Chapter 36

It is time once again for Tragic Maker to pick up shooting. When they arrived on the set, everything looked exactly the same as before. BJ's fall wasn't recorded fully, so it still needed to be done... But not by Cain, Setsu thought happily. Of course the set was cleaned up and this time there was a marker where Murasame had to lay down to make the stunt safer. Everyone was understanding of Cain's extended absence, including Murasame. He was actually one of the first to come up and talk to them.

"Go away!" Setsu snapped at him angrily. Setsu had every right to be thoroughly pissed off at this man. First he continuously hit on her, then insults her brother time and time again, calls her a family whore and then almost KILLS Cain! This guy deserved so much more than her anger, like a bullet in his brain or a nicely placed knife in his chest.

"Wait, could I talk to you for just a moment," Murasame pleaded. Both the Heels turned to him with intolerant glares, but that was their way of letting him talk. He took what he could.

"I know we aren't on the best of terms," he started, and Setsu snorted. He glared at them as he continued, "But I would never go as far as to hurt you in a cheap stunt like that. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have kicked your ass in an honorable fight."

"Like you would stand a chance against my brother!" Setsu yelled out angrily. "You did that because he punched you. Instead of taking it like a man, you schemed this stupid plan to..." Cain placed his hand on her shoulder stopping her words. He shook his head making her frown. Cain looked over at Murasame and nodded once.

"You forgave him! What the hell, Nii-san?" She cried outraged as Cain lead her to their dressing room.

"Kyoko, calm down," he said softly the moment the doors shut behind them. Unfortunately, Kyoko was actually upset at Murasame for hurting Kuon and while her language was toned down, her outrage wasn't.

"Really, how could you forgive someone that made such a huge mistake, taking you out of the field for three weeks? I don't care if he did apologize. That really wasn't an apology either! Talking about an "honorable fight". What is that? He was completely unprofessional, through this whole shoot, he's been unprofessional. He was so angry about the punch you gave him that he wasn't paying attention, he didn't focus and position himself correctly, and you got hurt!"

Cain turned towards Kyoko thinking it was still Setsu, but saw the tears forming in her eyes as she radiated with rage. He stepped up to her and placed his hand on her head. She looked up at him and closed her eyes forcing a tear to fall down her cheek.

"Sorry," she mumbled and took a few steps away from him. She rubbed her eyes with her back to him, embarrassed that she slipped out of character - again. This whole movie was nothing but a huge reality check for her. She kept going out of character with all the complications of their secret relationship, while Kuon was perfect with Ren, Cain and BJ.

Kuon frowned not understanding what had her so upset. He stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Why are you sorry?" he whispered softly into her ear. She sighed and placed her hands on his forearms, wanting that touch for comfort and strength.

"I'm really no better than Murasame-san. I keep letting my personal feelings affect my acting. Plus, you were the one he hurt, not me, so I should have no reason to be angry. Especially since you forgave him," she stated ashamed.

Kuon smiled softly behind her and gave her a little hug. "Would it be bad to say that I liked that you were angry about it?"

Kyoko twisted to look at his face, so he loosened his arms to allow it. "You do?"

"Yeah," he said with a little nod. "It makes me feel... important to you." His words made Kyoko blush a fiery burnt red.

"You are," she told him softly. She couldn't look up at him, but she turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist. She nuzzled her face against his chest and sighed. "You are important to me, that's why I'm very happy that you aren't doing the stunt."

Kuon stiffened, and Kyoko felt it.

"You're not, right?" she asked seriously. Kuon couldn't look at her. He licked his lips and pulled her arms from around him.

"Kyoko, I do all my own stunts. I can't let someone else do this one because of one accident," he explained.

"YES," she barked, taking a step back to yell at him. "Yes, you can! It's very easy to do. You sit there and let the stunt double do it for you. It was something that you should have done for Dark Moon, and you HAVE to do it now."

Now Kuon was getting angry. "I'm doing the stun. It's not nearly as dangerous as the car chase, nor was it as dangerous as half the things I did when I was younger. I told you that doing these things were nothing compared to my life before. You need to stop overreacting," he yelled back at her.

"I don't care! I don't care how hard you had it before, or all the things that could have happened to you in the past. I'm scared about the future," she shouted, and he could tell she was starting to cry. "Doctor Ishida hasn't cleared you for stunts, especially this stunt. You can't do this!"

"You can't stop me!" He bellowed making her flinch.

