cast in this piece whether you did want to use Tsuruga Ren or your proper name." Seiji said as Kuon turned to Yashiro.

"Are you alright with working with me still?" he asked and Yashiro grinned.

"It would be an honor….Kuon," he said as Kuon nodded. Somehow his secret had become exposed in a way that he didn't want it to have been, but these people didn't seem to want to harm him. It was rare to find this much acceptance in others.

"I want to thank you, Yashiro-san," Kuon said weakly. "If it wasn't for you then I might not be - no I probably wouldn't be alive. If you hadn't found me they would have won and I would never have told Kyoko that I love her or been able to take any future acting roles. I sincerely thank you for not giving up on me."

Yashiro nodded. "I wouldn't give up on you, Kuon. I've got far too much left to tease you about, besides I'm very interested in the progression of your relationship with Kyoko."

Kyoko blushed at this before reaching her hand out to take Kuon's. "Well, I also want to thank you for saving him, Yashiro-san. I didn't know that I could be in love like this when the only love I'd experienced was an immature love. I know that Kuon cares about me in ways that that other guy couldn't."

Yashiro nodded and smiled at the two of them. Kuon's attention now focused on Julie.

"Mom, what is it?" he asked her and Julie looked down.

"Do you know, Kuon, that you would have been offered this role much earlier if it wasn't for the kidnapper telling this director that you were giving up on acting and that you weren't interested in being a part of LME anymore. Did you know that that man got in the way of you and your dreams," she said as she grew angrier with the more she thought on it.

"I expected he'd be over-protective," Kuon said, "but please don't be too harsh on him. It's because of Boss that I have somewhere to stay and somewhere safe as well. I know that you don't agree with what he did, but I'll talk to him. I'll tell him that I'm ready to fight my own battles."

Julie looked down before nodding. "I only hope I can swallow my anger."

End of Chapter Eight

AN2: Thank you to everyone who reads and supports this fic. It means a lot to me. A special shout out to the reviewers of Chapter Seven: brennakai, Guest, and PaulaGato