The following day found Yashiro, Kyoko, and Ren at the Takarada estate, boarding Lory's private plane. He had insisted that they use it, as the only other quick option to get to Kyoto from Tokyo was by bullet train, and Ren Tsuruga on a bullet train was a fangirl disaster waiting to happen.

Kyoko stuffed her carry-on bag into the overhead compartment and sat down. Ren sat beside her, thankful to be able to stretch his legs. Yashiro placed himself a few rows behind them and put some earbuds in. He smirked to himself as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back. They didn't have to know that he wasn't playing any music.

After the plane took off, Ren looked over Kyoko's head out the window. It was always cool to watch Tokyo get smaller and smaller. As he was looking, the sun caught a glint of silver peeking out from under the collar of Kyoko's shirt. He forgot to breathe for a moment. Is she actually wearing it?

"I like your necklace." he whispered. He was rewarded with her cheeks and ears turning scarlet.

"It was too important to leave at home."

Ren pulled the pouch containing the Corn stone out of his breast pocket. "Likewise."

Kyoko felt like her heart was melting over her lungs. "The necklace is much more expensive."

Ren shrugged and put the stone back in his pocket. "The necklace might be expensive, but the stone is priceless. It belonged to a fairy, you know."

She blushed. "Now you're just teasing me."

He shook his head. "No, teasing you would be to tell you that the fairy gave it to the most beautiful girl in the world… and then she gave it to some bum actor."

She looked at him aghast, completely missing his compliment. "You are not a bum!"

He smiled. "Maybe not, but you are the most beautiful girl in the world." Kyoko wanted to disappear. She didn't know how to react to that, but she didn't have to. Ren sensed her discomfort and leaned his seat back. "I'm going to take a nap. I had a pretty busy morning."

She cleared her throat. "That's actually not a bad idea." She put her own seat back, thankful that no one was sitting in the row behind them, and was surprised to find that she was actually tired. Her eyes closed, and she fell asleep quickly.

She felt fingertips running gently over her scalp.

"Mogami-san."

Kyoko blinked the sleep from her eyes. "Huh?"

"We're going to land soon. You should wake up."

She opened her eyes wide and stiffened. At some point in her sleep, she had leaned over onto Ren and was resting her head on his chest, tucked under his arm. She chanced a look up at his face. He was beaming down at her.

"Did you sleep well?"

Her cheeks were burning. "Yes." she said quietly. "Did you?"

"Best sleep I've had in months. Never been more comfortable."

She straightened up and raised her seat. "That's good. So you said we're here?"

He nodded, trying to hide the disappointment on his face. "Yes. They said we'll be landing in about five minutes."

The plane touched down, and they got their things from the overhead compartment. A car was waiting for them to take them to their destination. Ren and Kyoko got into the back seat, and Yashiro took the front passenger seat. About 15 minutes later, Kyoko's heart fell into her stomach as they pulled into the all too familiar drive of the Fuwa Ryokan. Ren took note of the change in her demeanor.

"This is the place, isn't it?" She nodded, looking white as a sheet. He covered her hand with his and squeezed. "It's going to be okay."

The car stopped and they got out. The front door of the ryokan opened, and Yayoi Fuwa came out to greet them. She stopped short when she saw Kyoko.

"Kyoko-chan!"

Kyoko bowed to her. "Hello, Okami-san."

Yayoi bowed to her. "It's so good to see you! I saw your name on the list of guests and was so excited!" She bowed to Ren and Yashiro. "I am Yayoi Fuwa, the Okami of this ryokan. Welcome."

Ren would have known immediately that this was Sho's mother, even without an introduction. They had the same facial shape and eyes, though Yayoi's were decidedly kinder. Ren and Yashiro returned her bow. "I'm Ren Tsuruga, and this is my manager, Yukihito Yashiro. Your ryokan is beautiful, Fuwa-san."

Yayoi smiled. "It is good to meet you, Tsuruga-san, Yashiro-san. If you three will follow me, I will show you to your rooms."

The ryokan was semi-traditional, with sliding shoji doors and walls around the common areas. The guest rooms, however, were more like a modern hotel with key card access and individual bathrooms.