"The director can," she grumbled and stormed out of the dressing room. Kuon sighed as all his anger left him the moment she left. That didn't go well. With the way she fussed about him, he was worried about today. He knew she would have trouble accepting his decision, but to yell at her. That wasn't part of the plan, but with her knowing who he was, and Kuon being freed so much more now, it was harder being Ren and so easy to be himself. Himself being one that didn't like taking orders, mainly ones that said he can't do something.

He got dressed as BJ while she was out. She didn't come back right away, so he was a little concerned that the Director would believe her. He had to do this stunt, it was part of his reputation, so he rushed. He got dressed and into character as fast as he could to make sure that they didn't make any hasty decisions without him. As he feared, the director came up to him in concern while Setsu followed with a little celebratory smirk.

"Heel-san, are you sure you are able bodied to do this stunt?" Konoe asked, "While I appreciate the effort and determination you are displaying to do it yourself. It really isn't necessary. Your health is more important than the film."

Setsu moved to stand next to Cain as the director spoke in Japanese. Since Cain wasn't supposed to know the language Setsu did translate in English, "He says you can't do it. They will call in the stunt double while you take it easy, and then call you in when they need you."

Cain narrowed his eyes at his little sister and glared at her. They both knew what the director had said, yet she still has the audacity to lie. It was actually very Setsuka, but no matter how much she disliked it, he was doing the scene. Instead of talking to her, he spoke to the director in Japanese.

"I'm fine. Let's do it." Simple and to the point. Very Cain.

"WHAT? NO!" Setsu screamed, her voice echoing in the studio.

Konoe licked his lips and nervously looked from the little sister and him. "Are you sure?" he asked again, and Cain simply nodded.

"Alright then," Konoe surrendered and turned to announce the start of the scene.

"WAIT! STOP!" Setsu yelled out and ran in front of Cain. "Please, please don't do this, nii-san."

"You're being annoying, Setsu," he threatened and started to move to the stage. Kyoko grabbed his tattered trench coat and held on with all her might to stop him.

"Don't, please don't," she begged making him turn towards her. He saw Kyoko looking up at him with tear filled eyes and sighed. He turned to the director and everyone else staring at them and lifted up a finger to say he needed a minute. Director Konoe nodded, and Cain escorted the weeping Setsu back to their dressing room. During the whole walk over, she didn't let go of his jacket, nor when they entered the room. He turned towards her making the jacket pull around him uncomfortably. Kuon very gently placed his hand and over hers and forced her to let go.

"Kyoko, please stop this. I know Setsuka would be worried about her brother getting hurt again, but you are taking this too far. We need to film the scene, and we've wasted a lot of time as it is. When we go back out there, you can cry or pout, but you need to let the film continue without interruption," he scolded her, which would have normally worked. In reality, he should have realized that this was more serious then anything he's seen before. Before him, Kyoko was terrified and unyieldingly so.

"No," she sobbed. "No," she said as she shook her head, over and over again. Tears started running down her face as she took a step towards him, then another until finally she pressed her body against his, crying into his chest. "Please, don't do the stunt. I couldn't take it if you got hurt again," Kyoko pleaded as her hands clung to anything she could grab, which were the ripped up remains of BJ's shirt.

"Kyoko, nothing is going to happen. Everyone is so stunned by it last time that no one is going to let anything happen this time. You have my word that we will be going home safe and sound together," Kuon tried to reason with her, to calm her down enough to let him go, but it didn't work.

"You promise? You already promised me that you wouldn't get hurt, and you did! You don't know if you will or won't. You don't understand what I went through. I heard it the moment your head hit the frame. I can still hear the sound it made. It was like a crack of thunder. It was so loud, and then your body felt limp and slammed into the ground. Even with the padding it looked like it hurt. When I ran up to you..." her voice cracked as she cried.

"There was so much blood. I thought you died." Her hands started clawing at him, as if trying to gather him up in her hand. Her arms found their way around him and she hugged him as if he would run if she let go.

"I thought you died, Kuon," she repeated softly against his chest. Kuon didn't think about how much this could have affected her. Even if she plays the tough girl, she's never been around so much violence and to see someone she knew get into such a gory accident... he should have been more understanding. He returned her hug and held her gently, patiently as she cried. His heart was beating steadily in her ear as he gently stroked her hair till she moved. He thought that she was done. Now that Kyoko voiced her fears, she would be ready to let him go, but he was wrong. Kyoko pulled away and then went to her knees and bowed down low on the ground.

