Chapter 38

Well, one could never accuse him of not taking advantage of a situation or misunderstanding; although, he wasn't certain if it was indeed a misunderstanding. She told him clearly what his competition thought of her, and the images in her mind corresponded with what she was telling him; however, he just could never see her as a little sister. He supposed if he'd grown up with her, it was possible. He shook his head as he wrapped an arm around her in the cab. "I could never see you as my little sister, babe." He chuckled. "That would be incest."

She gave him a small smile and slapped his leg. "You really know how to cheer me up, Danny. Sorry I dumped all of this on you. Thank you for listening to me vent."

He kissed her temple and smiled. "Anytime you need a shoulder, I'll be here for you." He glanced at her to make sure she was in better spirits. "Are you sure you want to leave this early? Do you need to let anyone know you're leaving?"

She shook her head. "Ruto knows and it's not like there's anyone else that cares." She mumbled the last part. It was nice while it lasted, even if I was being a delusional little girl about it. I mean, he had many opportunities to say something, but he's always pointed out how much younger I am and treated me like Maria. She sighed a little at that thought. I'm so stupid, but... I did have a good time during our lunch. She sighed a little dejectedly.

Danny looked out the window of the cab and sighed. "Well, then he's stupid." He announced with a soft smile.

She shook her head. "No, he just has someone already. I took it wrong. Like I said, he only sees me as a little sister." She was quiet for a long moment. "That's all I've ever been."

He pulled her into a hug. "Well, you are definitely NOT my little sister." He could clearly see the second-chance being dangled in front of him. He was not about to toss it aside. Now was the time to proceed carefully. It was time to keep his image and personal life pristine, and prove to her that he meant business when it came to her.

He paced back and forth in the hall that contained her hotel suite, wondering why she wasn't answering her door or any of his messages. It was already 8pm. She'd left the set three hours ago, and he came over as soon as he was finished so that he could clear up that little misunderstanding between them. There was no way there were any other women in his life that he was in love with or dating. He wanted it to be her.

He dialed her number again, and it went straight to voicemail... again. "Damn-it! Where the hell are you, Setsu?" He groused a little more loudly than he wanted. The thought to call Lory had crossed his mind, but was quickly tossed to the side. He did not want the man sticking his fingers into his personal life out of love. He groaned at that thought.

"Pathetic..." He heard a male voice mumbled as he heard the click of a door lock just a few meters away.

Kuon turned to the opinionated pest. "You got something to say, Fuwa?" He growled.

Sho smirked and shoved his hand into his pocket. "Never thought I'd see Ren Tsuruga chasing after a lost cause... Standing in front of an empty hotel room." He gloated. "If she told you to meet up with her, she stood you up. She left at around six with her boyfriend, that copycat from Vie Ghoul."

Kuon was clinging tightly to his mask. "Well, I suppose I'll catch up with her later. It's not like we're dating."

Sho opened his door and entered his room. "Right... Whatever." It's about time someone made him feel human. At least he isn't Number One on her list. Sho thought with satisfaction.

"Aw come on... You deserve a little bit of a vacation, Setsu. You cut out three days early, you have more than a week before you have to be back in Tokyo, and you need this. How long has it been since you've actually relaxed?" Danny reasoned with her to alleviate her twisted sense of guilt.

She sighed as she peered out the window at the ocean below. "Fine, but I have got to be back by next Saturday or Papa will send Ruto after me. He doesn't know I'm flying out to Hawaii with you or that we'll be staying in the same hotel."

Danny grinned. "Not a word from me." He told her making a motion that looked as if he were zipping his mouth shut.

Setsu rolled her eyes. "Don't get any ideas. I'm just going there to relax and enjoy the beach." She reminded him. "And don't expect me to spend all my time indoors. If I'm going on a vacay, I will be enjoying it to my fullest." She informed him, so that he wouldn't get any dirty little ideas.

"Anything new?"

"Not yet, Sir. They're in first-class at the moment. She seemed rather upset when she boarded the plane, but he seems to have calmed her. Should I make myself known?"

"No... I don't want her to think I don't trust her judgment. Have you been able to find out why all of this happened? I thought she was going to spend her vacation in Karuizawa." Lory asked a little concerned.

"I'm not certain. She spent some time with Tsuruga-sama during lunch and seemed rather contented. They then spent time together during a break, after that she seemed a little off. I've no idea what had been discussed during that time, but she seemed to distance herself from him during filming, then left as soon as her scenes were done. She checked out of the hotel with Bennett-sama during dinner and left for the airport. It was fortunate I was able to procure a seat in coach on the same flight." Ruto finished.

Lory sighed. Kuon... What did you do? Lory groused inwardly. "Alright, keep me abreast of the situation, Ruto. Stay in the shadows, and whatever you do... do not let her discover you. If she needs a little time away, I don't wish to interfere with it. It was hard enough trying to get her to come to Japan, I don't want to give her any reasons to go back to London. She needs to see that we trust her."

"Of course, Sir. I will be sure to be very discreet." Ruto assured him and ended the call, and placed the device back in it's cradle, then went back to his seat.

Lory leaned back into his chair, lit a cigar and took a long drink of the Scotch he just poured. He sighed out. "That girl is going to kill me with worry." He groaned quietly. Just need to keep this from Maria or she will throw a fit. He thought as he glanced at his closed office door. He took another sip and inhaled his cigar deeply. I wonder what happened between her and Kuon.

During her 12-hour flight with Reino, Kuon would try to sleep... Unsuccessfully. Ruto would read a few magazines, listen to some music, watch a couple of in-flight movies, enjoy a meal, make a plan of action, and rest.

Setsuka would finish reading the proposals for three Pinnacle Studios films and make decisions on them, finish going over the next year's Fall Collection, memorize the script Director Ogata had forwarded to her email for her next scenes while eating her salad, and drift off to sleep, snuggling into her flight-buddy.

Reino/Danny would sit quietly jotting down a few lyrics, watch the in-flight movie, eat his dinner, and thoroughly enjoy the delightful, cuddly reward for his patience, and drift off to sleep with his arms wrapped around a very special female, hoping that it would never ever end, hoping that whomever had chased her into his arms, would continue to do so.