Kyoko sat in the waiting room after her interview with Sho. Yashiro had stepped out to take a phone call, so she sat with her notepad patiently waiting. The door opened and she didn't look up at first assuming it was her manager. She wanted to finish jotting down the line before they had to leave for her next job.

"Your president called my president to bitch about me." Sho said his mood sullen casting a dark shadow over her.

She jumped startled by his presence. He hadn't spoken to her before the interview. It had surprised her when he was suddenly warm and cuddly while filming. He played his part of a doting boyfriend well but the second they were backstage again he dropped her hand and left with Shoko. It was a welcome change from his constant harassment. If their fake relationship remained liked that she would be happy with it.

When she didn't respond he stomped closer snarling, "You could at least show me some empathy. I could have been fired."

"I'm sorry you almost got yourself fired." She said not bothering to look up from her writing.

"I almost got myself fired? Your president…!" Sho stopped himself from shouting by breathing in deeply. "You like fighting with me, don't you?"

Kyoko finally stopped writing to give him and incredulous look.

"You came in here to bother me, Shotaro. I was perfectly content ignoring your existence." She said closing her notepad.

"What are you writing?" he asked suddenly smiling pleasantly.

It was like he had flipped a switch and was nice and cordial. As though they were old friends talking about the weather. She knit her brows together but didn't reply. He watched her amused as she tried to comprehend the game he was playing. Why wasn't he throwing a fit or demanding that she fix the problem he made? He was right she did like fighting with him. Fighting felt normal. Fighting made sense. This pseudo niceness just annoyed her. They weren't friends and she had no desire to pretend they were.

"Come on Kyoko let me see your notebook." He said tilting his head and pulling a swoon worthy expression. Too bad for him she was immune to his charms.

"No. Quit acting weird. There are no cameras around us. That means there is no reason for us to act civil towards each other. Please just ignore me like you did when we lived together." She said and he flinched. "If you'll excuse me I have someplace to be. Thank you for not causing another scene during the interview."

She got up and began to stomp towards the door.

"Look, I came here to say that I'm sorry. I never meant for things to get out of hand. I was just jealous, and I don't know how to act around you anymore and," his breath caught in his throat making her stop in her tracks.

Just get up and walk away Kyoko, she thought to herself as she lifted her bag to put her notepad away. A shuddering sigh almost made her feel sorry for him. Everything she knew about him told her that this was an act. This was his way of not getting fired without having to publicly break up with her. She wasn't going to let him manipulate her like that.

"You're sorry?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm sorry I shouldn't have kissed you or touched you in anyway without permission." He said keeping himself a careful distance from her to prove a point. He could be a gentleman if that's what she wanted. He didn't have to invade her space if she didn't want him to.

"Apology accepted. Now all that's left for you to do is break up with me." she said.

"What? No." He said careful not to let his annoyance bleed into his tone. The LME president had said that he needed to apologize to her and fix what he had done. No one had actually said that he had to break things off.

"You've had your fun now release me from this stupid sham of a relationship. Tell your fans that I'm a hideous toad and you want nothing to do with me. Say I'm boring and domestic. Tell them that I'm a stupid little girl who can't sing. Just please break up with me already."

Sho frowned at her pleading face. "I can't do that."

"Why not?" She asked closing her eyes and rubbing her temples.

"Because I love you." she snorted at his words. "I do. I can't bear to see you with him. The thought of you marrying him and having kids with him sickens me."

"Woah who says I'm having kids with anyone?" She asked incredulously but waved the question away. "Forget that. You don't love me. You probably just need someone to do your laundry and buy you a pudding cup. Seriously it's time for you to learn how to do that yourself or hire an actual maid."

He growled turning away from her. He didn't want her to see how annoyed he was. It wouldn't do to start a fight when he wanted to convince her to take their relationship seriously.

"No, Kyoko, I love you." he said sincerely.

Kyoko's heart fell into her stomach hearing his honesty. She was grateful for once that they were alone. She knew he was telling the truth, but she also knew he had no idea how to love her the way she needed. Maybe there was someone out there suited for someone who could only love selfishly but it wasn't her.

"Did you hear me, Kyoko? I said I love you."

"I heard you. You love me. That's great, Shotaro. I'm really happy for you." she said, and he quirked his brow curiously.

The Kyoko he grew up with would jump for joy at his words. She would rush over and hug him and maybe even let him kiss her. Had Tsuruga corrupted her so much with his lust that her pure heart had forgotten the excitement of being with her prince?

