Spring Has Come For That Plain Girl With No Sex Appeal

Chapter Ten

Acknowledgments: Runadaemon for beta-reading.

Dedication: Maddy02 - because you guessed good.

I don't own Skip Beat!

T Minus 6 Days Before White Day (March 8)

12:00 MN

"...I'm fine with having Setsuka Heel killed off."

Ren's eyes widened at what she said. Setsu's going to be killed off? Why? Was it part of the President's schemes? What's with the complication? It was only a few more days!

"No need to do that, President Takarada," Mogami-san answered whatever the President said. "Since I'm making the decision on my own, I'll be the one to tell Tsuruga-san."

She was the one who decided on leaving? Was she quitting? Was that what she was thinking about when they were quietly walking to the parking lot and riding back to the hotel?

Ren practically teleported himself from the bathroom door to her side, grabbed the phone and said, "Please ignore everything she just said, Boss."

She gasped and just looked at him helplessly.

"Ren?" the President said.

"She doesn't understand what she's doing yet," Ren stated. "Please wait until she's cleared her head before she does anything rash."

"Wait...!" President Takarada exclaimed. "Ren!"

Ren hung up the phone and tossed it on the bed so it landed beside her. Mogami-san stared up at him in shock and grabbed the phone. "What are you doing?" she shakily asked.

"Me?" he asked in disbelief. "What do you think you're doing?" Ren angrily asked back. "You're making random decisions like this without consulting me."

"I-It's not a random decision," she answered back. "It's perfectly logical, but it's kind of hard to explain."

"Try me," he dared. It wasn't the first time anyone wanted or tried to leave him. Those times he wasn't so emotionally-invested; being slightly hurt was the strongest emotion he'd ever felt. Now, the mere thought that Mogami-san wanted to leave him for a reason known only to herself made him furious.

"Sh-Sho..."

'Sho'? Fuwa? She was basing her decision on Fuwa? She hadn't even seen him since Valentine's Day. He was sure of it because they started working together as Cain and Setsu just after.

"Shotaro found out I'm staying with you!" she cried out as she burst into tears. "I don't know how. I promise I never told anyone after the President reprimanded me about telling Yashiro-san. Not Moko-san or the couple I'm living with! No matter how much I think about it," she sobbed, "I can't think of a reason how he found out."

Ren suddenly had a flashback to several nights ago when he told Fuwa in vague words about Mogami-san being in a hotel room together.

"If people found out," she sobbed. "I'm the reason they did. The movie's marketing strategy depends on Actor X's mysterious identity, doesn't it? If people find out that you're playing Cain Heel, everything you worked so hard for will go down the drain."

Ren's breath hitched as guilt overwhelmed him. He was so satisfied with the careless words he said to Fuwa and now Mogami-san was suffering because of it.

"And it's noft ryk ivantof girb upf..." she incorherently babbled as she sobbed.

"It's OK," he said as he placed his hand over her head as he sat down beside her. "Don't cry anymore, Mogami-san, please. I promise you. He's not going to tell anyone."

"Ho-How can you be so sure?" she asked as she furiously wiped her tears.

Ren sighed. "If he ever found out," he admitted. There really wasn't anything else he can say that will change her mind about it. "It's because of me."

"Eh?" she raised her head and looked at him quizzically. "What do you mean, Tsuruga-san?"

He sighed again and sat down beside her. "Remember a couple of day ago when you were receiving several missed calls with a caller ID blocked?"

She nodded.

"I answered the call," he confessed, looking down to his hands which were set on his lap. "It kept ringing and stopping and ringing and stopping so I thought it was an emergency. Because I got annoyed with Fuwa, I told him right off that we were together and that he shouldn't be bothering us."

"But the caller wasn't Shotaro."

"Oh, it was him alright," Ren firmly answered. "He asked you about it, didn't he?"

Mogami-san looked at him as she processed the information. "Of course it was him," she murmured. "Only an idiot like him could misunderstand someone as straightforward as you."

"I wasn't that straightforward about it," Ren somberly replied.

"That still doesn't solve anything," Mogami-san hiccuped. "Whether he found out through you or me, he still found out and the danger that he would go to the media about it doesn't change it."

"He won't," Ren insisted. Doesn't she understand why? Fuwa already told her the reason.

"Why?" she asked.

"Remember what he shouted at you?"

She looked surprised. "You heard that?" she asked worriedly.

"I was standing at the corner hallway when he said it," Ren answered somberly. "Anyway, what he said was true."

"You think I'm a slut too?" she near shouted.

"Eh?" He turned his head to her quickly. He has never seen her so horrified. "No, no... Never!" He cupped her chin and turned her head to him. "That is the last thing I, or anyone else, would ever think of you," he quickly added. "I mean that part before that bit."

