On the day of the table read, Kyoko dashed madly out the door of the Darumaya to Yashiro's car. She practically threw herself into a half-dogeza as soon as she got into the back seat.

"I'msosorryTsuruga-san!" She took a quick breath and continued, "You'regoingtobelatebecauseofmeandit'sallmyfaultandI'mtheworstkohaiinthehistoryofkohais!"

Ren blinked as Yashiro drove away from the Darumaya.

"I'm sorry, Mogami-san. I couldn't catch that. Could you please speak more slowly?"

She was almost in tears. "I'm a blemish on your perfect punctuality! I'm so sorry! Please feel free to flay me alive!"

He thought for a moment. "Mogami-san, an actress should be able to keep her composure."

Her mouth dropped open in horror. She started to blurt another apology, but reined herself in. She bowed deeply. "I- I'm sorry I've made a spectacle of myself, Tsuruga-san. I'll try to be less excitable."

He nodded. "That is much appreciated." The truth was that he was tired of her being scared of him, or wanting him to discipline her. Most of her transgressions weren't even that awful. They would be perhaps five minutes late to the table read, and while it could potentially be a minor annoyance, he doubted that the director would even say much about it.

"So," he said nonchalantly, "Are you feeling well this morning? It's not like you to be late."

Kyoko nodded, her face full of guilt. "I just overslept." But that was a lie. She hadn't just overslept. She had overslept because of a dream that had been replaying almost every night for her after their date. In the dream, she had been back in Guam, sharing a drink with Corn. Then his lips were on hers, and the kiss became much more passionate than she remembered it actually being. She closed her eyes and ran her fingers through his hair. He wrapped his arm around her and pressed his hand into the small of her back to bring her closer, his other hand cupping her face. When she opened her eyes, however, she wasn't kissing Corn anymore; she was kissing Ren.

When she woke in her bedroom that morning, she had rolled over and buried her face in her pillow and shrieked. She would rather die a thousand deaths than admit to him that she had been dreaming such things. Stupid perverted brain! She thought. As she sat in the back of Yashiro's car, another thought broke through: What if he has dreams like that about me?

Ren took note of the pink tinging her cheeks and the spaced out look on her face and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're feeling all right, Mogami-san?"

She sat bolt upright, her brain coming back to the present. "Yes! Perfectly fine! Just nervous for the table read!"

He smiled at her. A gentlemanly smile. She could feel her soul shriveling. "Are you sure it's just the table read and not something else bothering you? You wouldn't be being… dishonest with me now, would you, Mogami-san? We are friends after all. I would hope you could trust me with something that's bothering you."

Oh god. Oh no! What can I tell him!? He'll know I'm lying! But I can't tell him THAT! Her brain was working furiously to come up with something that would sate his curiosity. She cast her eyes down at the floor of the car. "It's… a woman problem."

Ren's eyes became the size of saucers. "Oh." He immediately felt like kicking himself. He could only imagine how embarrassed she must be feeling to admit such a thing to him. He suddenly wished the car seat would swallow him whole. He bowed his head to her. "I'm sorry for prying, Mogami-san."

She ran her hand through her hair nervously. "It's okay. You didn't know."

"All right you two, we're here," said Yashiro, happy to break the tension.

Ren was the first to get out of the car, and Kyoko let out a sigh of relief as he walked to the other side of the car to open her door for her. Crisis averted. She thanked him as she stepped out of the car, and they followed Yashiro into the studio. They checked in at the reception desk, and the receptionist gave them directions to the room they needed to get to.

They hadn't been told anything about the other cast members yet, so Kyoko was anxious and excited to meet everyone. When Yashiro opened the door for them, Kyoko blinked and then rushed across the room in a wild flurry of limbs.

"MOKO-SAN!"

Kanae held her at arm's length with her palm over Kyoko's face. "Would you pull yourself together! MO! We're on a job!"

"Yougeddabeininyashatew!?" Kanae's hand had slid down over Kyoko's lips. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to count to three. When I let go, you're going to act like a normal human being, and you're going to repeat what you just said so I can actually understand you. Got it?"

Kyoko nodded. Kanae counted to three and released her. Kyoko stood there, quivering with excitement. "You get to be in InuYasha, too!?"

Kanae nodded. "I've been cast as Sango."