"You love me too. Don't deny it." Sho said and to her it sounded like he was pleading.

"I'm not going to deny it. I do love you." she admitted with a shrug.

"See we were always meant to be together. We love each other." He sounded so hopeful that she almost didn't want to burst his bubble. Once she had thought that breaking his heart would feel refreshing. Now she dreaded the thought of hurting him even if a reality check was the best thing for him.

"I love Seana too." She said and he was taken aback by the statement. "I love her so much it hurts to breathe sometimes. I still cry about how my mother will never say she's proud of me or come to an awards ceremony. But then I think about Ren's mom. She is truly the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. Even her voice is gorgeous. She is charming and smart, and she has more talent in her pinky than I could ever hope to have in my whole body." A small smile played on Kyoko's lips. Sho hated that wistful look. "She calls me her daughter and happily gushes about me to her friends. When I think of how much she loves me it doesn't matter that my real mother wants nothing to do with me."

"My parents love you."

"Yeah, I know they do but I'll never know if it's unconditional love or if they just love the Kyoko that I pretended to be. Would I have been good enough for them if I hadn't spent my childhood trying to please them?"

He had no answer for her. If she were selfish and disobedient like he was, would they have continued to raise her? Would they have wanted her to marry him if she hadn't been so willing to be trained to take over the ryokan?

"Would you want me if I wasn't Ren's? If I wasn't a famous actress, would you even recognize my face in a crowd?" she asked wanting him to really think about it.

"Yes." He said but his voice trembled with uncertainty.

"Break up with me Sho. Call your fans off. Tell them that you don't want me and let me be free of you." she pleaded but he shook his head.

"No."

"Then you don't love me. Forcing someone to be with you isn't love Sho. It's imprisonment."

"Kyoko, I…" Sho turned around to look at her. "I know you love me too."

She shrugged and shook her head saying, "Of course I love you. You were once all that I had, and I will always treasure that relationship for what it was. It wasn't love though."

"How do you know it wasn't love? Because Tsuruga says so?" he asked with bitterness in his voice.

"Because I can't breathe around you."

"That's because we're so in love Kyoko. It's called passion." He said pleadingly as he took a step forward.

"It's called fear because I never know when your good mood is going to switch off." She said then flinched as he glared at her. "I know how to defend myself, but you are bigger, and you never fight fair. I never know if you're going to slap me or throw an insult at me, or if you'll find some other way to hurt me. Like forcing me to date you."

"Then you go ahead and break up with me. If I'm such a monster, why don't you dump me? Cut ties with me Kyoko. Send your brutish lapdog after me to break my bones like he so desperately wants to." Shotaro snapped and he watched her tense up as he took a step closer.

"I would if I didn't think it would ruin Ren. If you hadn't threatened to post those pictures I never would have agreed to even be in the same room as you." she said. Her hands curled into fists ready to defend herself if necessary.

He scoffed. "Please you wanted to be around me. Why else would you have agreed to be in Oh! Darling, knowing that I was going to be in it? You can't get over me. You know it and I know it. Your precious Ren knows it too. Isn't that why he stole the role meant for me?"

Kyoko closed her eyes feeling a headache pulsing behind them. She had had this conversation with Kuon already and she had no desire to have it with Shotaro. The only thing she wanted to do with Sho was break up and go back to being chaotic frenemies.

"Kyoko," Sho began after they sat too long in tense silence.

"Break up with me Shotaro. If you care about me at all you'll do that."

"I can't. I need you too much. I need you more than the air I breathe. I love you. Please just give me a chance to prove that." Sho pleaded urgently.

"Let you have another chance to destroy my heart. No thanks. I already know that you'll get bored of me and run off with some other girl. You can't help but to be mean to me and take away the things that make me happy." She said and Sho shook his head.

"Those must be Tsuruga's lies." He said vehemently.

"I learned not to get excited about things around you. Except of course you. When we lived together, I only listened to your music, and I only watched programs that featured you. Anything that I liked was childish and stupid. You always told me that I should grow up and to stop fantasizing."

"Stop it, Kyoko. Stop acting like I I was never nice to you. I can be kind and gentle just like your dearest senpai." Sho seethed through clenched teeth. What was wrong with her? He was being nice and pathetic just like she liked her men. He was pouring his heart out and practically groveling at her feet just like that fake gentleman she loved so much. Why couldn't she just be nice to him and give in to him like she did for that ogre?