She looked at him questioningly.

"About his... feelings," Ren answered grudgingly.

"He was feeling really angry and called me a slut and tried to drag me off somewhere to prove his point," she answered simply. Then she muttered, "That pervert."

Ren was at a loss for words and stared blankly at her. That's all wrong! he thought. Well, it was partly true, but she totally missed the point of why. He knew that she was dense and probably allergic to even the illusion of love, but he didn't think it was this bad! He always thought that it was just because she never saw him as someone she could see in a romantic light.

She completely ignored or totally missed the part about Fuwa being in love with her! Because he did, he wouldn't want anyone thinking badly about her and would protect her, no matter what she did. He felt exactly the same.

"Never mind," Ren shook his head. He didn't want to say anything that would help her understand how Fuwa felt about her. Especially since he couldn't do the same for himself. "But, as I said, I guarantee," he stressed. "He's not going to the media. If he was, he wouldn't have told you first. Besides, he never told you that in the first place."

"That's not very convincing or reassuring, Tsuruga-san," Mogami-san shook her head. "What did you tell him anyway? To get an idea like that."

He looked her in the eye. The look was so trusting and innocent. It drove him crazy.

He moved forward and she pulled back. He moved closer and she inched away. He followed until she fell back on the bed with no more space to retreat to. He stared right into her eyes and said, "Because you are my important person. How would you think I'd feel if I find out that you have other guys who are more important to you than I am?"

He watched in amusement as Mogami-san's face turned thoughtful as she actually, really thought about it. He was chuckling as he leaned forward and lightly pressed a kiss on her lips.

They were soft just as he thought they'd be. Because she didn't protest or struggle, he became encouraged and kissed her again.

Kyoko's eyes widened as Tsuruga-san's lips brushed against hers for a second time. This time, he lingered a little longer. She felt his breath against her as his mouth gently caressed hers.

Unlike the time Shotaro gave her her fake first kiss, she didn't feel threatened. Even now as he gripped her arms, she only felt warmth. There was so much warmth she let her eyes flutter closed. Then she felt herself kiss him back.

He then increased the pressure of his mouth - but it was still gentle. Then he started suckling on her lower lip when he accidentally took her clip-on mouth piercing off. "Ah," he softly exclaimed in surprise.

Kyoko's eyes popped open as he took it out and removed her ear piercing that was attached to it and, without getting out of his lying position, reached for the night stand and placed it there.

When he turned back to her, he intently stared her in the eye. Kyoko thought that he was going to kiss her again. "You're not going to leave, are you?" he quietly asked instead.

"No," she shook her head.

"Good." He leaned back down. Not to kiss her, but to rest his head just below her chin and over her heart. One of his hands possessively grabbed hers and linked their fingers together.

How can he stand the noise? she thought wildly. Her heart was beating so wildly, it pounded on her ears. This was embarrassing. She's never had a man lie down on top of her before!

And what the hell was that kiss?

She often pondered how extreme Cain and Setsuka Heel's relationship was, but this was too much! They did kiss more than what was polite. Out in public, but that was on the cheek or the forehead. That kiss... That kiss...

That was the kind of kiss she often fantasized about when she was younger and feeling a little perverted! Although, in her thoughts, their mouths were closed (no lip suckling whatsoever), it didn't last that long, it was on her wedding day and the groom was someone she didn't care to think about at the moment. So, it was really nothing like the kiss in her fantasies. She just thought that it was the same kind of feelings that she would have when she had it.

And what the hell did this mean? Kyoko thought. She already had her fake first kiss! She also already had her first real kiss from Tsuruga-san last Valentine's Day, but that was on the cheek. Did this mean that her fake second kiss was with Cain Heel? She wasn't acting as Setsu. Or was she? They had to be doing a scene because Tsuruga-san had no reason to kiss her! Although, that made Cain-nii-san into a complete weirdo now, but it's the only thing that made sense!

She felt Cain-nii-san move and she struggled to normalize her heartbeat. And they stayed like that until the two of them drifted off to sleep.

3:30-ish AM

GRRRRRRRWL~...

Ren slowly opened his eyes at the sound and vibrating sensation. He tried to remember what happened before he dozed off. He was lying in an odd position. He smiled when he remembered. He felt Mogami-san stiffen under him.

He lifted his head and saw her blushing as her eyes trembled. "Hello," he huskily said. Something inside him made him happy because he was getting the reaction he only ever dared dream of: she was flushed and embarrassed and so cute. His spirits soared: She saw him as a man.

"H-Hi..." she stammered.

"What time is it?" he sleepily asked.

"I th-think," she stammered, "about 3:30."