Ren came to stand next to Kyoko. "Ah, Kotonami-san. No wonder Mogami-san ran the length of the room in two seconds and ignored all of her other cast mates."

Kyoko snapped to attention. "I'm so sorry, Tsuruga-san!"

"Why are you apologizing to him? It's ME you ran past."

Kyoko turned and smiled brightly. "Koga-san! I didn't realize you were here, too!"

Koga Hiromune, Kyoko's co-star on Lotus in the Mire, rolled his eyes. "Of course you didn't." He looked Ren in the eye and gave a subtle nod of the head. "We haven't met. I'm Koga Hiromune." The air between the two of them was rife with electricity. Kyoko took a step back as Ren smiled and returned the nod. For a moment, she wasn't sure if the one smiling was Ren or Sesshomaru.

"Nice to meet you, Hiromune-san. I'm Ren Tsuruga. Mogami-san has mentioned you."

Koga's eyes narrowed. "She's mentioned you, too." Ren didn't miss the look, or the tone. It was protective, and made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

"Who have you been cast as, Koga-san?" Kyoko asked quickly to hopefully break some of the tension. She knew that Ren wasn't Koga's favorite person, and she could sense that Ren was picking up on that fact, as well.

Koga smirked. "InuYasha, who else?"

Kyoko was positively gleeful. "You'll do so great, really! I'm so excited for you!"

He nodded. "I need to go take my seat." He nodded his head once more at Ren. "Tsuruga-san." He walked away.

Kyoko noted Ren's irritation via the smile he was wearing. It didn't last long though, as it was replaced by a look of shock as two hands covered Ren's eyes from behind.

"Guess who!?"

Ren sighed in annoyance. "Hello, Kijima."

Hidehito Kijima scoffed. "You're no fun, Ren! You could have at least pretended you didn't know who it was!" He saw Kyoko and smiled. "And Kyoko-chan's here, too! It's my lucky day!" He took note of Kanae and slicked his hair back. He sidled up to her. "I don't think we've met. I'm Hidehito Kijima."

"I'm completely uninterested, try someone else," said Kanae, who promptly turned on her heel and walked away to find her seat at the table.

Kyoko slapped a hand over her mouth, and Ren had to bite his own tongue to keep from laughing.

"Ouch. Kitty has claws." Kijima shrugged. "You miss all the shots you don't take."

"Excuse me, may I have your attention?"

They all turned their attention to a man who had apparently just entered the room. He bowed in greeting. "Please forgive my tardiness.I am Masahiro Nakamura, the director of this picture. If you would all kindly find your name plates on the table so we can begin!"

Kyoko went to sit at the table and found Hiou Uesugi sitting between her and Kanae.

"Hello, Hiou-kun! Long time no see!"

He nodded at her. "Hi Kyoko-chan. How are you?"

She smiled. "Nervous. You must be our Kohaku!"

He nodded. "I am." To Kanae's right, much to Kanae's annoyance, was Kijima. Kyoko took note of this and had to suppress a giggle. Of course he's Miroku. Who better? Hiou quickly lost interest in talking to Kyoko, and was casting frosty glances past Kanae at Kijima, daring him to put a toe out of line.

Across the table, Ren was sitting beside Koga and, to Kyoko's excitement, Itsumi Momose. The name plate in front of her read "Kagome Higurashi". Momose-san was chatting away with the boys.

The chair beside Kyoko pulled out suddenly, and she turned to introduce herself to her new cast mate. She froze. "Murasame-san?"

Taira Murasame raised an eyebrow at her. "Have we met?"

She blinked and backpedaled. Setsuka Heel had met Taira Murasame, but Kyoko Mogami had not. She pointed at his name plate. "Um, no! I just read your name plate. I'm Kyoko Mogami. It's nice to meet you."

He seemed to study her face for a moment and then nodded. "I am Taira Murasame. It's nice to meet you, Mogami-san."

She laughed nervously. "Oh, you can just call me Kyoko-chan, everybody does."

Ren, who caught this exchange, bristled, but said nothing. I ate cheesecake out of her hand and I still can't call her Kyoko, he thought, his ego bruising.

Director Nakamura sat at the head of the table. "I would like you all to please introduce yourselves as your characters. Starting with Hiromune-san."

