Shotaro stumbled onto set an hour late and groggy with a hangover. His eyes immediately found Kyoko and he glared daggers at her. Director Anna called cut on the scene Kyoko and Murasame were filming.

"Go to make up and get touched up." Director Anna barked at Kyoko and Murasame. "Chiori-san you go with since you'll be in the next scene. Fuwa come here!"

"Not so loud!" Shotaro grouched holding his hands over his head.

"Sho, you need to apologize." Shoko said running in behind her charge. She looked exhausted and stressed. "Director Anna I am very sorry for this. He went out again last night and…" Shoko continued to apologize as Chiori took Kyoko's arm and began to tug her away.

"Come on Kyoko-chan, Chiori-chan this is none of our business." Murasame said.

Kyoko felt a sick need to save him but followed her friends. When they were kids, he was always getting scolded and punished. It had never felt good to watch his father scream at Shotaro and she used to try to jump in to defend him. She remembered that had always made Shotaro mad at her. He would say that he didn't need her to fight his battles. He never wanted her help and yet, it was always her who had to clean up his messes.

"Kyoko-chan have a seat." The makeup artist instructed patting the back of her chair. Kyoko took her seat and closed her eyes as the artist began to freshen up her make up.

"Have you heard the latest news about Tsuruga-san?" Murasame's artist asked.

"Oh, you read that tabloid too Mari-san." Kyoko's artist said playfully. "I can't believe any of it is true." She pat Kyoko's hand comfortingly. She had noticed how close the two were and wasn't fooled for one minute that they weren't together.

"There were pictures of him and Melissa kissing." Mari said.

"Because they're love interests in a movie." Murasame said looking up as Mari instructed.

"They're not filming a beach movie though and they were at the beach. He was all sun kissed and glistening. Her bikini was so tiny. Positively immodest but well you know he must not really care for modesty. Ah poor Kana-san. I guess no one can beat a voluptuous American." Mari said not realizing there was no one who agreed with her.

"I don't think Melissa-san is very pretty." Chiori said dismissively. "Besides you don't know that there isn't a beach scene. You should have more faith in Tsuruga-san, Mari-chan. Don't label him a cheater."

Mari frowned feeling chastised. "The tabloid labelled him that not me. Besides Kana-san is the one who…. Never mind." She said looking at Kyoko.

"You can't believe anything those gossip mongers say." Kyoko's makeup artist said, "We know Tsuruga-san better than any of those reporters."
The door slammed open and Shotaro stomped in shouting, "Alright already!" Director Anna followed him still scolding him for being late. "I need to get into makeup. Mari be a dear and come do me."

"If this wasn't the last week of filming, I would fire you this instant." Director Anna said then he turned to Kyoko and in a harsher tone than he intended to use for her he said, "On stage now."

"Yes, sir." Kyoko said jumping up.

"Yeah, scurry away like the dog you are. Tsuruga's little bitch."

"Alright Fuwa I've had enough of your…"

"Murasame-san you too." Director Anna barked.

They returned to set and filmed their scene before being joined by Chiori. She was having fun playing Kyoko's accuser after Satoshi's body was found. Sho watched from the sidelines studying every move Kyoko made. He had tried everything to get her to come back to him but seeing her on stage all he saw was Ren. She moved like Ren. Her voice had taken on a distinctively Tsuruga lilt. Sho wondered if she had consciously decided to be Tsuruga's clone or if it was a side effect of being together. She had never been anything like Shotaro though. They had always been complete opposites. As children she had been well behaved and made the most of what was given to her. Shotaro on the other hand had always wanted more, and she had always given him whatever he asked for.

He didn't understand what Tsuruga had over her that he didn't. Why did that ogre keep winning even when he was out of the country.

When filming was done, he approached her cautiously.

"What do you want Fuwa?" Chiori asked.

"I only want to talk to Kyoko," He said then as an afterthought he added, "-san."

"Then talk." Kyoko said. What could he possibly have to say now? Was he going to demand another date? Tell her off for not kissing him? Maybe he was going to scold her for shoving him at the wall.

"I just wanted to say," He paused looking at Chiori. There was no way he was going to get Kyoko alone. "Mh sy."

"Come again?" Kyoko asked unable to hear his mumble.

"I'm sry." He said a little louder but purposely slurred the word.

"You're what?" Chiori asked confused.