So early? He wasn't due on the movie set til eight-thirty. "Then why did you set your phone's alarm clock so early?"

She gasped out loud and avoided his eyes.

GRRRRRRWL~...

Ren's eyes widened. That wasn't her phone. Not his either. That was... "We haven't eaten yet," he realized.

Her lower lip quivered. "Nii-san, you dumbass!" she wailed. "How could you mistake my stomach grumbling for an alarm clock!"

They scrambled off the bed.

Because Mogami-san hadn't had her evening shower yet, Ren pushed her into the bathroom after repeatedly assuring her that he can reheat dinner without ruining it. He heated the pot of food and watched it intently until it looked hot enough to be enjoyable as a warm meal.

Ren opened the cabinet where she stored the dinnerware and took out two bowls for the stew she prepared. He knew he had no intentions of eating, but courtesy demanded that a girl cannot eat by herself. And with the mood he was in, he bet he could even finish off everything. Probably not, but he was feeling that way.

He was smiling through the chore. He was happy. Things could work out like this, couldn't it? he thought as he heard the shower from the other side of the wall turn off. They would come home to each other after long days of work where they will spend time together eating and cuddling until he could convince her to stay the night.

Stay the night? he smiled confidently. If he put his mind to it and if things work out the way it has been so far this evening, he'd have her moving in with him by the time they checked out of the hotel. Then he stopped himself because he knew that the girl he was dealing with was not some starry-eyed miss. Pouring out his feelings on her took him this long. Besides, the goal was to make her conscious of his feelings, not to scare her into not wanting to see him again.

He was walking towards the table to set the table and was just in front of the bathroom door when he heard her moan.

He stopped and turned to the door. What the...? She got out already, didn't she? he thought. The shower stopped a little earlier. Then he was surprised again when he heard a groan.

"Ow!" she exclaimed though it was muffled by the door.

She couldn't have... Ren thought as he set the bowls and glasses on the counter. She couldn't have slipped and fallen, could she? he thought nervously. If she did, why wasn't she calling out for help? Then he realized that whenever she was in trouble, that's exactly what she wouldn't do!

He grabbed the doorknob and yanked it open. He barged in, crying out, "What happened, Mo-"

The bathroom was full of steam, but not so thick that he couldn't easily find Mogami-san had fallen into the tub, her head leaning against the edge with her right hand in the midst of rubbing her left shoulder.

She started at him for a few seconds and Ren realized that she was sitting in a tub for a hot soak. Through the steam and ripples of water, he could make out a little bit of everything. She didn't look like she had fallen in a weird position. She was just sitting, he realized. When their eyes connected, she looked at him with a horrified look on her face.

Suddenly, he couldn't see anything. His nose and eyes became the bulls-eye target for a small, wet, square towel.

Once he peeled it off and threw it aside, he found her pulling the shower curtain over her and she shouted, "Wh-What the hell are you doing?"

"So-sorry," he quickly turned around. Looking at her just made him think crazy things. "You were moaning and groaning so loudly I thought you slipped or something."

"I was trying to soothe my shoulders because my stupid brother decided I was some kind of life-sized pillow," she retorted. Ren heard the water slosh and saw at the corner of his eye, through the steamed up mirror, that she stood up and grabbed a nearby towel. "A nice hot soak is usually a remedy for that! You're not exactly as light as a feather when you're asleep! There's a reason they call it dead weight, you know."

Then Ren felt her small hands on his back as she led him out the door. "And what are you still standing around here for? I thought you were preparing dinner. I'm not going to ask you join me or something!"

"I would, you know," he said with half-seriousness as she stepped out. He turned around and faced her. Her hair was dripping wet and her body was wrapped in a small towel. She face was red and looked so cute. It was the only thing that was keeping him from looking below the neck to imagine what else was underneath that towel.

"As if!" she hissed and she slammed the door to his face.

"In Japan, family, friends, and lovers take baths together to deepen their relationships," he joked.

"Shut up!" she cried out. "This isn't a hot spring! Like I'd ever let you make fun of me for having a weird, disproportionate body! A girl just can't get any peace with you." She ended the conversation with a click of the bathroom door lock.

Ren was certain of two things at that moment: Mogami-san had good aim, and there was absolutely nothing weird or disproportionate about that body.

Kyoko panted and tried to steady her breath.

Did he see? she panicked as she slid down to the floor against the door.

She knew that she was never going to be a supermodel, but she was pretty content about the way she was built. She was able to walk around a public bath without any problems, but never with someone of the opposite sex and definitely never in front of someone with a perfect body shape like Tsuruga Ren. She panicked so much in her vulnerable position that she couldn't even react the way Setsuka would and by the time that she was conscious that Tsuruga-san came in there out of concern for his little sister, she was so embarrassed, she couldn't get herself to act as she should.