Koga smirked, put his feet up on the table, leaned back in his chair, and jerked his thumb towards himself. "I'm InuYasha."

Momose-san took a deep breath and looked over at Koga. "Sit, boy."

He toppled his own chair over backward with a painful shriek of agony. Laughter erupted around the table and she bowed. "Please forgive InuYasha's manners. I'm Kagome Higurashi. Pleased to meet you."

When it was Ren's turn, he didn't speak, but he sent a sharp glance to Yashiro, who approached the table.

"Excuse me. As Jaken's replacement for the day, it is my duty to inform you all that this esteemed fellow is Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands." Ren may not have spoken a word, but his demeanor said everything. His presence was stately and his overall air was dangerous. It sent a shiver up Kyoko's spine.

Kanae was next. She bowed. "I am Sango, of the Demon Slayers' Village." The expression on her face changed from neutral to irritated. She reached under the table and dragged Kijima's hand up by the wrist. A vein pulsed in her forehead as she did so. His face was contorted in pain.

"I-I'm Miroku, the monk. Sango, I beg of you, please let go."

Kanae dropped his hand. "Hands to yourself, monk" she said with an edge of frost to her voice.

Another round of laughter. The Director gestured to Hiou, who bowed his head shyly. "I'm Kohaku. It's nice to meet you all."

It was Kyoko's turn, and she was ready. She took a paper fan from her purse and flipped it open expertly. She fanned herself with a smirk. "Yo. I am the wind." She locked her smoldering eyes on Ren, who allowed her the tiniest of smirks.

Murasame was next. When Kyoko saw his face change, the air around her seemed to drop five degrees, and a nasty feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. Kagura's hatred and fear came to the forefront of her mind. If she didn't know any better, she would have sworn that they were sitting in his miasma. "I am called Naraku." His voice was soft and smug. He fixed his eyes on Koga, who bristled in his seat and bared his teeth at him.

When the rest of the cast had introduced themselves, the Director applauded them all. "That was incredible, everyone, really! Well done! But now the real work begins. We open on The Bone Eater's Well…"

The table read concluded a couple of hours later. The Director thanked everyone for their hard work.

"We will begin shooting on location in Kyoto in two days. Travel arrangements have already been made for you. We will be staying at a ryokan there. We have two weeks of filming scheduled. After that, we will be coming back to Tokyo, where we will be filming our indoor scenes and Naraku's scenes. Murasame-san will, regrettably, not be joining us in Kyoto, as he has previous engagements to attend."

Kyoko stared. A ryokan? In Kyoto? She shook her head. There was no way it was the Fuwa's ryokan. There were dozens of ryokans in Kyoto. It was probably one of those. She looked at her lap. But what if it is? She hadn't been back to the place she was raised in over two years. It would be odd to stay there as a guest.

A hand settled on her shoulder, and she looked up to find Ren, looking down at her with concern.

"Are you all right, Mogami-san?"

She looked around. Everyone else had vacated the table, and a few of them had left for their next jobs. She cringed and nodded. "I just didn't know we were going to Kyoto. I guess it makes sense. Most of InuYasha takes place outside."

His smile was warm. He understood her worries. "Are you nervous about shooting in Kyoto?"

"Yes. As you know, I grew up there, and Shotarou's parents have a ryokan there. It's been a while since I've seen them. I doubt we'll be staying there, though, so I shouldn't be so nervous." And Shotarou is on tour right now, so he wouldn't even be there, she added mentally, trying not to mention Sho too much and poke the bear; she knew Ren hated him.

He knelt down beside her and looked her in the eye. "Even if it did turn out that we were staying there, I'll be there for you. I promise."

She looked away from him, blushing. "Thank you, Tsuruga-san."

He stood up and gestured toward the door. "Would you like to have lunch with Yashiro-san and myself?"

She smiled. "Of course."

They said their goodbyes to the Director and made their way out to the car. When they pulled into an upscale restaurant a few minutes later, Kyoko paled. She hadn't thought about how much lunch with them might cost. Ren saw the look on her face and frowned.

"Are you all right, Mogami-san? Are you feeling well?"

She blinked. "I–yes." You already committed to this, Kyoko. You can't back out now. When they entered, a waiter took them immediately to a private table near the back of the restaurant. Yashiro had called ahead and reserved it for them, which Kyoko was grateful for. As they made their way through the restaurant, all eyes were on Ren.