"I said I'm sorry! Fuck!" he shouted annoyed and humiliated.

"Ok." Kyoko said not sure what she was meant to do with his apology. She didn't even know what he was sorry for. There was too much between them.

"That's it?" Sho asked then rolled his eyes. Screw being nice if she was going to act stuck up. "I said sorry, but I suppose that wasn't enough for Tsuruga's princess. Right, everybody?"

"Fuwa-san keep it down." Director Anna shouted from across the room.

"What? It's not as if everybody doesn't know she's fucking Tsuruga!" Sho screamed. "It's impossible not to know. The way they act around each other is sickening. She even smells like she bathes in his cologne. You'd have to be blind not to see it. But guess what Mari just told me he's doing?"

"Shotaro, I think you need to sit down and rest." Kyoko said genuinely worried. He sounded like he was having a break down.

"Come on just guess what Tsuruga is doing or rather who." Sho said as Yashiro came over. "Oh, here comes big brother four eyes to the rescue."

"Fuwa-san I would advise that you take a seat and drink some water. You are clearly dehydrated." Yashiro said shoving Shotaro into a chair and placing a bottle of water in his hands. "You're embarrassing yourself. Kyoko-chan you come here too."

Kyoko slumped her shoulders and walked over to Yashiro.

"What happened last night?" Yashiro asked as Shoko approached them.

"Nothing. We had dinner then he went home." Kyoko said honestly. She could have added that he had been late, but she figured Shotaro was suffering enough.

Shotaro gave a derisive laugh. "Nothing happened." He mimicked her sweetly innocent voice. "Did Tsuruga teach you that line?"

Kyoko crossed her arms but sighed. It would do no good to argue with him right now.

"Sho-chan," she pulled on her most sugary sweet mask. Shotaro sneered refusing to fall for that trick again. "Sho-chan we have a job to finish. Then we can go out together wherever you'd like."

"Kyoko-chan." Yashiro hissed not liking the idea one bit.

"It's the only way to get him to work." Kyoko said but her sweet mask fell as she realized Shotaro wasn't falling for it. "He's too unprofessional to finish the job without a prize at the end."

"I am not unprofessional! And since when are you any sort of a prize? You're more like the sorry try again note a loser receives."

"Ok then loser sober up and get on stage." Chiori said.

"I am sober!" Shotaro said standing up suddenly. He was taller than Chiori and attempted to make himself intimidating.

"I'll believe you when you get through a scene without slurring your lines." Chiori said checking her nails with a bored expression. As if Fuwa could intimidate her.

"Whatever." Shotaro grumbled, "We're going to Darumaya later."

Kyoko rolled her eyes. Director Anna called them back to the stage to finish filming the last of Shotaro's scenes. Gleefully Chiori hopped onto stage as Shotaro glared at her. After having convinced Airi that Kenji had killed her brother, Sayuri and Haruki had giving Airi the perfect opportunity to be alone with Kenji.

"Your brother was an abusive ass." Kenji said glowering at the tiny woman.

"Satoshi loved Sayuri. You're just jealous that he had her and she never even gave you a second glance." Airi mocked. She had seen the bruises and heard how controlling Satoshi could be on several occasions, but she refused to label him abusive. Protective and possessive yes, but not abusive.

"Why would I be jealous? She's probably the one who killed him." Kenji had seen Sayuri kissing that detective. His bitter jealousy gave way to an all-consuming rage. It should be him the little slut was making out with. He was the one who had helped her with the body. That cop only came in later to help with the alibi.

"Sayuri has been a wreck since he died." Kenji gave a derisive laugh at Airi's statement. "She has done nothing but cry over pictures of him."
"She's playing you. That woman killed him because she got sick and tired of him constantly beating her." Kenji said advancing on Airi. Airi backed away seeing the vitriol in his eyes. There was no doubt in her mind that he had killed her brother and that he was capable of killing again.

"My brother would never hurt anyone. You did this because you couldn't have the girl. How pathetic can one person be? Instead of being hung up on her you should have taken 'no' for an answer and moved on. It's boys like you who give the entire male population a bad name." Airi mocked refusing to show fear in front of this little boy.

Inside Kenji, Shotaro grit his teeth. He was sure Chiori would love it if he gave up on her stupid little friend. That's what they all wanted. For him to give up on Kyoko and let Tsuruga have her. It was never going to happen though. She was his since birth. She wasn't allowed to go off with that ogre. For the life of him Shotaro couldn't understand why no one could see that Tsuruga was the problem. Tsuruga was using her. He was screwing her in private and probably teaching her to be a perfect little sex doll.