Oh, she despaired as she hugged her knees and buried her face on them. What was she going to do when she got out? She didn't know which was worse. Being teased to death about her body by Cain-nii-san or being NG-ed by Tsuruga-san for not acting like Setsuka.

She was, she decided, just going to have live inside the bathroom and never get out.

GRRRRRRRWL~...

Stupid stomach.

She walked over to the tub and started to drain it, got dressed for bed, and dried her hair. She cringed at the sight of the creamy silk camisole dress with little straps for sleeves she'd chosen. A few minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom with the day's laundry in her arms. She saw that the table was already set for dinner and nii-san was talking to a shaking bellhop. She walked over to the washer. She stuffed the garments into the tub. Since she was embarrassed to death, she was determined to play the role of Setsuka Heel even if it killed her.

"Nii-san," she called as he closed the door. "Shall we eat after I finish with this?"

"OK."

She lifted her left shoulder and rotated it as she watched the water fill the washer. It was still feeling a little stiff since she never finished her hot bath.

"Hold on for a sec," Cain-nii-san said as he suddenly appeared from behind her. His hand went to her shoulder and started kneading it with his thumb. "Does it hurt here?"

She was surprised, but it felt very nice as she felt all of the pressure points being looked after. "No, it doesn't hurt," she said in a very relaxed voice. "It just feels a little dull."

"Mmmm..." he said as she felt him slap something over her skin. She reached back and felt a medicated patch.

The cooling heat started spreading through the area and she felt herself relax. Why hadn't she thought of this before? She turned around to thank him, but he spoke before she could open her mouth.

"I love you."

He said it so quickly. So simply and so quickly that she almost didn't quite believe it was said. However, the demons that instantly surrounded her heart went on alert before he said anything else. But he didn't. He was just looking at her with an unreadable expression on her face. She felt her demons relax their guard and her heart immediately softened.

Of course he did, she thought. She knew it all along. Because he was the type to express it with actions rather than with words, and she always returned it with actions.

Now that he said the words, she knew she had to mirror his actions and say it in words too.

She took in a deep breath and said, "I love you too." They were true anyway. "Nii-san."

6:30 AM

"Eh?" Kyoko transferred her mobile phone from one ear to the other so she'd be more comfortable when she cradled it between her ear and her shoulder. "Really? Me?"

"Well," Sawara-san said. "It's only a guest-starring role. The new season just started so there won't be much action yet. But the director feels that you would suit the role so he's offering it to you. It's only for two episodes and it's still a villain role."

The fact still kind of stung, but it was expected since she only had Natsu to go on and she was an evil villain. Also, she was taught not so long ago by Kuu-oton that she should never be picky about roles, especially since she's still a newbie. "I'll do it!"

"Whoa, wait," Sawara-san interrupted as Kyoko reached into the cupboard for the coffee cups. "There's still another one. Another guest role in another drama. We'll talk about it when you pass by here when you get to the office. I'm just letting you know."

"OK." Kyoko nodded, but she felt like she was floating on the air. She had more offers...

"Also..."

"Mmm?" Kyoko's eyes widened.

"Koga Hiromune wants to star opposite you in his next movie."

Kyoko knew that name. He was number two on the popularity charts last year - she wasn't sure now because she stopped checking. She remembered because he was someone who was in the way of Shotaro's dream of the number one spot. Because Shotaro had cemented his position in the music industry while the top spot still eluded him because of Tsuruga-san, Koga Hiromune has been playing around number 3 and 4 of the popularity charts. Still... "Eh? Me?"

"I got a call from his people last night," Sawara-san explained. "He's still in the process of choosing a project he wants to work on, but he said that he wants to act opposite you."

Kyoko was puzzled. "Why?" If he still doesn't have a movie, how could they be sure she'd suit the role?

Sawara-san let out a groan. "Because," he explained. "You're rumored to be some elusive beauty who has eligible celebrities chasing after you."

"What?" she asked shortly. Elusive beauty? Eligible celebrities chasing after her? Who? Her? Sawara-san was kidding, right?

"Haaaaah~" Sawara-san explained. "How should I put this...? Different versions of the Dark Moon DVD set commercials are being aired right now - one of them exclusively features Mio. Because Dark Moon is now Japan's Most Watched Drama Series Of All Time, Director Ogata-shi is being interviewed widely and he had a lot of good things to say about you. Kijima Hidehito talked about what kind of mysterious beauty you are in Kimagure Rock. The Box 'R' feature in that magazine had you and Hikaru-kun linked together. That lead singer of Vie Ghoul scored you a 10 when they appeared in a talk show when they were having a small game about newbie celebrities-"

"Beagle!" she angrily snarled. When did this happen? What show? He was still torturing her, wasn't he?