"I will do anything, anything you ask of me if you forgo this stunt," she begged, her voice muffled by the ground.

"Kyoko, don't," he knelt down and started to lift her up.

"What can I do? What will it take? Please tell me," she pressed him making him frown confused.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you..."

"I can't lose you," she said quietly. "I can live my life with you as my friend. As long as you are there as my friend, I'll be fine, but I won't be if you die." Her tears started up again. "I can live my life as long as you are alive and happy, and I can talk to you. I need you to stay with me even if it's just a friend."

Kuon heard every word she said, but he refused to believe it. Her words and actions was like something out of a drama, and those words would be tied to love, an unrequited love to be exact; however, that couldn't be right. He was in love with her, not the other way around. She wasn't looking at him, and he desperately wanted her to. He took her face between his hands and gently pulled her face up towards his.

"Kyoko, what are you trying to say?" he asked softly, hopefully.

"I don't want you to do the stunt," she said again, and he shook his head.

"Tell me why?" he asked again eagerly.

"Because I don't want you to get hurt again," she kept dodging making him growl in frustration. He pressed his lips together as he looked at her face. She was crying so much, the meaning behind her words, the look on her face and torment in her eyes all were screaming that Kyoko loved him, yet she wouldn't say the words. Was it all in his imagination? Was she truly simply concerned about her friend getting hurt again? Kuon wanted to believe it was more. All the meals, the games, the warmth and comfort, her acceptance of him and his past, the laughter and tears they shared. It had to be more.

He kissed her.

Kuon kissed her with every single ounce of feeling that he had for her, the longing, the lust, the jealousy and all the love that he wanted to shower upon her. He put it all in his arms that held her, his heart that pounded in his chest and his lips that pressed against hers passionately. She whimpered, and he felt her body get weak, and his arms were more then willing to accommodate. A fraction of a second into the kiss, he felt her respond, her jaw moved and her lips moved to kiss his, and then she broke it.

Kyoko gasped and pushed Kuon away. The salt of her tears melded with the taste of his lips. She was breathing heavily and trying to regain her composure, slow her heart and trying to think again when he pulled her back in and kissed her again. This time she moaned and opened her mouth to receive the tip of his tongue. As always, her knees went weak and her stomach started fluttering with the humming from her heart. Her hand skimmed over his chest and slid around his neck to sink into his hair. Kuon groaned as her nails scratched the base of his skull, and she pulled his hair to break the kiss again.

"Please stop. I can't stop myself when you kiss me," she whispered as her fingers loosen their hold from his hair.

"From what?" he whispered against her lips.

"From loving you," Kyoko said with a strained voice. She hiccuped as she started to cry again. "I fell in love with you," she confessed. Her arms started to retract, and she shoved them between their chest; however, Kuon was not letting her go.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered as she wept into her hands. Kuon really didn't know if he should be happy or upset. Happy because she loved him. She said she loved him and yet here she is... apologizing for it. He didn't say anything as he wanted to do so much all at once, so he did the one thing he wanted most. He kissed her again, rejoicing with passion.

Kyoko gave in this time. Her heart didn't have the will stop him a third time in a row. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him back. The need and desperation to have him like this forever and knowing that he was what? Teasing her? He was probably trying to get her to stop crying and let him do the stunt. It didn't matter anymore. She was tired. Tired of fighting her emotions, of hiding her heart's desires. She was in love, and the man she was in love with was kissing her. Why fight it?

It felt like centuries had passed with them in a lip lock when it was only seconds. He pulled back, leaving her in a melted puddle of blushing flesh. She panted softly, her lips a beautiful wet red, with her grey eyes heavy lidded. Kuon didn't want to leave, but was now more then eager to get today done and back into Kyoko's arms.

"Kyoko, do you trust me?" He asked making her blink in confusion. She licked her lips as she thought about, making him want to kiss her again. Finally, she nodded.

"I'm going to do the stunt," he said and her fists tightened at his shoulders. "I will not let anything happen, do you know why?"

She shook her head.

Kuon smiled and replied, "Because I love you, and nothing is going to take me away from you. Not ever and especially not now. Now that I know that you love me back." He laughed as he said those last few words. He was so deliriously happy, that he couldn't help it. He said it again, "You love me." He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"Trust me, I want to spend the rest of my life with you in my arms. I'm not letting a stupid stunt ruin that," he repeated and watched her. She nodded slowly still in a daze, and he pulled her up for another hug. He felt her shaking, her arms around his neck and her whole body against his, everything was trembling, but she agreed.

