The short walk back to the hotel was done mostly in a comfortable silence, except for the sounds of nature that occasionally broke through. In the warmth of the early sun, the two lovers walked slowly across the open landscape. Each one engrossed in their own separate contemplation, though not alone with their own thoughts.

Kyoko's hands were firmly clasped in Ren's larger hand as he continued to lead her though the well-worn trodden path. His eyes occasionally glided over towards her to see if she had regretted what had just transpired between them.

The full knowledge of what Kyoko had done did not escape her as she hiked beside Ren. Despite wanting to start anew, she had not been successful in managing to break off her sexual relationship with Ren and worry began to set in as she realized this was not going to be an easy task.

As true as the bright light of the morning sun that was beating down upon them, she knew that she would be sacrificing not just her chance at experiencing real love but that she was also destroying Ren's persona just by remaining as his lover.

After all, she was still a nobody, in contrast to him being Japan's most popular actor. Even if he was attainable and available to love her as what she would want, she still felt that she was just not good enough for him and would likely negatively impact his reputation if she truly was his girlfriend.

More importantly, there was no way to deny the awful truth: Ren already had somebody he loved and he was still unwilling to be attached. If she continued in this relationship, there was a possibility she may end up wounded from an unrequired love. Swallowing back a wave of unease she felt over that revelation, Kyoko quickly dismissed the thought to the back of her mind. Being in love with Ren was a thought she would not entertain.

As they neared the ryokan, Kyoko began to feel more and more uncomfortable about letting Ren hold her hand. Pulling her hand out of his clasp, she fixed a forced smile to her lips while pretending that it was the most natural thing to do.

Ren saw her fake smile and recognized instantly that Kyoko was not comfortable with holding hands in public, not wanting to add stress to the current situation, he smile casually back down at her and let his hand fall limp to his side, showing her that he accepted and agreed with her actions.

Walking into the elegant entrance of the ryokan, Ren immediately spotted two men wearing large caps and strung around their necks were uncommonly large lens attached to their Nikon cameras. Each man had a smaller carrying case also slung around their necks, cases that looked to contain several different sized lenses that were commonly used by the paparazzi.

Realising that they might be just that and that because neither Kyoko nor he looked like how they normally would, they had not yet been recognized by them. Scrutinizing the two men, Ren was thankful that they were now walking out towards the opposite end of the hallway, oblivious to the disheveled appearance of himself and Kyoko.

Glancing down at Kyoko with her hair tossed wildly in disarray and skin still flushing noticeably red from the lovemaking and short nap in the sun that she had taken, Ren was glad that she wasn't easily recognizable.

While he was wearing a shirt that was conspicuously stained a dirty green from the moist grass where they had made love on, instead of the neat and immaculate attire that he commonly would have been wearing. So for now they were safe enough from being linked to their professional profiles.

However as he watched the two paparazzi circle around the entrance and were clearly lurking nearby for a glimpse of something they would deem photo worthy, he decided it was important to act cautiously. Taking a firm hold of Kyoko's elbow he led her directly in the opposite direction and continued to walk quickly around the corner of the hallway in a determined pace.

Unsure of why Ren was hurriedly ushering her though the entrance, Kyoko glanced at him in surprised and saw his intense expression before he nodded slightly towards the two men that were standing by the entrance with their profiles turned to her.

The corners of Ren's mouth were turned down and there was an obvious tightening at his lips which alerted her that he wanted her cooperation. The tight clasped of his hand on her elbow was indicative of the seriousness of his emotion and her pulse leapt in response.

She also instantly recognised that the emotion he was now transmitting was likely that of anger. This was clearly not something she had done but realizing that Ren was taking quick peeks at the two men, Kyoko was able to put two and two together and realised that whatever it was that had made Ren mad, it had something to do with those two strangers.

Keeping her eyes focused on him, she allowed herself to be pulled though the long hallway in a vice like grip that was filled with tension, while remaining calm and composed. Ren led her to a quiet sitting area that was tucked away and hidden out of view by several tall potted plants.

Lowering his head to her ears, he spoke quietly to her, "There are unwelcomed tabloid journalists that must have followed you here probably to write about your recovery. Before you return to the receptionist to check out, I think it would be best for us to separate at this point to avoid speculation. I do not think they noticed our entrance but we should keep them from realising who we are."