"The point is," Sawara-san emphasized, "now that Box 'R' is airing and you have a totally different image, you're being talked about now. The President is even positive that if this continues on, you'll be in the Top 10 by next week."

"Just because of that?" she asked disappointingly. Her shoulders slumped.

"What are you talking about?" Sawara-san scolded. "People would kill for this kind of publicity. I know it's not the most ideal way to be noticed, but this will get you more work." Then he sighed. "Look, I have to go. We'll talk further about it later. Don't talk to reporters yet."

"Oh!" she turned to the direction of Cain-nii-san's bed. He was already seated on the bed looking at her sleepily. "Alright," she said as she walked over back to the coffee maker. "I'll talk to you later, Sawara-san." She hung up the phone and grabbed the mug.

"Good morning, nii-san," she smiled as she approached. She held out the coffee to him.

"'Morning," he answered back as he swung his legs to the side of the bed. He reached for that mug and she smiled at how he looked so cute with a disoriented look on his face with his hair tousled. When their fingers brushed, he hesitantly pulled away, which startled Kyoko. He coughed and once again reached for the coffee. "Who was calling so early in the morning?"

"Sawara-san," she answered. Then she caught herself. They were in the middle of the scene. She was the one who started it because she was the one who greeted him as 'nii-san'. To save herself and really get into the character of Setsu, she let out a little sneeze as she sat down on her bed.

He peered at her curiously as he drank. "Are you alright?"

"I think I'm getting a little cold, probably a fever too," she answered. "I did take a bath so late at night. That was probably a bad idea."

Cain-nii-san gave her a quick glance. "I hope that it's nothing you'll die from..." he answered.

"No," she smiled as she shook her head. What the...? She already promised him that she won't leave. "I've never heard of anyone dying from a little cold." Then she stretched her legs. "Although it might get pretty bad the day after tomorrow around three in the afternoon. It would probably last until about nine though."

It was a pretty runabout way of saying that because she got out early yesterday because Makino-san was not available, she had to report to the set to shoot the scenes. It's unavoidable because her not going wasn't only unprofessional, it's be a cause of delay for the production. She could have just told Tsuruga-san outright, but they were in the middle of the scene.

A scene.

She still can't believe Tsuruga-san can wake up and instantly assume the role of Cain Heel. This must be what living in the role is like.

"I'd probably be beside myself with worry," he answered.

"So would I," she chuckled. When Cain-nii-san looked at her questioningly, she expounded, "I'd be beside myself wondering if my nii-san would spend his dinner break outside just smoking and not eating."

"Well, if you'd be worried about that, I'd eat just to put your mind at ease," he smiled.

Kyoko watched him as he brought the coffee mug to his lips and for a split second, she looked at his mouth as she remembered how she was right on that bed with him on top of her, kissing her. Because he was large, she remembered the weight of him. Because he was so lean and muscular, she remembered how he felt pressed against her. Because he moved so gracefully, she remembered how gently-

"I'm going to make breakfast!" she declared as she shot up and headed for the kitchen. She hoped that he wouldn't notice that her face turned red.

Damn Kuu-oton's instruction to create the habit of recording everything. It's not like it's even going to be useful. She was only good for villain roles.

"Nii-san," she scolded as she turned to him and found him staring. "Go get ready already. You're due on the set in two and a half hours." She picked up the chopsticks and started beating the eggs for her tamagoyaki.

"Uh, yeah..." He stood up and speedily grabbed his clothes from the closet and disappeared behind the bathroom door.

Kyoko sighed with relief. Because the way he looked at her just now...

...he remembered everything from last night.

Damn his good memory! He developed the habit of recording everything to use it as reference for roles.

He went through the motions of his morning routine quickly.

Like how everything that goes on with his life, everything that makes him happy with Mogami-san would come crashing down in the end. He managed to tell her that he loved her. She felt the same in a totally different way. As Setsu. For Cain. He got the message across, but in the wrong way. That wasn't how things were supposed to be... he thought sadly. He now didn't know how to move around her.

When he moved out of the bathroom, breakfast was ready and Setsu disappeared into the bathroom.

While he was waiting for her, the President called up demanding he explain what happened the night before. Ren explained everything, not hiding his blunder for hinting what was going on to Fuwa Sho, but assured the President that Fuwa's understanding was limited only to Mogami-san and himself and not to Cain and Setsu.

"So?" President Takarada asked frankly. "Are you sure you still want to risk this? The danger of the two you being exposed is still there. There's still time. We can still have Setsuka-chan killed off if you like."