"I won't forgive you if you break that promise," she whispered as she gently let him go. "I'll never forgive you," she threatened. Kuon smiled and stood them both up. He took her hand and started heading towards the door, but she froze to her spot.

"I can't. I can't watch that again without remembering," she confessed softly. Kuon turned to her and wiped away stray tears.

"Can you really stay in here and not watch? I need you, Kyoko. I need you there watching, so I can fly," he said with a smile. Kyoko's bright eyes flickered up to him. "I can't fly without you," he whispered and kissed her softly. Her eyes fluttered closed at the tender touch. When he pulled back, she nodded again.

Kuon had to shut down and allow Cain to take over, while Kyoko could stay herself since Setsu and her shared the same emotions about this. Cain walked his little sister to where the cameras were set up. He made her stand front and center next to them. Everyone watched the two siblings in awe or curiosity as Cain leaned down and whispered something to her. Setsu nodded but sobbed softly. Everyone could see that she had been crying but her big brother won. He turned towards the director, nodded once and started walking to the set.

"Places everyone," Director Konoe said, and Kyoko collapsed. She sunk down, crouched on the ground holding her knees and crying softly as everyone started moving. She felt someone approach her, so she looked up. Konoe squatted down in front of her with a tissue.

"He will be fine," he assured her. She took the tissue and nodded.

"I know," she tried to sound strong but knew she failed miserably. He smiled softly and couldn't help but think what a brilliant actress she was. To have such strong emotion for a character that wasn't on film. She was a Class A actress with a world class work ethic. He would definitely love to work with her for real.

Cain followed Murasame up the ladder to the staged rooftop. When he saw Murasame, he was looking down at Setsuka huddled up, trying to control her crying.

"Are you sure she's okay with this?" Murasame asked with a worried frown.

"I told you not to look at her," Cain reminded him. "And she'll be fine after this is done. We'll be fine after all this is done," he said softly making Murasame look at him curiously. Cain felt his eyes on him and turned a glare at him. "So don't fuck up this time, and let's get this shit over with."

"Hey, I don't fuck up," Murasame growled back and poked Cain's chest for emphasis.

Cain grabbed his hand and twisted his arm away from him. "Tell that to my head," he barked back and pushed the other man away. Murasame couldn't help it. As soon as he heard Cain say that, he busted out with a loud burst of laughter. Cain glared at the lunatic but made no move to stop his laughter. Murasame took a deep breath to calm his funny bone down and started to lay down in position.

"Alright, let's do this in one shot, that way you can get back to Kyoko," he said making Cain snap over to him with wide eyes. "Oh, I mean Setsuka. Sorry, I must be thinking of another girl." Cain stepped over him and lifted him by his shirt alone.

"How do you know that name?" He asked in a voice worthy of a death god. Murasame actually paled, and he held his hands up in surrender.

"I heard you say it in the dressing room. They asked me to go find out what's going on, again. You know how everyone is a wuss around you. I heard you call her Kyoko. I bet she isn't your sister. I also bet that your real name isn't Heel Cain," he spoke like a reporter with a hot tip. It made Kuon go on edge.

"It's a stage name, and I told you before. It doesn't matter if she is my sister or not, don't go near her, she's mine," Cain snarled and let him go with a little more force then necessary. Murasame huffed and coughed a little.

"Yeah, you love her. She's untouchable. I get it. I know nothing," Murasame clarified as he took Cain's trench into his hands and his foot into Cain's stomach.

"Make sure you keep it that way," Cain scowled, and they began.

Setsu couldn't look. She couldn't. She took a deep breath and counted to ten... then twenty... okay a hundred. Every time she got the courage to look, all she saw was the scene from before. His unconscious body and blood, blood everywhere.

"ACTION!" Konoe yelled out making her flinch. She moved her head up and watched.

Kouji flipped BJ off of him and over the ledge with every last bit of self preservation he had in him. The moment he did, another shot sounded and this time, Amazume did not miss. BJ was out of his sight and Kouji scrambled to watch him fall. He moved to the ledge and looked down, finding the killers body broken at the alley below. Suddenly, all of his adrenaline left him and Kouji started to shake and breath loudly. His body screamed in pain as every single wound he had to take came back full force, reminding him that he was badly injured.