Nodding in agreement, Kyoko answered, "Yes. But how should we do this?"

"First, since you are already packed and ready to check out, why don't you continue with those plans and do so. I will then check out later in the day and shall come to meet up with you while we are back in Tokyo. We should have lots of privacy once we are back in the city. But Kyoko, remember I have something every important that I want to discuss with you." Ren stated in his no nonsense way.

Without hesitation, Kyoko nodded in agreement, though she tried, she couldn't contain her relived smile. She was glad that she didn't need to speak to Ren at the moment, as she was uncertain that she would be able to articulate what she knew she needed to relate to him.

While meeting him in Tokyo would give her a chance to sort out her feelings and find the right words to break off her sexual relationship with Ren. Time, it was what she needed to compose herself and being offered this reprieved from her circumstances was bringing respite to her already stressed spirit.

"I will be waiting for you in Tokyo then", Kyoko said as she let out a weary breath, while staring intently at his chest. She tried not to show any signs of her inner turmoil but her efforts were in vain as her small hands that were clenched tightly by her sides were giving her away.

Ren mistook her for being nervous, for he caught the shakiness in her voice along with her obvious body language. He slowly forced her chin up, staring intently into her warm eyes as he softly whispered, "Don't let them worry you, we'll work though all of this together."

Ren didn't want to release her; he was once again caught up in the amazing depth of her eyes. His thumb slowly brushed her pink lips, its sensual nature beckoned at him and he wanted to taste her mouth again. She was boldly looking back at him and her innocent yet seductive eyes were proving too much of a temptation to resist.

"Yes," Kyoko said, interrupting his thoughts.

"Yes, what?" Ren asked, trying to remember what they had been talking about as he spotted a small utility room several feet away and decided that he needed to feel her once more before he could part with her.

Drawing her with him, he shut them both into the small space and started to kiss her fervently within the dark confines. His heart was racing in his chest. The scent of her mixed in with the musky odor of grass still on her skin was so intoxicating, so incredibly alluring that his arousal was instantaneous.

Within the room, Kyoko could feel her pulse quicken from the heated touch of his mouth against hers. She recognized how quickly Ren's sexual appeal could break though all her restrains but was unable to resist his magnetism, as his strong arms drew her body tightly towards his. If it hadn't been for that then perhaps she wouldn't have felt an impatient urge to rotate her hips against his rising bulge that was growing hard against her.

Fire burned through them in the heated kiss that they exchanged in the small room, and with each kiss they shared it became harder and harder to separate. With desire peaking between them, Ren pinned Kyoko up against the adjacent wall.

His strong thigh brushed against hers seeking to be admitted between hers. His urgent hands caressed her hair, neck and clavicle before slipping under her blouse and bra towards her full breast.

Kyoko melted instantly against him, clinging tightly towards him as she kissed him back. She knew what she was doing was wrong and that it was creating a dangerous precedence between them.

But she was torn between desire and reason. While the touch of Ren's large hands cupping tightly on to her breast with his thumbs circling her nipples was quickly sending all reason out of her mind. Her senses were flooded with the feel of his hard body and craving demands.

"You drive me crazy." Ren whispered against her lips. His right hand reached down towards the hem of her skirt, moving between her legs to pull her underwear down over the curve of her hips.

"The way you smell, your softness and warmth makes me want you so much," he continued to say in between kisses. His hand slid between her thighs, and two long fingers inserted into her tight walls. While his thumb rotated around the small bud above her folds, making her dissolve into bliss.

"You're so wet, you feel so good," he breathed against her lips. His long fingers began to slowly plunge in and out of her. Kyoko whispered his name in response to the mounting climax he was building her up to. Her hips swayed against his probing fingers while her breast was held tightly in his other hand.

"I just want to be inside you always," he boldly stated as he claimed her lips in another heated kiss. Kyoko was burning up over his provocative confessions, while Ren would not stop his invasion. Soon she was shuddering and spasming against his fingers, lost to the pleasure coursing through her.

Kyoko moaned softly into Ren's mouth. The erotic sound of her climax nearly drove Ren mad with desire but clinging onto his last ounce of common sense, he reluctantly ended his assault. His hands abruptly released her as he pulled away from her warm body.

"We can't do any more than this here and now," he uttered in a ragged whisper, his own body rigid with desire.