"No," he answered quickly. "I don't want that to happen."

"Well then," the President answered. "That's good. I really don't know what I can do to pull off this kind of big character death so near the end." He sighed. "Anyway, I leave everything up to you. I told you, I'm not going to help you."

Ren hung up the phone and sighed. Then he sat at attention when the bathroom door opened and out came Setsu. She smiled at him and asked, "Let's eat?"

Cain nodded as they sat down in their designated places and had their meal. It was quiet. He didn't know what to talk about with her because his head was consumed by his hurt feelings and he caught her staring at him strangely repeatedly. Whenever he did, he'd ask what it was, but she said that it was nothing. Once breakfast was done and the dishes were clean, he grabbed his things and stood as she grabbed hers. He moved to open the door and felt her fingers brushed against his. As if burned, he quickly pulled away, leaving her hand gripping the sleeve of his jacket.

He turned to her and was surprised to see a shocked and horrified look on her face.

Somehow, Kyoko thought as she gripped onto Cain Heel's sleeve, this seemed all too familiar.

Whenever they left, she would always hold onto Cain-nii-san's hand and he would always firmly hold onto it. It was always like that when they established their characters and became comfortable with the routine.

A small flashback came to her about times when she would try to come near her mother only to be pushed away. And how Sho would often leave her behind to come after him. Somehow, it didn't feel quite like that, but it was close.

Why? she thought when she managed to shake the images out of her mind when Cain-nii-san belated took her hand and they walked towards the elevators. Cain and Setsu love each other, don't they?

4:15 PM

"Can I?" Ishibashi Hikaru-kun asked happily.

Takarada Lory let out a guffaw at the starry-eyed look on Ishibashi Hikaru-kun. It reminded him a lot of Mogami-kun's reaction when Jelly supplied her with high-end make-up for her use as Setsuka Heel. No wonder, he thought, that he and Mogami-kun seemed like kindred spirits.

"Why not?" Lory answered. "They were the ones who asked for you. There's no conflict of interest with Kimagure Rock. And, it's not like the other boys won't be there as your guests."

One of the regular hosts of Majisuka was hospitalized for appendicitis. Since the show was shot one day and aired in another, yesterday's taping was postponed while producers looked for a replacement. Because Hikaru-kun's appearance received good feedback and he had experienced at being a TV presenter, the idol was asked.

"I'll do it then!" Hikaru-kun enthusiastically answered.

"Good," Lory nodded. He turned to the manager and said, "Toyokawa-kun, why don't you run down to Sawara-kun to give him the news. I'm sure the producers are waiting for an answer."

"Yes sir," Toyokawa-kun nodded and excused himself.

Once alone, he turned to Hikaru-kun and said, "Now, onto the real reason why I called you here."

Hikaru-kun's smile froze, then he sighed. "I knew my guest-hosting for Majisuka was something I could have just talked about with Sawara-san," he remarked. Then he looked up at Lory hesitantly. "This has something to do with that thing in the paper about Kyoko-chan and me, doesn't it?"

"Well..." Lory shrugged. In order for his family to work harmoniously, he has to make sure that all of his children are getting along with each other. "I believe you when you told Sawara-kun that the two of your weren't really kissing. You're a grown man who's not careless about these kinds of things. Because you have a very good and wholesome reputation, it didn't affect your popularity that much. Mogami-kun's aspiring for the same thing so you're actually seen as a good influence on her image." Not to mention that a popular young actor like Kijima Hidehito was also interested in her - not necessarily romantically, but he's popular enough to have people look in Mogami-kun's direction.

"I already had this talk with my mother," Hikaru-kun looked down at his hands in his lap. "She was really mad when I didn't tell her I had a girlfriend and she had to learn it on the papers. Now, she's demanding that I introduce her."

Lory's eyes widened. "So, Mogami-kun's really your girlfriend?"

"What?" Hikaru-kun looked up at him with a confused look on his face. "No," he vehemently shook his head. "It's nothing like that. I mean, I do like her..."

"So," Lory tilted his head. "You're really considering Mogami-kun? You know that if the two of you become known as a pair, if anything happens to that pair, it will not bode well with your individual careers."

"Well," Hikaru-kun gave a small laugh. "Considering isn't really the word. I mean, I haven't really done anything that would give her any idea that I have any intentions or anything like that. If I actually end up dating her, it's not going to be some kind of weird gimmick to make us popular or anything like that. I just really like her a lot."

Lory stared at the young idol and said, "Give up on the idea."

"What?"

"If you really like Mogami-kun that much, you would have done something about it already," Lory declared. Then again, the only other person he knew to be interested in her wasn't making any moves on her.

