Chapter 37

He'd been thoroughly humiliated by her, and Aki would not loosen her hold on him. She was now acting more like his parents than his sexy manager. She refused to get him a new suite, with the excuse that there were no others available. So now here he was, with his room just down the hall from Setsuka Heel, after he'd heard that her filming was done, and that pretty boy Tsuruga was there all of the damn time, and no one was saying a word about it. He had to admit that the staff at the resort was pretty tight-lipped when it came to their guests, but didn't they have a problem with a 20 year-old dating a 16 year-old?

The thing about the Karuizawa resort was, that a couple like Setsuka Heel and Ren Tsuruga wasn't all that uncommon. Times change, and the staff and locals weren't really all that shocked by something like the pair being together. Not only that, it wasn't like they were being inappropriate about anything that they did: walks in the park, picnics in the meadow, and shopping.

Now one would think with her upbringing that Setsuka wouldn't think much on the money spent, but she would definitely be considered somewhat frugal when it came to spending. Sometimes even to the point of haggling with a shopkeeper or two, which would result in a chuckle from Kuon and a pout from the teasing, but she would always seem to come out of the shops with more than what one would suspect. In that aspect, she somewhat reminded him of his mother Juli Hizuri.

At one point they did notice that they had a nosy tail. Kuon leaned to her as they entered the small shop with floor to ceiling nick-nacks. "We have a stray following us." He gave her a smirk she'd not seen in a long time.

She rolled her eyes, and glanced to the side. He wasn't exactly being very discreet about it or did he just not know how to be that way? She groaned a little. "I can't believe he's at it again." She grumbled a little.

Kuon furrowed his brow, and gave her a questioning look. It was in that moment that she'd realized that he had been the one to avenge her. "He's been stalking you again?" He asked in a somewhat low growl.

Standing before him with hands on her hips, she scolded him. "Were you the one that did that?" She asked quietly with her head cocked, and received nothing but a sheepish expression. "Do you realize all the crap I got from his manager and him for that? Not only that, you could have gotten into a lot of trouble." She scolded, then sighed taking his arm in hers, and pulling him out of the shop.

"I just wanted to protect you." He murmured.

She sighed as they continued their walk. "Although I appreciate the gesture Kuon, try not to do something so risky again. If anyone ever connected you with something like that, you could get into a lot of trouble."

He groaned a little. "Come on Setsu, do you really think I would do something like that if I thought anyone would recognize me?" He asked quietly.

She stopped and turned to him. She looked up and caressed his dark hair, then looked into his hidden eyes. She shook her head, then giggled. "Plonker, don't do it again, I don't want you to end up in the clink." She scolded.

He gave her a little pout, and the cutest little abandoned puppy look. She felt like she was going to melt. "I covered my face. Besides, it's not like he'll figure it out. Come on Setsu, he didn't even recognize you from what I've heard."

She giggled. "I suppose you're right. It did take him awhile and he didn't even see it until it was practically pointed out." She smirked. "Think I'm getting better at this?"

He leaned to her and kissed her temple. "Yeah, but not as good as I am yet." He chuckled and she playfully swatted his arm.

As he followed the pair, he had hoped to get something on them. Something that would at least dirty the competition a little, but there was nothing that could be considered inappropriate done by either of the pair. It was infuriating.

"Sho!" He heard the older female voice with its chastising tone and winced. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Aki growled.

He slowly turned and pulled on a mask of innocence. "I'm just out getting some fresh air, Shoko-san." He lied.

Shoko stomped up to him, insulted that he would blatantly lie to her and grabbed his ear. "I don't think so. I know for a fact that you were following Tsuruga-san and Heel-san. Even they know." She nodded apologetically to the pair and watched them wave to her.

Sho paled a little. He'd thought he'd been more careful than that, but insisted on sticking to his lie. "I don't know what you're talking about. It's just a coincidence."

"Mmhmm. I think it's time for you to return to the resort. You still have four more songs to compose for your next album and you haven't even started. You were sent here under Akatoki-sama's orders for that and you've done nothing but sit around watching game shows and stalking Heel-san." She tugged his ear and pulled him along.

"Ow, ow, ow!" He exclaimed.

"Time to go back and get busy or would you rather give up your contract to Vie Ghoul?" She announced.

Sho's brow furrowed, and a sense of determination filled him. "Fine!" He growled and stomped off. Now he would have no choice on whether he'd be staying in his room with his dirty little thoughts plaguing him. Little thoughts of a small sandaled foot on his forehead that was attached to a perfect leg, that led up to a delicious bare thigh, that was attached to a perfectly formed, pert ass covered in black lace cheeky panties, hidden under that light-blue yukata she'd been wearing the night she'd laid him out on his back, giving him the perfect view. Sure, she didn't have the tits that Mimori and Aki had, but she made up for it everywhere else and it was definitely an image he just couldn't shake, his music would reflect that fact later on.

Okay, so he'd confessed his heart to her and she did the same, but what to do next? Neither were very certain on the next steps. They certainly didn't want to drag in Yukihito or Lory in on this, they wanted to figure it out on their own. There was still the not so small fact of what he'd confided in her as she was Bo. It was something that she really wanted to discuss with him, but she didn't want him to feel betrayed by her not telling him immediately. She supposed it was better sooner than later, but the anxiety it was causing her was practically killing her.

"Something wrong, Setsu?" He asked a little worried by her demeanor.

Thankfully they were relaxing in his dressing trailer. She really didn't want to have to admit something like this when they were out or when they were in each other's personal living spaces. The dressing trailer had just the right amount of privacy she required for her confession.

She sighed as her fingers gently sifted through his hair, while he rested his head on her lap. "There's something you need to know about one of my LoveME jobs." She closed her eyes and groaned a little inwardly. Well, it's now or never. She worried her bottom lip, and he reached up to caress her cheek.

The stressed, shy look she was giving him had him worried. He couldn't help but think that she'd changed her mind about their confessions to each other. Did she just say it to appease him? Was she having second thoughts? His mind turned blank and he froze at what she'd told him. "I'm Bo, the mascot from Kimagure Rock."

Kuon's brow furrowed. "Bo?"

She nodded with a pout. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I only wanted to help Kuon, and you certainly weren't going to talk to me. You made it very clear many times that we share an age gap... I was pretty sure you wouldn't talk to me or confide in me." She groused a little at the end.

He was quiet for most of her confession and kept his emotions guarded. He sighed out a little. "So you knew this whole time?" He asked as he slowly sat up.

She shivered a little, feeling the anger rolling off of him. Her brow furrowed. I guess he only does love me as a sibling. I took it wrong. She sighed. "I promise I won't tell her." She told him, fighting the heat behind her eyes. God, I feel so stupid. I suppose it's all for the best, it would've probably ended badly anyway. She thought as she stood and straightened herself.

He was stunned. What is she talking about?

KNOCK... KNOCK... KNOCK...

"Ren-san, Kyouko-chan? Break's over, it's almost time for your scenes." A familiar voice came through the door.

Setsuka opened the door and stepped out, leaving her counterpart in stunned silence. "Thank you Yashiro-san." Pull yourself together Setsuka, you've always known you were never meant to have something like that. She thought as she fought to keep her calm exterior. What's three days early anyway. Papa will be happy to see me home a little early anyway. I'll just spend the time with Maria and go over those new proposals on the plane. She decided, making plans to leave as soon as her day was finished.