There were approaching footsteps and flash lights. He heard his father's voice and he called out to them, "HERE! I'm over here!" He waved his good arm and then collapsed as they found him.

"Where is he?" His father asked and Kouji pointed behind him.

"The floor of the alley. He fell from four stories and was shot, but I don't know where," Kouji told him with a very weak voice.

"Alright, I'll get my men to look for his body, and we'll get you some help. You did real good, son," Sousuke smiled to his son.

Kyoko couldn't pay attention to the scene. She knew the lines, knew what was going to happen, but her mind was on one thing. Her eyes followed Kuon's body as it flew in a perfect arch from high above. She held her breath from the moment he cleared the building, and he started to fall. When his body hit the mat, she jumped up from her spot and took a single step towards him. The déjà vu of the scene made her see the accident all over again.

He's not moving! He's not moving! You promised. Move! You promised me forever, Kuon. She ranted in her head as she started to move towards the set. Everyone was too focused on the scene to notice her creeping forward. She saw the edges of the camera in her peripheral vision and forced herself to stop. I can't ruin the scene. Don't ruin the scene, Kyoko.

Kyoko wrapped her arms around herself as if she was cold. Truthfully, she was cold. She felt cold and fragile. Her eyes blurred forcing her to blink away the tears as she watched him. She didn't want to miss this. The moment that he moved, breathed anything, she had to see it. He was so still. Why isn't he breathing? She heard Kouji yell out his line, and Kyoko's heart sped up. The cameras were officially off of Cain, so that means he can move right? Her eyes never wavered off of him, and she willed him to move.

Kuon wanted to move. He could feel her watching him with an intense gaze. He wanted to let her know that he was fine, but he couldn't. He doubt that she wouldn't be able to handle it if he had to do this again. They had to do this in one shot. He believed that she would rather suffer a little longer then try and deal with him doing the stunt again. Plus, he really did want this over with. This scene right here had to be the most difficult thing he has ever done in his entire career, and it was by far the simplest. Lie there and pretend to be dead. How could anyone lay still like this after hearing the love confession from the girl of their dreams? His whole body was rushing with adrenaline. He wanted to burst up and celebrate, but instead he had to play dead. What luck.

"Cut!" Konoe yelled out after several thousand centuries, and Kyoko ran to the set. Before Kuon could sit up, she was at his side fretting over him.

"Cain, are you okay? Are you hurt? Where are you? What's today?" She asked stupid questions, things that everyone should know and things that he could answer without giving away anything vital. Her hand hovered over his body, looking for anything that looked wrong, bones sticking out, a spot of blood on the green screen, anything. Everyone knew he was fine but her, so they let them be alone. Kuon smiled up at her with BJ's blood shot eyes and messy hair.

"I'm fine. I'm not hurt," he said softly as he sat up. He took her hands in his and pressed it against his chest over his heart. "See. I'm still here with you as I promised," Kuon whispered. Kyoko started crying all over again though it was lightly tinted with laughter. She leaned forward, her hands gliding up his chest and around his neck. She buried her face between her arm and his head and wept in relief and happiness.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered in a strained voice.

He turned his face towards her and kissed her temple softly. "I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to me, to us. For this is the first day of the rest of our lives together. I'm not about to let a moment of that go."

Kyoko pulled back blinking at him confused. Now that the danger was over, the conversation they had in the dressing room all came flooding back and her heart was about to burst out of her chest and run for the hills. I confessed. I told him I loved him.

And he told you he loved you back, her heart reminded her but her mind was having trouble keeping up.

"You can't do that," Kuon told her making her even more confused, so he clarified, "I know that look. No matter what you say or do to try and take back those words, I won't believe you. You can't take back what you said. Besides," his voice went deep and Kyoko's eyes widened as he looked at her with that Emperor's look. "I know how to make you fall in love with me," he leaned in to kiss her again, and she turned away hiding her face behind her hands.

"That doesn't work when you look like a creepy serial killer!" She exclaimed making him laugh loudly.

"Heel-san," Director Konoe called out to him. Back to work then. Kuon focused on Cain, and he ruffled his little sister's hair.

"Hey, get this thing off of me, will ya?" Cain demanded as his hands started to take off the safety harness from around his waist. Kyoko blinked and then quickly nodded. She frowned as he fidget around.

"Hold still, Nii-san," Setsu ordered. Yes, back to work.