"Have any of the others made it here yet?" Ren asked as they followed her inside.

Yayoi nodded. "Kijima-san and Momose-san got in last night, as did Director Nakamura." She took a left down a hallway and handed Ren and Yashiro key cards. "This is for your room, Tsuruga-san. We have you sharing with Hiromune-san. Yashiro-san, your room is next door to theirs." Kyoko noted the gentlemanly smile that appeared on Ren's face; it was apparent that he wasn't a fan of sharing.

"Thank you, Fuwa-san." He nodded to Kyoko. "I'll see you later at dinner, Mogami-san."

She smiled. "Of course, Tsuruga-san."

They went to their respective rooms, and when their doors shut, Yayoi gave a key card to Kyoko, whose room was across the hall from theirs. "Kyoko, you are in this room with Kotonami-san."

Kyoko almost combusted with excitement. Two weeks sharing a room with Moko-san!? Have I died and gone to heaven!? "Thank you, Okami-san!" Kyoko unlocked the door, but Yayoi stopped her with a hand on her shoulder before she went inside.

"Kyoko-chan, it's not my business, but what is your relationship with that man?"

Kyoko blinked. "Tsuruga-san? He's my senpai."

Yayoi considered that for a moment and spoke. "I think it would be a good idea to not have any male visitors in this room, young lady."

Kyoko, whose brain imploded, defaulted to her hostess smile. "I absolutely won't."

Yayoi nodded. "Good girl. I have to get back to the front so I can greet the other guests when they arrive." She squeezed Kyoko's shoulder affectionately. "It is good to see you. You look like you're doing well. I will see you at dinner." She disappeared down the hall, and Kyoko went into her room, where she promptly collapsed against the other side of the door with her beet red face in her hands, trying not to die of embarrassment. She thinks I'm sleeping with him. How am I ever going to look at Tsuruga-san ever again!?

As if on cue, the voice of Setsuka Heel popped into her head. You saw him naked in Guam, remember?

Kyoko shook the image of Ren's glistening wet skin out of her head. I DIDN'T LOOK AT THAT.

You might not have looked at it, but you sat right on top of it and put your lips and your tongue on his neck. Setsuka replied cheekily.

Kyoko rolled around on the floor with her face in her hands. NOOOOO!

Suddenly, the door opened and hit her in the head.

Kanae poked her head into the room to see what was jamming the door and sighed.

"Mo! Can you go one day without having a crisis!?"

Kyoko sat up and Kanae got the rest of the way into the room and shut the door behind her. She sat her bag against the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay, spill. What the hell is wrong with you this time?"

"THEOKAMISANTHINKSI'MSLEEPINGWITHTSURUGASAN!" Kyoko let out in one continuous whine.

Kanae pinched the bridge of her nose. "But you aren't, are you?"

Kyoko shook her head so fast she got dizzy. "No, of course not! How can I ever look at him again when she thinks I'm doing THAT with him!?"

Kanae sighed and sat down on the floor beside her neurotic friend. "Kyoko. You like him, right?"

Kyoko buried her face in the floor. Kanae received a small muffled "Yes." in reply.

"Do you see a future with him?"

Kanae took note of the red tips on Kyoko's ears as she nodded.

"Don't you think eventually you're going to have to get comfortable with the idea of sleeping with him? Scaling Everest, as it were?"

Kyoko imagined herself climbing up the icy side of Mount Everest and finding Ren naked in the shower at the peak. She felt her entire body flush with warmth. She rolled over to face Kanae. Her face was stony and her eyes were far away.

"Moko-san."

Kanae raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Kyoko?"

"Kill me."

Kanae rolled her eyes and flicked her friend in the forehead. "Mo! If you don't get it together, I just might!" She got up and started unpacking her bags.

Kyoko got up from the floor, rubbing the space between her eyebrows, and started unpacking her bags as well. They changed into their yukatas and headed to the dining room. Ren was already there, sitting beside Kijima. The space on his other side was empty, but Kyoko purposely avoided it and chose the place furthest from him at the table. When he saw this, he felt like he had been doused with cold water, but he kept talking to Kijima as though nothing were wrong. The rest of the actors soon joined them and filled in the rest of the spots at the table.