Unfortunately, Kyoko was still too transfixed in the web of passion to be able to comprehend what was now transpiring. The knowledge brought a smile to Ren as he straighten her blouse, pulled back up her underwear and whispered, "I'll be waiting in Tokyo for you."

His promise penetrated Kyoko's passion dazed mind like a dousing of cold water. Sucking in a breath, her eyes widen in the dark and she instinctively took a step back. But her reaction was lost on Ren as he was already reaching for the door and looking out the small crack.

As Ren stepped out, he looked both ways before he reached in towards her and pulled her out as well. Giving her a gentle shove towards the front entrance, he watched as she started to walk shakily away before he spun on his own heel and walked in the opposite direction.

Kyoko did not expect the next few days of recovery to go well; in fact, she was surprised that the busy couple at the Darumaya had been so kind to her. They had even taken her under their wings, as they allowed her to sleep in and hardly bothered her while she rested peacefully in her room.

Even Mouko-san had visited her several times in the past few days and after verifying that Kyoko was recovering smoothly and without any repercussions from her accident, had also been placated enough to leave Kyoko alone to recover in peace.

Although flowers, get-well-cards and the occasional gift continued to pour in, Kyoko was not subjected to many distractions and therefore had plenty of time to heal in the peaceful sanctuary of her room.

In fact, everyone who had known about her return from Kyoto had been kind enough to not trouble Kyoko excessively by allowing her to rest quietly alone. That is everyone except Ren.

He continued to call her nightly to check on her status and although his phone calls were brief, they left a lasting and disconcerting impression on Kyoko which often left her fearing the upcoming confrontation she would have with him.

Although he had even asked her out to lunch or dinner during several of those calls, Kyoko would evade his invitations by coming up with a suitable excuse that would not permit them to meet up.

Deep down inside, she already knew without a doubt that if it weren't for her acting classes and the fact that she tried to keep the calls short, Ren would be able to see through her pretense. Thus, she had no intention of meeting up with him until she was certain she could withstand his appeal.

This was the only way Kyoko felt safe from the draw of Ren's sexual magnetism. She hadn't yet worked up to the prospect of breaking up her sexual relationship with him but knew that as she was growing stronger and feeling more fit every day, the time will come for them to have "that" discussion.

Although Kyoko remembered that Ren had also mentioned that he had something he wanted to say to her, she was not overly concern about what it was, as it likely had to do with how guilty he had been feeling about having inadvertently caused the accident.

Sighing against the glass panels of her window, Kyoko looked out into the empty streets and up into the star filled night. Her thoughts had drifted to the busy day she had planned for tomorrow.

She was to start filming as Natsu in Box-R again and although she was excited to get back to work, she was dreading leaving the sanctuary of her room and facing the world that would be watching her.

A soft buzz startled her out of her thoughts as she looked towards the source of the interruption. On the small table which she used as her desk, her phone was indicating a caller. Reaching towards the phone, Kyoko hesitated a brief moment before answering it.

"Hello," Kyoko answered.

"Good evening, Kyoko. It's me." Ren's familiar and husky voice replied.

"Ah, Ren. Good evening," Kyoko replied, forcing herself to ignore the sexiness of his deep tone.

"Am I calling too late?" He asked.

"No, its fine," she answered constraining her voice to a mild calmness. She was unwilling to let him know of the quickening within her chest at the impact of the sound of his velvety voice.

"I see, that's good. I wanted to see how you were doing? Are you prepared for tomorrow?" he asked in mild concern.

"Eh prepared? Oh! Yes, prepared, yes about that... I am looking forward towards it," she answered with a tinged of nervousness in her voice.

"I'm glad to hear that but I wanted to caution you not to overextend yourself on your first day back on the set. Don't do anything too much and try to ease back slowly." He sternly cautioned.

Kyoko's mind had hardly registered what he had said as she tried to stay focus on his words but the dark night along with the ruggedly deep sound of his voice on the other end of the phone was having a hypnotic effort on her.

"Kyoko?" Ren asked, as his strong voice broke through her senses.

"Got it, I'll be sure to remember that." Kyoko answered, unsure of what he had just said.

"Also Kyoko, after your filming would you be able to meet up with me? There is something that has been on my mind that I would like to address with you." Ren asked.

"Umm, after the filming I might have to stay behind to discuss a few things with the director and …it might take a while." Kyoko stated, her mind screaming against the possibility of seeing him so soon.