"Yes, you can be nice," she conceded, and he smiled smugly but then she said, "The older we got the less you tried to be nice and the crueler you became. When things didn't go your way somehow, I was always to blame. I had to console you as you would yell and throw insults at me but who consoled me when I needed it? Not you. You still can't just be nice. It's like you're allergic to being a decent human being."

"What are you talking about? I have been nice to you through this entire conversation. You're the one acting like a bitch."

"Sorry." She said sarcastically. "You're right what was I thinking asking you to stop blackmailing us. I'm such a bitch for wanting to be free of this toxic situation."

"Don't say bitch Kyoko it sounds ridiculous coming from your mouth." Sho said and Kyoko shook her head. She knew he probably couldn't hear himself being mean.

"I will say whatever I please. You don't own my mouth Ren does." She seethed. There was a sick sense of satisfaction in watching pain flash across his face. He wasn't wrong she did like fighting with him. "I could tell you all the things he does with my mouth. Would that repulse you enough to make you leave me alone? Would it sicken you to know that he has claimed every inch of my body? And I let him, no I begged him to do it."

"You're disgusting." Sho said feeling his heart break to hear her talk like that. His Kyoko was innocent and pure. She would never beg for sex. Her husband would have to chase her down on their honeymoon and tie her to the bed. Sho refused to believe that she had let Tsuruga do anything.

"This mouth has said a lot worse things than bitch, Shotaro. It's done some pretty dirty things for his pleasure." She said seeing anguish seep into his eyes before he fixed a glare on her.

"I don't believe you. My Kyoko would never…"

"I am not your Kyoko! I am his." She said desperate to get him to accept that.

It was alright if he was hurt for the moment. He would move on quickly, she knew. He didn't really love her. He had gotten caught up in the game he was playing and convinced himself that he loved her. Soon enough though he would fall into the arms of some model or another idol and forget all about his boring childhood friend. So, why did he look like he was about to cry? She shook her head telling herself that she shouldn't care. This was all his doing. He could have left her and Kuon alone, but he chose blackmail.

"I can't talk to you when you act like this." Shotaro said stubbornly.

"Talk like what? Like someone who doesn't completely worship the ground you walk on?" She asked and he curled his lip.

"That is what Tsuruga wants you to believe." He said. It had to be. It was all Tsuruga's fault that his Kyoko was behaving this way.

Kyoko opened her mouth, but she didn't know what else to say. Was there no way to get him to end this stupid charade? She didn't call out to him as he turned on his heel and stomped away. It was impossible to get through to him when he didn't hear a thing she said. She didn't want him to lose his job because of her but she was starting think there was no other option.

Yashiro narrowed his eyes at Shotaro as he passed him in the hall. There was only one place the musician could be coming from. It was sick that he kept going to her to start another battle. What bothered Yashiro even more though was that she kept it up too. She could have held the contract over his head and Akatoki would have forced him to break things off with her. They would have released the story themselves without his consent, but she wouldn't let them. Why was she still protecting that foolish boy?

"Kyoko-chan are you ready to go?" Yashiro asked knocking on the door Sho had left open.

"Yes, Yashiro-san." She said hopping up with her bag slung over her shoulder.

"What did Fuwa-san want?" he asked as they walked down the corridor.

Silence answered him for a good five minutes. He didn't push as he saw she was thinking. She had a serious look on her face, but her aura was that of confusion.

"You know I don't really know what he wanted. To complain, I guess. Once again, I was his verbal punching bag because things didn't go his way." She said. She didn't like that. It made her feel as though she hadn't changed. If he could still use her to comfort his bruised ego, then nothing between them was any different from when they were kids. They walked to the car, and he opened the door for her to slide in.

They kept quiet as Kyoko thought about that. She was still very much the same girl. Sure, she had learned a lot of skills and discovered a lot about herself, but she was still the same hyper girl who loved fairytales. She spent most of her free time cooking, sewing, and cleaning because she liked to do those things. She may dress more fashionable now, but her clothes still mostly came from thrift stores and the bargain rack. So, then why had Shotaro suddenly convinced himself he liked her? He had been so adamant that what was between them was passion and she supposed to some extent it was. Mostly it was irritation though. And familiarity. And exhaustion. She was tired of their endless cycle of abuse. Tired of him playing nice and tricking her into a false sense of security only for him to demean and assault her. All she really wanted was for him to be her childhood friend who she could exchange pleasantries with every few years.