"You are so delusional!" Shotaro exploded. The line was meant to be said with some degree of sadness, but all Sho could feel was anger. "That brute used her as his little fuck toy even when she refused, he would do as he pleased. As for her not giving me a second glance, well he made sure of that didn't he? The lolicon was sniffing around her long before she was old enough to notice any other boy. He had her sneaking away from your slumber parties to suck him off in the middle of the night. Are you proud of your brother the ped…" the lamp that had been sitting to the left of Airi slammed into Kenji's face.

Shotaro flew to the side from the force of Chiori's hit. The lamp was made to break without causing him any lasting damage, but it had hurt like a bitch. He fell sideways barely catching himself in time before his face collided with the floor. His lip curled as he looked up at the tiny glowering woman. She was just another one of Tsuruga's spies enabling him to keep Kyoko in his grasp. Sho lunged at her ignoring director Anna who called cut wanting to check on the actors. Chiori dodged his attack causing Sho to nearly take another tumble to the floor, but he steadied himself just in time then turned on his heel to address her again.

"She belongs to me." He ground out.

"I think that perhaps it is you who are delusional dearest Kenji." Airi said hoping to bring him back to the scene.

The director signaled for them to keep filming as his actors were not going to stop.

"He's gone and she still doesn't want you. He was never your problem. She just doesn't want you." Airi said in a derisive tone with that air of superiority that Shotaro just couldn't stand.

He let out a loud wild scream and ran at her. Airi backed away as quickly as she could and grabbed the closest thing she could manage. He shoved her against the wall and gasped as the letter opener she had grabbed stabbed into his chest. Shotaro's eyes went wide as the scene came back into focus and he remembered that he was meant to die. His hands clasped around the letter opener, and he stumbled backwards shock and confusion written all over his face. Chiori conceded that he was a better actor than she had given him credit for as she watched him fall to his knees and bite down on the blood capsule he had in his mouth. Even she had forgotten he had that in his mouth. She didn't think she would be able to speak as evenly as he had with that in her mouth.

Kenji lay lifeless on the floor blood pooling around him when Sayuri entered the room.

"Airi-san what happened?"

"Cut!" Director Anna called and this time his actors stopped the scene to await his orders. "That was good Fuwa-san. How is your head?"

They waited for a reply, but Sho remained motionless on the floor. A couple minutes passed before the director spoke to him again.

"Fuwa-san, stop playing get up."

Again, they waited but Sho didn't move.

"Maybe we should all go to lunch and leave him here to nap." Chiori said not believing for one second that he was actually hurt.

Chiori took Kyoko's arm and started to pull her away, but Kyoko looked back at the unmoving body. Fear gripped her heart, and she imagined having to be the one to call Yayoi and inform her that Shotaro had been injured or worse… she yanked her arm out of Chiori's grasp.

"Sho!" Kyoko yelled falling to her knees beside his body. "Sho get up." She shook his arm. "Shotaro stop playing around!"

"Medic," Anna said finally as the realization of what was happening set in. "Medic!"

"Sho, Sho! Sho! Sho!" Kyoko chanted his name tears brimming her eyes as she frantically shook him. "No Shotaro please."

Her hands slipped in the blood, and she wondered how much of it was real. Had the trick letter opener not folded in on itself? How hard had Chiori smashed the lamp into his head? Kyoko had never been hurt when being hit by the breakaway objects but that was when Kuon had been the one throwing them. What if Chiori had accidentally hurt Shotaro?

Loud and boisterous his laugh suddenly filled the stage. Kyoko's held her hands in the air as he rolled over and sat up to grin at her. He put all of his boyish charm into his smile.

"I knew you loved me." He said the flinched as Kyoko raised her head as if to slap him. She took a deep breath and lowered her hand. "Kyoko?" He wished she would have slapped him. That was a normal reaction from her. That was part of their game.

Kyoko stood up and walked back over to Chiori who was shaking her head at Sho.

"Come Kyoko, admit it I got you. Kyoko!" Shotaro called after her as she walked away with Chiori.

