I'm so sorry, everyone! So much has happened: Okay, so I gave my phone to my friend to update it with his developers account, and he completely fried it! All my pictures from the past two years: all the vacations I took and just random pictures with my friends gone! It's not like I wanted memories to take with because I'm moving... Who needs pictures anyway... Oh, and did I mention that I had two almost-finished chapters (one for this story, one for the other)? And you would think that I would be smart enough to backup my phone before giving it to him? -Hahahaha. No. Ugh! Why is life so frustrating?! At least I've learned something from the experience.

The whole ordeal put me over the edge. I'm just too mentally destroyed to continue both stories at the same time, so I'm putting the other one on hold. Better I do one thing well than two things mediocre. I think this is all my poor brain can take.

Thanks so much for waiting, and sorry for the gap. Don't worry, I won't be dropping either story. Once I start something, I like to see it through.

Thanks to everyone who offered a name suggestion/s! I have a much broader range of names to choose from now! I saw so many brilliant/beautiful names I've never heard of O.O I've narrowed it down a little, but there are just so many good names T-T

Well, you've survived the rant, if you really read it.

Enjoy!

"Yashiro, what sort of relationship do those two have?" Ogata nervously asked.

"Kyoko and Ren? Why?"

"One minute she tells me one thing to make me think their relationship is going great, then the next she's bolting away from him."

"That sums up their relationship quite nicely, actually. You see, they both are idiots when it comes to their feelings for each other."

There was a moment of silence as Ogata thought. He finally spoke, "To think, for the first time in his acting career, Ren has done something to cause such an enormous scandal."

"Ehhh? It's a big scandal to you? You think that people will take interest in this?" Yashiro was a bit confused that someone other than himself or the president had taken an interest in their romance.

"Absolutely. How could they not?"

"Well, it isn't that big of a story. After all, things like this happen quite often in the entertainment world."

"More or less, I suppose...," Ogata sheepishly agreed, not wanting to argue. "I'd still say it'll probably get a lot of media attention if it's discovered."

"That's definitely true. After all, it's not everyday that the top actor of Japan falls for a newcomer," Yashiro happily declared.

"You think they'll get married?"

Yashiro nearly choked on the water he was drinking, spitting everywhere as he tried to breathe. "M-married?! A little soon for that, wouldn't you say?"

"Not really," Ogata answered abruptly. Yashiro gaped at him, amazed that someone else could not only pinpoint their love but also be so adamant about an outcome.

"R-really? I kind of always hoped there would be wedding bells in the future, but Kyoko is much too young at the moment! She's only sixteen!"

"I suppose... But people can get married at her age."

"Just barely! And that's mainly in the case of a pr-"

The two were cut off by the footsteps of Ren and Kyoko. Ren led the way to the room, giving off a false relieved aura so as to comfort Kyoko. His eyes shed light on his true emotion: jealousy. His piercingly malicious eyes, burning with fury, threatened to kill anyone in his way. Kyoko followed with her head hung, smiling softly but worn out from the bowing and apologizing.

Flashback

"Ogata-san, could you give us a moment?" Ren asked smoothly as he moved toward the desk.

"O-of course!" he answered as he speedily shuffled out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Kyoko wouldn't move. Overwhelmed, she continued to crouch in fear and tremble like a mouse. No! No! No! No! Noooooo! What do I do?! I intended to apologize before I came here, but I was too busy avoiding him! I've just dug myself deeper into this pit! The air thickened, the mortifying silence like a death sentence to Kyoko.

The soft steps resumed, repeating every few seconds, as if they were a slowly ticking bomb. She mentally counted each monotonous click, trying to determine the time of her impending doom. Eventually, they stopped. She knew he was right behind her. She bit her lip and shuddered. Once more, she breathed deeply. Then she meekly turned around and bowed, her gaze meeting the floor.

"Tsuruga-san... I'm sorry... I LIED TO YOU!" she belted. Ren flinched in surprise, expecting a completely different conversation. "I wanted to use Shou's PV as a stepping stone," she confessed. "I didn't want you to be mad at me, so I said it wasn't for revenge. I'm sorry!"

After a moment of dead quiet, Kyoko peered up at Ren. He didn't seem to be angry or pleased; his face was like a stone. I guess I was naive to believe he'd forgive me, she thought sadly. What was I expecting anyway?

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Ren's voice broke the silence. "I already knew your initial motives, so why didn't you want me to know?"

Kyoko stumbled upon her words as she attempted to form an answer. "I... well... You... I-I didn't want to lose your trust!" she stammered. "If you were to hate me..."

"I'd never hate you," Ren interrupted. "You accomplished what you set out to do. The PV was a success, right? Then I believe you." He gently smiled at her. Kyoko couldn't stop the blush that covered her face. "Here," Ren offered his hand to her slowly, "we should be getting back soon." Kyoko tentatively allowed Ren to help her up, and the pair began the walk to the main room.

Present

"Ren! Kyoko!" Ogata shouted cheerfully at the sight of them. Kyoko immediately took off at that, remembering the details of her role. "Nooooo! Kyoko don't leave me! I can't lose both you and Tsuruga-san!" he cried.

"Who said anything about me leaving?" Ren questioned, his face softening to a gentlemanly glow. Kyoko stopped running to listen.