"That is fine with me, I am willing to come pick you up when you are done. Maybe we should have dinner together," Ren persisted.

"Well if you are fine with the late hour, then yes." She answered, though not willingly.

"Great, then I will come pick you up. Good luck with your first day back. Get some rest tonight," Ren stated, satisfied that he would get to see her tomorrow.

"Thank you. Goodnight," Kyoko answered softly, her heart was beating in protest at having to meet him tomorrow.

"Goodnight"

While still holding tightly to the phone, Ren sat motionless on his couch. His focus was suddenly drawn to his television and to a denim commercial that had just began. His eyes had gone dark with disillusion; it felt like all of his energy had left his body as he watched the sexual scene unfold before him.

Kyoko was breath-takingly beautiful; her eyes were tightly closed in raptured sexuality as she slid over the male model framing her. A cold chill ran down Ren's spine as he forced himself to finish the commercial.

Seeing her together with another man was bringing a rush of dread to his being. His mind protested loudly over her body as it pressed along the contours of the male model. He went rigid with fury but still he looked on as the couple kissed enticingly in the commercial.

His mood was blackened by the time the commercial was over but the vision of her in the arms of another man kept playing over and over within his mind. Never had he felt so overwhelmed by helplessness and jealousy. Standing up he turned off the television and hurled the offensive remote control at the couch as he headed to his bedroom to shower.

A cold shower was just what he needed to clear his mind. He had always been able to separate what was professional from what was personal. But Kyoko was affecting his every thought and even his every action was becoming dangerously unreasonable.

As much as he loved her, he did not want to be a hindrance to her career, especially since he knew how much it meant to her. Determined to control himself he turned on the cold water of his shower and after stripping, stepped under the water stream. Allowing the freezing jets of water to numb his mind and welcoming it when it happened.

Though the filming had progressed without any incident, Kyoko was a bag of nervous energy the entire day. Each hour that passed brought her closer and closer to the time where she would have to separate from Ren and was building more and more tension within the weary actress.

By the time she stepped out of the studio and onto the parking lot to where she was expecting Ren to pick her up, she was in a flighty mood. Her stomach twisted in knots and had he not been there already waiting for her, she would have made her escape.

Instead, her legs felt heavy as she walked reluctantly towards him. Forcing a bland smile to her face, she bravely opened his car door and slipped into the passenger side of his car.

"Good evening," She greeted him, her nervous energy emitted clearly through her shaky voice.

"Good evening," he smiled back. Ren's own heart was racing against his chest; he had spotted Kyoko in the distance and had been held captive immediately by her beauty.

Wearing a blue body hugging dress that ended at her mid-thigh, her shapely legs were shown at their best and were fast becoming one of the reasons that Ren couldn't keep his eyes off of her. He had been watching the gentle sway of her hips as she walked over towards him and his mind had been entranced by her innocent allure.

She had her normally wavy hair combed backed and styled elegantly behind her ears. The bright sunlight brought out yellow flakes in her golden eyes as she lifted her eyes up to meet him. Her lips were tinged with a pale pink gloss that drew Ren's eyes to them, while a healthy flush stained her luminance skin. Everything about her was so appealingly feminine and attractive to him.

Smiling tenderly down at her, Ren waited for her to fastened her seat beat before he took off, turning his car onto the main road. As he engaged his car though the busy evening traffic, his eyes slid over her and he noticed the tension that she was apparently discharging.

"How was your first day back?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"Good, everything went smoothly." She countered as she fixed her eyes straight ahead, staring into the traffic in a rigid stance.

"How are you feeling?" Ren continued, not convinced that she wasn't feeling well.

Kyoko swallowed a dry lump in her throat as she answered, "I'm feeling very well thank you"

Her formality and the way she was answering him was beginning to alert Ren that something was bothering Kyoko. "Yes, you look very well. But are you back to your 100%, do you have any lingering side effects from your injuries?" he asked.

Kyoko ignored the anxiety in his voice. Her own mind raced for a plausible excuse to side track his mounting suspicion over the tension that she was incapable of hiding from his knowing eyes.

"The entire crew had spent the day catering and pampering me, so I have been feeling overwhelmed by all their attention. I don't remember ever having so much attention focused on me and was feeling very self-conscious the entire day."

"Self-conscious?" Ren asked, smiling over the sincerity in her voice.