"I can't give up just like that, President Takarada," Hikaru-kun answered. Lory's eyes widened as he saw the determined look in his eye. "I know Kyoko-chan is not the easiest person to get and she has pretty weird ideas about a lot of things, but I like her a lot. I'm not going to give up until I hear it straight from her lips that there's no hope for me."

Lory's intention was to save Hikaru-kun from heartache. Now, he was positive that he will truly get his heart broken. The opportunity to save him was lost before he'd known there was one.

Near 5:00 PM

"...So," Kyoko concluded. "The key to ikebana is to make sure that the flow between earth, man, and heaven is smooth and fluid."

Kanae looked over to Chiori-san's side as she struggled to level the flowers on her pot. "I-I have no idea what I'm doing," she confusedly declared.

"Well," Kyoko tilted her head. "Just make three layers and try to tie one level to the other."

"Right," Kanae remembered the instruction. She quickly gave up on the idea and just observed how Kyoko trimmed the stem and added another rose to layer two. Kanae studied her movements well and decided to just do the same in the drama.

"Kyoko-chan!" another office employee knocked on the door. This time, he was carrying a bouquet of lilies. "Another one for you!"

"Another?" Kyoko snarled, rendering the employee frozen.

"Oh look, Chiori-san," Kanae sardonically remarked. "More flowers."

"Whoopie-doo," Chiori-san answered dryly.

It was one of the rare days the three of them were together. Strangely enough, flowers started pouring into the Love Me Section office. Kyoko seemed annoyed by the fact and just used them to teach her basic flower arrangement when Kanae had made the casual comment of signing up for flower arrangement classes. Chiori-san joined in to have something to do.

Kanae watched as Kyoko ripped out the card. This time, her expression changed from annoyance to happiness. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Not these." She tucked the card back into the bouquet. She set the lilies aside near her things. "This is a White Day present from Director Ogata."

So it depends on the sender, Kanae thought. She wondered who were sending the flowers. She looked in wonder at the stack of crumpled cards.

Whoever it was, it pissed Kanae off. One bouquet would be a really good meal for an entire day. Two would be groceries for a month. Three would be rent. If she just resold everything, she could have the main hall of the family home repaired.

"My!" an exclaim came from the door. "What a wonderful arrangement! Mogami-kun, you made this?"

Drat! It was the President. He had the habit of hunting them down whenever they were in the building. Add on to the fact that it was a few days before White Day, his biological clock must be going wild. Considering it would be White Day soon though, it should be the boys' turn. He shouldn't be harassing them.

As Kyoko and the President chatted about Kyoko's small background on flower arrangement, Kanae noticed that there was someone behind him. It was Ishibashi Hikaru-san and he was glaring at her. No, not her, Kanae noticed. She turned to his true target, Chiori-san, who was looking back at him. Hikaru-san shook his head and turned to Kyoko with a smile. "Hey, Kyoko-chan!" he happily said. "Ready for the five o'clock meeting?"

Kyoko turned to the clock that hung on the wall. "Yep," she answered.

"Kyoko-chan!" another office employee popped his head through the door. Tulips this time.

Kyoko looked like she was somewhere between lashing out and losing it. However, all three of the Love Me Section girls learned that outbursts against love would make the President angry, so with the grace of a beauty pagaent winner, she accepted the flowers. She pulled out the card, paused for a second and laid the card on the stack of crumpled cards. She laid the tulips in front of Kanae and Chiori-san and said, "Looks like you girls have more flowers for your arrangements." She turned to Hikaru-san and smiled charmingly. "Shin'ichi-san and Yuusei-san must be waiting at the conference room. Shall we go?"

Hikaru-san nodded and the two left.

"Kotonami-kun," President Takarada turned to her. "When I gave you that assignment to be in the drama, I hoped that you would work hard for it. But I didn't mean that you needed to buy an entire flower shop to train for it. Flower arrangement is only one aspect and flowers are not cheap."

"Actually, these flowers are all Mogami-san's, sir," Kanae answered. "I'm not really sure why. They've been arriving left and right. Some employees said they've been coming in since this morning and they're all for her."

"Mm?" President Takarada picked up the uncrumpled card and lifted it. "Who's Sho?" he asked in wonder. He picked up and another card and uncrumpled it. "This is from Sho too."

Kanae's eyes widened as the sender of the rejected flowers' name was revealed.

Sho?

As in, that Sho?

8:30 PM

"Mogami-kuu~n!"

Kyoko, who had just gotten inside the elevator to leave for the hotel held the door, popped her head out and found President Takarada waving his hand. "I'm coming along with you."

Kyoko held the door as she waited for him to enter.

When the elevator was moving again, he turned to her and smiled. "I'm coming along with you."