They sat down, and Kyoko opened the menu. She immediately felt as though someone had stabbed her right in the wallet.

"Kyoko-chan, are you quite sure you're feeling all right?" She looked up to find her manager appraising her over the top of his glasses. "If there's something I can get for you, please let me know. I heard your conversation in the car earlier…" Ren was also staring at her, his brow furrowed with concern.

If she could have dissolved into the shadows at that point in time, she would have done it. Oh god they think I'm sick because of my period. She laughed nervously. "No, Yashiro-san. I'm fine… the menu is just a bit expensive."

Ren relaxed a little. "If you're quite sure that's the only thing bothering you, Mogami-san, then you'll be pleased to know that I never had any intention of letting you pay for your meal." He picked up his own menu and perused it. She sputtered.

"I-Tsuruga-san, I couldn't-"

"Mogami-san, if you don't order something, I'll order you enough food to last for three days."

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish for a moment, trying to find some way to argue with him, but then she bowed her head obediently and looked at the menu. She ended up picking a simple salad, the cheapest thing she could find. When the waitress came to take their orders, Ren ordered a small sandwich… and a piece of chocolate cake. After she left, Yashiro got to his feet.

"Please excuse me. I have a phone call to make before I forget. If the food comes while I'm gone, please eat without me." And with that, he left Ren and Kyoko alone.

Kyoko fidgeted in her seat, trying to think of something to say. Thankfully, Ren thought of something first.

"Were you as surprised as I was to see Murasame?"

She shook her head. "I was terrified that he would recognize me."

"We're going to have to be very careful. The Tragic Marker premiere isn't for another few months."

Kyoko nodded. "I will do my best, Tsuruga-san."

At that, he smiled. "I know you will, Mogami-san. You always do."

The waitress came back with their food, and when she set the piece of cake in front of Ren, Kyoko's eyes bugged out. It was huge! She was very surprised that he would order something like that. The waitress left, and they started to eat their food. When Kyoko finished her salad, Ren slid the plate of cake across the table to her. "For you."

She blinked. "Why would you order such a huge piece of cake for me?" Kyoko stared at him as a slight blush appeared on his cheeks.

"When my mother is," he paused, searching for an appropriate menstrual euphemism, "unwell, she always craves chocolate cake. You don't have to eat it if you don't want to, I just wanted to do what I could to make you feel better… and to apologize for being an ass in the car this morning."

She gave him a shy smile. "Thank you, Tsuruga-san. That is very sweet of you."

Yashiro reappeared and sat down at the table to eat his sandwich. After they finished eating, Yashiro drove Kyoko home to the Darumaya. He turned around in the driver's seat to address her.

"We're leaving for Kyoto tomorrow at 2:00. I'll pick you up at 1:30. Please make sure to double-check your bags and pack enough clothes and essentials."

Kyoko had to suppress a giggle. Sometimes Yashiro was like a mother hen. She bowed to him. "Thank you, Yashiro-san. I'll see both of you tomorrow. And Tsuruga-san," she smiled happily, "Thank you for the cake."

The smile he gave her was full of warmth. "You're very welcome, Mogami-san."

When Kyoko got inside the Darumaya, she informed the Taichou and Okami that she would be away filming in Kyoto, and then helped them prepare for the dinner rush. That night, as she was packing, she eyed the little safe on top of her dresser that contained Ren's necklace. Do I bring it? Would he be hurt that I left it at home? She inputted the combination and popped the door open. She took it out and put it over her head, around her neck, and worried the charm on it with her thumb.

After going back and forth with herself for a few minutes, she decided that yes, she should probably take it with her. After she packed, she got ready for bed and fell asleep with the charm clutched in one hand and Lord Sesshomaru tucked under her arm. That night she dreamed the Corn dream again, only this time, they were sharing a piece of cake.

THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY READING MY STUFF, and especially to those of you who have left nice comments. This is pretty much the first time I've shared my writing with anyone, so this has been a huge confidence builder. I do want to ask, if you're enjoying the story, please drop me a comment. They're like freaking rocket fuel when I go to write a new chapter. x3 ALL MY LOVE - BO