"Fuwa!" Director Anna shouted intercepting the boy before he could chase after Kyoko. "You pull one more antic and I will have you blacklisted. You hear me? No director will ever want to work with you again. Not for dramas or movies. Not even for your PVs or CMs." He seized the Sho's ear and yanked him over to Shoko. "You fix your charge before I do it for you."

"Tsk." Sho was about to say something back to Anna, but Shoko seized his collar. "Shoko-san that hurts."

"Good!" Shoko said dragging Shotaro to his room. "Maybe that will teach you not to do something so idiotic and cruel ever again!"
"Shoko!" He whined ready to turn on the charm, but she shoved him down on the couch.

"No Sho! That was a horrible thing to do. You hear me?" She seethed towering over him. "I have let you get away with some pretty despicable things and it ends now! You will go out there and apologize to everyone on set."

"Whatever."
"No, not whatever. Each and every single cast and crew member Sho! Especially Kyoko-chan. You will say you are sorry for scaring everyone then you will act out your remaining scenes without incident. Then we will leave after you apologize again. Do I make myself clear?" Her voice left no room for argument. It was clear that if he refused, he would have to walk home and packed his bags.

"Fine." He said but rolled his eyes. It wasn't his fault nobody could take a joke. If Kyoko would admit that she loved him already he wouldn't have to resort to antics.

"Good. Then you can start by apologizing to me Sho." She said crossing her arms and waiting. He was a stubborn fool and a constant pain, but she had been terrified that he'd been hurt.

"Aw Shoko-san you do love me." Sho said trying to flirt his way out of trouble.

"Sho, I'm serious. You scared me. Can you understand that people were scared, or do you not have any empathy in you?" Shoko asked thinking, not for the first time, that he needed psychiatric help. She should bring it up with Akatoki's president.

"I get it, alright. I'm sorry I scared you with my dumb joke." He said but Shoko couldn't tell if it was truly sincere or if he was acting. "Should I go now and apologize to the entire group or go up to everyone individually?" There was a tinge of annoyance in his voice that seemed to indicate he was only doing it to placate her.

She knit her brows together and bit her lip. Was her charge incapable of caring for anyone but himself? She stepped out of his way so he could go back out and speak with director Anna. She worried her lip as she heard him through the door, he left open.

"I wanted to say to everyone that I am truly sorry." He sounded contrite. "I feel like the biggest jerk for doing that to all of you. I wasn't thinking about how anyone else would feel about my foolish prank and now I regret doing it. Kyoko. My love. I am so very sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I can assure you that I am safe."

There were several crew members who awed at him easily captivated by his charms. Shoko peaked out to see that he was acting demure and embarrassed. His eyes remained trained on the floor, and he bowed deeply.

"Please forgive me. I promise to never pull another stunt like that. Especially since all I want, Kyoko, all I have ever wanted is to make you happy." Shoko's eyes widened as Sho reached into his pocket and she was willing to bet he was about to drop to one knee. The idiot never quit.

Kyoko jumped forward and seized his wrist shouting, "I forgive you!"

Chiori sneered her lip quivering as she struggled not to march over to him and strangle him. The cast and crew who were not fully aware of Kyoko and Sho's situation came over to forgive him. He smiled sheepishly at them and apologized again and again as they dispersed back to their places.

"Alright. Alright let's get back to work already." Director Anna said purposely ignoring Sho.

It took them five more hours to complete Sho's death scenes and the consequences of it. Then they wrapped filming.

"Sho, where are you going?" Shoko asked as Sho started walking towards Kyoko and Yashiro.

"I was promised a date." He said all traces of his remorse gone.

"I don't think…"

"You don't need to think about it." Sho cut her off. He would listen to her about work, but she had no right to keep him away from Kyoko. No one did. "She promised me a date. I didn't trick her into it."

"You really don't care about anyone else, do you?" Shoko asked. "You want what you want, and you'll do anything to get her."

"That's right Kyoko is all I care about right now." Sho said and Shoko shook her head.

"No, Fuwa-san, all you care about is yourself." Shoko said.

Kyoko trudged over trailed by a surly Yashiro.

"You see she remembered her promise." Sho said triumphantly.

Kyoko clenched her fists ready to go on the date. They would be out of the public eye, and she could berate him for his stupid stunt. She may even give him that slap she had wanted to but couldn't because of all the people watching. One thing was for sure, she was telling the Taisho all about his golden boy's antics on set. See how much better he thought Sho was than Ren after hearing about Sho's terrible work ethic.