Sleep evaded Kyoko; she would have liked nothing more than to fall into dreamland, but found that her mind wouldn't allow it. The demons tried desperately to re-clasp the multitude of locks, even one would be better than none, but the lid refused to remain closed. The damnable emotion had resurfaced within their master's heart.
She didn't blame them for it. They'd done everything possible to help her in the wake of Sho's devastating admission, helping her stay on track and alerting her to dangers. It hadn't been an easy job, she was predisposed to thoughts of fairytale romances and sappy notions, but they'd done their best to keep her from plunging over the edge of that terrifying cliff.
Meanwhile the angles were in jubilant celebration. This was what they'd been working toward. She couldn't fault them for their joy, it was in their nature to be glad for things like this. They silly little things didn't understand the darker side of the feelings they celebrated.
She hated herself for this. She knew how stupid it was, how dumb she was for falling into the snare set by Setsuka. Setsu, who wanted to be close to her beloved nii-san, who was willing to let Kyoko experience more heartbreak to see her goals achieved, had planned this.
In Kyoko's mind wanting to do things for the sake of another person was the height of stupidity. There was nothing to be done for someone who refused to be pleased. Giving herself away, spending all her energy on someone else to gain their affection, was she destined to spend all of her days pursuing such a worthless goal?
Not once in her life had she been able to earn the love of another. Her mother had never been happy with the work she did and Sho'd always taken her for granted; even his parents had only kept her around because they thought she could become a suitable wife for their son. She was a boring and plain girl, not someone who should have a serious interest in Tsuruga Ren.
It was ridiculous to think that she had fallen into Setsuka's trap, but how could she have avoided it? The Heel's had such a complicated relationship and when Tsuruga-san took a role seriously it was impossible to remain unaffected. His portrayal of Cain would have been too much for anyone unfortunate enough to play opposite him.
She decided that she must have done something awful in her previous life. There could be no other reason for this repeating series of events. Was there any way to break this sad cycle?
If there was she couldn't think of it. Her heart would undoubtedly be broken once again when Tsuruga realized her feelings and rejected them. He would probably be disappointed in her, too. After promising to remain focused, to keep her heart guarded, she had gone and done something unforgivable. Surely he would detest her for this.
She'd have to leave LME and give up on her hopes of becoming an actress worthy of respect. The president wasn't going to be happy with her decisions, but what else could she do? If she was lucky he might let her finish the school year. She would be reduced to finding part-time work once more and she would need to find a new place to live; she couldn't imagine facing her landlords on a daily basis in such disgraceful defeat.
It was astounding, the effect one person could have on another. Her entire life was being turned upside down while he slept undisturbed in a bed merely a step away.
"I should have been more careful," she whispered. She'd never thought she would fall for Japan's number one star. She'd kept herself from obvious dangers, interrupting him when he came perilously close to using a line on her and holding him at arms length in most situations, but this attack had been unpredictable because it hadn't come from him.
She would be spending the upcoming day with him in character. Under the guise of Setsuka she would be able to hide her defect and use the character to her advantage, but what would happen when she had to face him as herself?
For as long as possible she would avoid direct contact. When the next day off came she would leave long before he woke to forestall the inevitable meeting. With luck she wouldn't have to meet him one-on-one any time soon; if there were witnesses she would be less likely to lose to her emotions.
It was the cowards way out, but she would rather be a coward than a love-sick fool, willing to give up everything for a person who didn't even feel the same.
Setsu was content. She held her brother's arm, a prideful smile upon her face, as they traversed the halls of the set.
Cain didn't question her self-satisfied air; it was enough to see her happy.
Ren didn't want to raise questions either, though for different reasons. Whatever it was that made Setsuka cheerful would undoubtedly make Kyoko uncomfortable and it was in her best interest that he pretend he hadn't noticed anything.
Their day on set passed in relative peace. Their co-stars avoided conversation while the director went over shooting locations and a more detailed schedule.
During this meeting Setsu was pulled aside by the director who had a message to pass along.
"Oota-san has expressed to me that your name was the one she drew in our cast meeting. She apologized for being unable to contact you in person, but has asked me to gain your support for her scene. It is a short, played out in the classroom setting. She wishes to bully Sakura. How you take it from there is up to you."
Setsu gave her approval before returning to her brother's side.
"What did he have to say to you?" Cain's eyes followed the director as he bowed from a distance.
"Nothing much. He just wanted me to know what my secret scene would be."
"Hm."
They returned to their dressing room, Setsu had insisted they share a space, for the fifteen minute break called for by Konoe after the conclusion of the first meeting.
Cain sprawled on the provided couch; Setsu lowered herself to recline atop him.
His arm snaked around her middle as she reached to touch his hair. In the back of her mind Kyoko realized that she would miss this relationship when their time as siblings was over; it was a painful thought.
"Nii-san?"
He made no response.
"Will we always be like this?"
He stiffened.
"No, right? The answer is no."
"Tch..." He didn't like this line of thinking; it implied an end. But, he couldn't tell her that she was wrong. The tenuous rope tying them together would be cut after the airing of the first episode.
It had been decided that the Heels would attend the premiere of Tragic Marker in a few weeks, mid-July, and then, once the dust settled and The Twist began airing at the end of September, Tsuruga and Mogami would remove the masks, reveling to the audience their true identities.
It would be the end of the dangerous siblings.
"We knew it would come to that, eventually." He hoped to reason with her and, by extension, himself. "I've said this before, we aren't only ourselves."
"But they aren't just them either. Mogami made sure of that. She can't just let go of me, it's not possible. She's going to have a damn hard time acting when she's this way. She takes it so seriously, understanding a character, she can't let them die." She ground her teeth. "Even now, Mio's in there. I've got more reason to stick around then her.
"All I want is for you to promise that you won't just disappear," she moved to straddle his waist, leaning down to whisper, "This isn't over. This won't ever be over," her lips ghosting over his as she spoke.
"HEY!" the door swept open. It was the annoying boy; the one who'd challenged Cain and nearly got them both killed. "HEY, the director sa-," his impassioned speech broke awkwardly when his mind registered what his eyes perceived. "You, you're not really..."
Murasame'd had an inkling as to their relationship, everyone did, but like the others he'd never dared to think it true. It couldn't be. There weren't people like that in real life. It would be disgusting for siblings to be intimately involved.
But there they were. The man laid out on the couch, the girl sitting on top of him, their faces not even an inch apart.
"Y-You..."
They wouldn't, they couldn't!
His stunned face grated on Setsuka's nerves. He was an interruption.
She swung her head around to gaze at him, hoping the venom in her stare would be enough to send him running.
It wasn't.
"But, b-but, you don't- you can't..."
With a deep sigh she removed herself from the sofa. Taking a stance that she hoped conveyed her displeasure she stalked across the room. Upon reaching the stuttering fool she reached out, placed her right hand on his chest and shoved him backward.
He stumbled, fell on his ass, as she slammed the door closed, locking it for good measure.
She reclaimed her former position; Cain made no move to stop her.
"He said, 'you can't', but he's wrong. We can do whatever we want," her voice was barely a whisper as she pressed her mouth to his; a short kiss. "Right, nii-san?"
"Hmm." Within reason. As long as he could keep his head.
He didn't protest her second kiss. Or the third.
The fourth was iffy.
He should have stopped her at five, but didn't.
When her lips met his for kiss number six he became an active participant. His arms encircled her waist, tugging until she lay against him. There was no sense of urgency in their movements, just simple, sweet kisses.
Both wished it could remain that way.