"Eh?"

"I have a date with Jelly," he said. "She's at the mobile car right now so I have to pick her up."

"Alright," she tried to smile as they stepped out and got into the car that was waiting. Because they were headed to a location that wasn't supposed to be known, they didn't ride in the President's ostentatious hummer limo and went in a more discreet car. It was still luxurious and spacious inside.

"Let's pick up Ren first," the President said. "I haven't seen him in so long."

"Of course," she answered.

"Mogami-kun?" the President began in a serious voice after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes, sir?" she asked softly.

"Who is Sho?"

Kyoko's shoulder sagged as she quietly answered. "Sho," she began, "is the reason why I requested Setsuka Heel be killed off." Then she told him everything. Just a short background of what was between her and Sho, how he called her phone and how Tsuruga-san answered, and what happened the night before when he met her outside the set of Box "R". "I still don't understand why Tsuruga-san is willing to risk having Cain Heel exposed because of me if Shotaro starts talking to the media."

"He won't," the President answered reassuringly.

"He might," Kyoko protested.

"He won't," the President said with finality. "If he was going to tell anyone, he wouldn't have gone and talked to you first. Also, based on what he said, he really wouldn't."

"But-"

"Mogami-kun," the President sighed. "You don't understand why he wouldn't, do you? It's the very reason why you're in the Love Me Section."

She got into the Love Me Section because she lacked love. She was as confused as ever, especially with things as they are now. Love never brought her anything good. Everyone she loved ended up leaving her. Her mother, Corn, Shotaro, now even Cain Heel - and he was a character! The only person who was never chased off by her was Moko-san.

"Mogami-kun...?"

Kyoko looked up at met the eyes of the President.

"Do you still want to continue on as Setsuka Heel?"

"Eh?" Kyoko was surprised. She'd been given this assignment. If she gave up on it now that President Takarada and Tsuruga-san said that she can stay on, wouldn't that mean that she failed? "Yes," she nodded her head vigorously. "It's only a few more days before the job's done so if there's no risk to Tsuruga-san, there's no need to kill off Setsuka anymore." She never gave up on anything. Even if things were difficult between her and Cain Heel right now, her job still needed to be seen through to the bitter end.

The President was looking at her in a way that made her uncomfortable. "Wasn't that the same reason you gave me when you said that it was alright to have Setsuka killed off?" Kyoko squirmed in her seat. "Did something happen that made it impossible for the brother and sister to separate now?"

The question quieted Kyoko. The kiss came right back to her mind, then the 'I love you', but those quickly went away when the image of Cain Heel refusing to meet her eyes and putting some distance between Setsuka and himself superimposed itself. Love, simply was the unnecessary thing that drove people apart rather than make them closer together. Everything had been going well between the siblings before either one uttered it out loud.

10:00 PM

He sat in the car beside President Takarada as he smoked his cigar and waited for Setsu for come out.

"Ren," the President began. "I received some feedback about your performance as Cain Heel."

Ren turned to him curiously.

President Takarada let out a puff of smoke before turning to him. "Ren, you're failing."

"E-excuse me?" Ren was surprised. What has the director been telling him? Why wasn't he telling him directly?

"Setsu," the President pointed at the trailer, "is unhappy."

"Eh?" Ren blinked at him. "What exactly do you mean?"

"Well, I don't really have all the details," President Takarada sighed. "Setsuka-chan happens to be a very loyal sister, so she would never admit that she is actually unhappy with her brother." Then he sharply looked at him. "But I can tell that she's very unhappy about something. Your success in performing the role of Cain Heel lies in satisfying the director with your performance of BJ and ensuring that Setsuka-chan is happy. You're succeeding in the former, but not the latter." Then he pointed the cigar at him to emphasize his point. "Setsuka-chan is a very special girl. I don't care if the reason she is unhappy is you or not. As her beloved older brother, it's your duty to make sure she's never sad."

Almost midnight

It was almost midnight.

She should be heading to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a big and busy day, she thought as she looked at the envelope that was on the night stand beside the hotel bed.

It wasn't everyday one would meet up with one's daughter.

Chapter Notes:

- Sorry if you're still waiting on this story. I'm too busy with life. I wrote it, was unsatisfied, so I rewrote it and it was 10,000 so I had to shave it off. Then it still had to go through my beta-reader. I'm gonna have to stop saying when I'll post next because I keep on not meeting it.

- Next chapter: It's another Kimagure Rock day!

- I really enjoy the kinds of reviews that everyone has been leaving for me. Not so much because I enjoy getting reviews (I do!), but because I love how everyone tries to predict what's going to happen. Thank you. Again, reviews are appreciated but not expected.