"Yes, I was so unused to all the excessive attention that there were times when I felt like no one would believe that I was even capable of standing up without help." Kyoko answered too enthusiastically, getting caught up in her own fabrication while unknowingly her small hands twisted into fists over her lap.

She had decided not to feel guilty about misleading Ren as her motives were pure. She also already knew that in a little while, he would be unhappy enough about what would happen between them.

And although she knew it would be difficult she was undaunted in her mindset. This wasn't something she could take lightly as she knew the consequences that would play out should she continue to weaver any longer.

"That sounds like they were indeed very concerned over you. Tell me more of what happened." Ren persisted; his hands began clenching tightly onto the stirring wheel.

He knew something was bothering Kyoko but whatever it was, she wasn't going to tell him. And that revelation was beginning to bring chaos to his mind, filling his being with insecurity.

"How did the rest of your day go?" he asked forcing his voice to be mild.

"The filming finished on time and I had no NGs today but there were a lot of changes to the script throughout the day. With all these changes, several actors had to retake scenes and that made a few of them upset. So even though everyone was being very nice, I felt responsible for the inconvenience and disturbance for the shoot."

Kyoko's reasoning was convincing and logical for it clarified why she was tense and made excellent sense. It explained why her hands were tightly fisted on her lap and the overly brightness sparkling in her eyes. But Ren wasn't convinced by her act, not even for a minute.

Pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant, Ren let out a silent sigh. He accepted the fact that Kyoko did not trust him completely with the truth and that it was likely to do with his own behavior as Kuon. He knew it was something he would have to rebuild with her should she allow him to do so.

Walking into the restaurant, Ren requested a private table for their evening meal and was accommodated when they were led to a quiet and empty section along the side of the restaurant. They were the only people seated in that section and the exclusivity of the area boded well with them.

After glancing over the menu selections and confirming with Kyoko what she wanted, Ren ordered for them, before turning his full attention on the stricken face of the young beauty sitting across from him.

"Now will you tell me what's wrong?" He silently asked Kyoko and there was no mistake in the intensity of his look as he stared into her worried filled eyes.

Kyoko's stomach lurched uneasily at the task at hand. Though she had been trying to mentally brace herself for what needed to transpire, she nodded slowly, unable to think of what to say.

Reaching across the table for her hands Ren clasped them in his larger ones, encouraging her with a gentle smile.

Kyoko felt like she was dying inside as she looked up into his eyes and taking a deep breath, she achingly said, "Ren, I want to thank you for all the times you have been there for me. Not just as my senpai but as my lover. I know that this hasn't been fair to you but I must ask that you and I stop seeing each other as lovers. I think it is better if we went back to being just senpai and kohai instead."

Ren's body stiffened in reaction to her words. His heart slammed painfully against his ribs at the finality of what she was implying penetrated his mind.

Swallowing a painful lump in his throat, he wavered for a slight second, releasing his hold on her hands before he asked with a sardonic twist of his lips, "Is this what you really want?"

"I believe this is what is best for us…for you and me in the long run…" Kyoko's voice trailed off as she focused on what the future held for the both of them. But in the back of her mind she could not shed the doubt that was creeping into her, over the loss of what they both had.

She watched his shoulder stiffen over her words as if bracing against the impact of her words. He didn't move his eyes from hers, scrutinizing her every feature as he waited in silence for her to continue.

"I want for us to remain as senpai and kohai," she finished softy.

Ren drew in a hurting breath, turning his eyes away from hers as he looked into the empty surrounding and smiled sadly, "Senpai and kohai, that is really the only thing you want from me anymore?" his voice was rough, stinging with emotion.

Nodding because she was unable to speak against the sudden pain that was piercing her own heart, Kyoko could almost believe that Ren was also feeling a similar loss over what must transpire.

Looking up to prevent the tears from notably glistening her eyes, she struggled for a few seconds before she was calm enough to say, "Yes, that is really what I want."

A muscle in the side of Ren's mouth twitched as if he was about to say something but looking back at Kyoko's determined face, he nodded instead. He knew instinctively that she had made up her mind and there was nothing he could do to change it.

A/N: Hi everyone, hoped you liked this chapter! I took a lot of your suggestions into consideration as I wrote this chapter. One of which was having him watch her denim commercial.

Thanks for your reviews! Please continue to R & R.