Yayoi and a few servers brought the food out and put it on the table before the guests. They ate, and when they finished, they sat around the table talking. Kyoko kept stealing glances at Ren, who seemed to be engrossed in a drinking game with Kijima. She kept thinking about Guam, and she felt like a creep thinking of him like that. She didn't like how wanton her brain had been lately.

"Moko-san, I don't feel so good. I'm going to go back to the room."

She went back to the room and laid down on her futon. She stared up at the ceiling, wondering how on earth she was going to make it through the next two weeks. There was a knock at the door.

"Mogami-san?"

Her heart jumped into her throat. She couldn't possibly pretend to be asleep. Not after the nap they had taken earlier. She crossed the room and opened the door. "Can I help you, Tsuruga-san?"

He gestured past her. "May I come in?"

She looked down both sides of the hall and then rushed him into the room.

He was puzzled by her secretive demeanor. "Is everything all right, Mogami-san?"

Kyoko crossed her arms over her chest. "No. The Okami thinks we… that is, you and I… um. She thinks that we're…" she couldn't bring herself to say it, her face becoming more red by the second.

Ren ran a hand through his hair. "Kotonami-san didn't say anything about that. She just said you weren't feeling well." Is that thought still so repulsive to her?, he thought, deflating. Not that I had any intent of that right now, but…

Kyoko clapped a hand over her eyes. MOKO-SAN, YOU TRAITOR, she thought.

He gestured at the door. "Please check the hallway, Mogami-san."

She opened the door and checked the hall. When she saw that it was clear, he stepped back out and gestured for her to come out.

"I'm sorry for putting you in that position. I didn't think about how my being in your room might look to others. I just didn't think about it because I know we aren't doing anything."

She was sure if she turned any more red she might start to cast a glow. "Thank you, Tsuruga-san."

He took her hands. "I meant to apologize if I startled you on the plane. I just didn't want to wake you until it was necessary. You looked so peaceful."

Kyoko shook her head. "Please don't apologize. I was just worried that I had made you uncomfortable." I probably drooled on him and everything, she thought, mortified.

He tucked a loose hair behind her ear, causing her heart to skip. "It was nice to sleep next to you again. Sleeping without you after Guam has been… lonely. When I said it was the best I'd slept in months, I meant that." He had been tempted to cuddle up with her on the couch when she had fallen asleep on their "date night", but knew he had already tempted his fate with his cheesecake stunt. If having her accidentally snuggle him on a plane was the only way he was going to be able to hold her for now, he was damn sure going to take it and be grateful.

Suddenly, she was imagining him in the shower again, and she felt the urge to smack her head into the wall. Here he was being sweet, and her brain was turning it into something dirty.

"Are you all right, Kyoko-chan?" Koga Hiromune's sudden appearance made them jump away from each other. Kyoko rubbed the back of her head nervously. "Yes, I'm fine, Koga-san. I ate a little too much at dinner and Tsuruga-san came to check on me."

His eyes narrowed on Ren. "Just checking eh, Tsuruga?"

Ren nodded. "Mogami-san doesn't usually become ill from eating, so I was concerned."

Koga smiled. "Oh, you know her that well, huh?"

Ren smiled back, ever the gentleman. "I know her very well, yes."

Kyoko, whose grudges had sensed the fur about to fly, stretched. "I'm feeling tired. I think I'll turn in early. We've got a long day tomorrow anyway. Good night, Tsuruga-san, Koga-san." She disappeared into her room, silently hoping that Ren and Koga would somehow manage to not kill each other over the next two weeks.

When they retired to their room, Ren gestured at the futon closest to the door. It had a pile of Koga's clothes on top of it. "Excuse me, Hiromune-san, but I thought I had put my things here?"

Koga smiled brightly. "Oh, you did. I just moved them." He pointed to the futon closest to the window where Ren's bags, clothes, and shoes had been unceremoniously heaped into a pile. Ren took a breath and smiled. Petulant little shit.