"President Takarada said it was okay?" Ogata asked hopefully.

Ren suddenly remembered parts of their conversation:

"Ren," Lory started, "I've noticed something about you lately."

Ren's face altered in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"The way you lose your composure, the constant alternation of fury and bliss in your eyes, even the depth your acting..."

"Huh?"

"You're deeply in love with Mogami-san," Takarada stated bluntly. Startled that he had been figured out, Ren snapped alert.

"H-how...?"

"I already told you. It's almost impossible to miss the signs by the way you act." Ren smiled softly. He himself had also begun to notice his erratic behavior. "If I were you, I would unleash some of my playboy charms and lure her into my arms," Lory said with a wink.

"P-President! Are you condoning a relationship between a high school student and a twenty-year-old man?"

"Age is just a number when you think about it," Lory assured. "Besides, it's only a four-year age gap."

"Still..."

"Ren, I'm telling you this for your own good. It's only a matter of time before someone breaks through her defenses and steals her away from you. Just keep that in mind. If you truly love her, use this time you have in the same production to get her to fall for you."

"Permission wasn't even what the conversation was about!" Ren conveyed.

"What was it about then?" Ogata wondered.

"...Nothing!" Ren yelled, a subtle blush washing over his face.

"Defensive much?" Yashiro asked rhetorically as he elbowed Ren in the arm.

Ren eyed his manager with an annoyed look and continued, "It doesn't matter what it was about. I have full support going into this drama, and that's all that matters."

Ogata's face softened in relief. "Let's make a Tsukigomori able to surpass the original," Ogata said, clasping Ren's hand. The three turned to Kyoko.

"C'mon," Ren urged and gestured to her with his open hand. She cautiously took it and joined hands with the others in preparation for the journey ahead.

A few weeks later

Filming for the now named "Dark Moon" had commenced. The schedule had been sped up drastically thanks to Ogata's urging, much to the other actors' and actresses' dismay. Everything was to be finished approximately one month prior to the original plan. Mio's scenes were to be out of the way in just under two months, meaning Kyoko probably wouldn't have to worry about being too big for everyone to notice. However, the set was already full of gossip and suspicion over the reasons for the schedule change.

"Why does Director Ogata bend to the desires of the Mio girl?"

"Rumor has it that she's sleeping with him."

"Whaaaaat?! No way! That doesn't fit either of their personalities at all!"

"I agree, she's really scary and he's too timid!"

"No, there's this other rumor that she threatened to leave the production and take Tsuruga-san with her."

"How did that boring girl captivate both of them?!"

"She probably just blackmailed them into doing her bidding."

"What a repulsive girl..."

It was just a little schedule change... I didn't mean to upset everyone... But that doesn't give them the right to try and belittle my acting ability! I've worked hard for this! They won't get me down!

Kyoko attempted to block out the constant rude remarks of the schoolgirls who were extras in the school scenes and several other actresses. More often than not, she would butt in, threats, curses, and shouts lashed in the girls' directions. She tuned her anger into her acting, partially fueling the bitter hatred in her Mio persona. Kyoko built a Mio with immense depth, her evil smile haunting, her short hair intriguing, and her emotional scar poignant. The previous actress who portrayed Mio was blown away, amazed at her dedication and version of Mio; she was one of the few actresses with a lesser role than Kyoko who condemned the rumors and cast them aside, knowing their untruthfulness.

"Cut! Great job, everyone! Please get ready for the next scene," Ogata directed cheerfully.

Kyoko bent down, panting quietly, as if trying to breathe.

Ogata's signature panic attack nearly kicked in. "Kyoko! What's wrong?"

"I'm fine, just a bit dizzy," she rasped.

"Do you need a break?" Ogata questioned, worried. "We have other scenes we can film."

"It's okay. I can manage," she said with a small grin. Her nausea had subsided several weeks ago, but now she was prone to occasional dizzy spells and shortness of breath.

"No really, it's alright. We need to get some other scenes out of the way at this site, too. Go rest a bit."

Her face brightened. "Thank you, director."

She quietly made her way away from all who were "secretly" talking about her and sat alone against a her secluded state, she whispered, "Hi, Corn. Thank you for the ability to keep my food down back, but I'd like it if I could consistently breathe without getting lightheaded." Her precious treasure's name had become an affectionate nickname for her baby. In his memory... In memory of such a beautiful fairy... By his power, you are no longer related to that monster. She took out the blue stone and pressed it to her belly soothingly. "Surely the fairy prince will grant you his magic through this." She smiled and closed her eyes, envisioning him standing beside her and her baby. "If only he was still in this world... Why is fate so cruel?!" she sobbed, her trademark bawling apparent as she rolled around the floor, occasionally slamming her fist into the ground in remorse. The habitual fit of violence slowly ended, and she resumed her conversation. "I love you, Corn," she intoned softly and fondly, referring both to her prince and the baby. She opened her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering as she blinked several times, some final tears leaking out and cascading down her face. As she regained her vision, she became aware of the presence in front of her: Ren Tsuruga, looking as if a bolt of lightning had struck him.

Dun dun dun haha

I'm sorry I'm terrible at suspense haha; it's not exactly my forte.

By the way, Corn/Kuon will not be the name, though I really like the idea. It'll just be a nickname.

Thanks for reading!