"Thank you for moving them for me, Hiromune-san. I appreciate you giving me the futon by the window. It has a lovely view." He started unpacking his bag and straightening his things up without complaint.

Koga smiled angelically. "I'm glad you're happy with the change. I just prefer the one closest to the door. I hope you're not upset?"

Ren smiled brightly at him, continuing his friendly facade. "Don't be silly, Hiromune-san. Why on earth would I be angry? You gave me the better spot."

Koga's mouth gaped as he watched Ren tidy up. Not only had he wanted to get some petty revenge for Ren always scoring Number 1 on all the popularity polls, but he had also, most especially, wanted to get back at him for making Kyoko cry. He didn't know what had gone on that day, but she had looked absolutely crushed. Though Koga had teased her about it at the time, it had bothered him to see her so upset. The fact that she had apparently made up with him, and they even looked cozy together, made Koga want to knock Ren out. He glared at the back of Ren's head. Dirty, scheming pervert.

He put his smile back on as his brain started to formulate a devious plot. "If you don't mind, Tsuruga-san, I'm going to shower first."

Ren's smile was like the sun. "Please do!"

Koga disappeared into the bathroom, and Ren dropped his smile. He took a few calming breaths. This is nothing, you've dealt with worse. He's just jealous. It'll pass. Keep killing him with kindness. Almost an hour later, Koga emerged from the bathroom in a fresh yukata.

"It's all yours, Tsuruga-san!" He was all smiles.

Ren returned the smile and entered the bathroom to find the floor soaked. Every clean towel had been thrown on the floor in what seemed to be a haphazard attempt to clean up. Ren knew, in his heart of hearts, that this was more of Koga's passive aggression surfacing. He shut the door behind him and took a calming breath. He noted that the second clean yukata was, mercifully, untouched. Probably so he doesn't have to see me naked and be jealous of that too, thought Ren with a smirk.

He turned on the shower and closed his eyes in irritation as the water came out cold. A vein throbbed in his temple. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and he stilled. Is this more personal than just some industry jealousy? It definitely feels that way. He thought back over the last few weeks as to what he could have possibly done… and settled on upsetting Kyoko with his jealousy in the car. They had been dropping her off for Lotus in the Mire. Did she say something to him? What if she was outwardly upset? What if she cried?

Guilt surged through him like a tidal wave. Though he had apologized to her, he still felt like shit about it. He looked around the wrecked bathroom with a sigh. Yeah, I deserve this. He pulled his yukata off and stepped into the cold shower, his breath hitching as the icy water ran over his skin. As he did his penance, he thought of her, and vowed to do his best to never upset her like that again. When he finished, he used his hands to squeegee most of the water from his skin and then dressed in the yukata, thankful for the dry warmth. He mopped up the floor as best as he could with the towels and folded them neatly in a corner for the staff.

Upon emerging from the bathroom, he found Koga lounging on his futon, watching a rerun of Dark Moon. Like many actors, Ren hated seeing himself on screen. He deduced that this was exactly why Koga had chosen this program for the evening. He did his best to ignore the TV, but found himself drawn in when Mio appeared in the scene. He couldn't stop himself from watching.

"That's Kyoko-chan, isn't it?," said Koga, breaking Ren out of his reverie.

Ren smiled, trying to keep his heart out of his eyes and failing. "It is. That was her first role on TV. She did a really great job."

Koga nodded. "She's a great actress, and just kind of a great girl overall." He fixed Ren with another prize-winning smile. "Don't you agree, Tsuruga-san?"

Ren nodded. "She's a fantastic girl. So much so that her co-stars are willing to take petty revenge on her behalf."

Koga blinked. Oh shit. He caught me.

Ren fixed him with a serious look. "If that is what all of this is about, Hiromune-san, I just want to make something clear. I will never upset her like that again."

Koga glared at him, all friendly pretense gone. "Good. Don't." He shut the TV off, rolled over on his futon, pulled the covers up, and ended the conversation.

Ren lay awake on his futon for a time, staring up at the ceiling. This is going to be the longest two weeks of my life, he thought.