"Kyoko-chan we're here." Yashiro announced as he pulled up to a building with a huge crowd in front of it. "You can sign some autographs and take some photos with your fans but we are limited on time."

She nodded as he exited the car and walked around. A studio valet took the keys from him as another held open her door and Yashiro ushered her through the throng of worshipping fans.

"Kyoko-chan!" they cried causing her ears to ring. Yashiro allowed her to stop and take a marker thrust at her to sign a photo of herself. "Kyoko-chan I love you." She thanked the person as another shoved their pen and picture into her hands. Slowly Yashiro inched them towards the door giving her time to sign and smile with the peace sign as fans snapped pictures of her. "Kyoko-chan are you really dating Sho-chan?" A fan asked sounding like a lost puppy.

She didn't know what to say so she smiled and signed another picture. She could never know what fans were in support of the relationship and which ones wanted her dead for it. What would all these people do if she answered negatively? Would they turn on her? Would the declarations of love turn into angry hisses for her head?

"Alright Kyoko-chan we have to go." Yashiro said a gentle hand on her shoulder pushing her towards the door.

"Thank you all." Kyoko said with a bow before she entered the studio. She gave a relieved sigh as Yashiro took her towards the elevator.

"You handled that well. Now are you ready for this next part?" he asked pressing the button.

"I'm not sure. Are you certain they requested me?" She asked skeptically.

"Yes, I'm sure. It was you they met with, and you they measured and fitted for the, erm, outfits." Yashiro said blushing. "Your co-star is some foreign model." Yashiro said and her heart skipped. He noticed her trepidation and said, "It isn't Bennett-san. I remember that Ren and he didn't get along very well. I would never agree to have either of you work with him."

She smiled relaxing. "Thank you, Yashiro-san."

He led her off the elevator and they were greeted by a petite brunette.

"Good afternoon, you must be Kyoko-chan. I am Ichida, please come this way." The man said with a bow.

Kyoko and Yashiro followed him through a door where a camera was set up in front of a white backdrop. Nervously Kyoko greeted the photographer whom she had already met before, and she was taken back to be outfitted in the first bikini for her shoot. She didn't know why they had requested her and had thought it was a joke at first. Yashiro had been hurt that she thought he would pull her leg like that. Kuon had to explain to her that sporty figures worked for bikinis, so it made sense that she had been offered the job. She was meant to model four swimsuits for the clothing line. If that worked out, they were prepared to offer her another job for modeling lingerie. She didn't know if she wanted it to work out. She knew that she could do it. She knew how to pose, and she was fairly confident she could wear a bikini in front of people. Except she didn't know if she wanted to be photographed in lingerie. They had mentioned a commercial as well and several print ads. There was no way Kuon wouldn't cut all of those out and then she'd have to see those embarrassing pictures in their room all the time.

"Just relax Kyoko-chan." The photographer said. "Pretend the camera is your boyfriend. What's his name Fuwa Sho." The photographer jumped back at the annoyance that radiated off of her in that moment. "Ok maybe not him. Do you have a celebrity crush? What about Koga Hiromune. I like that guy."

Kyoko relaxed and almost giggled as she thought of how Koga would take the news that he was the first person the photographer thought of. He was obsessed with being first and would probably want to rub it in Kuon's face.

"Good, nice and happy. Like you're at the beach with friends. Maybe, Kotonami Kanae."

Kyoko beamed at the thought of spending time with Kanae at the beach. This photographer had clearly looked her up or was following her to begin with. How else would they know two of the people she was regularly spotted with and her public boyfriend? She posed playfully pretending the camera was Kanae and they were having an amusing conversation.

"Alright these are good, but I need a few sexy poses. Imagine the camera is the sexiest man you have ever seen. It's Tsuruga Ren sexy."

"Yes," Kyoko agreed and imagined Kuon was standing in front of her. He didn't have to do anything special just exist and her skin became flushed. He had on swim trunks and a lightweight shirt left unbuttoned. She licked her top lip seeing him remove his sunglasses to reveal his perfect green eyes in the sun.

"Wow, that's almost too sexy." Ichida said and the photographer shrugged.

"Next swimsuit please." The photographer said. "I'll look these over while you're changing."

They finished the shoot leaving the photographer very pleased with the day's work and Kyoko embarrassed that she kept losing herself to daydreams of Kuon. At least no one actually knew what she was thinking about. No one could see that she was making eyes at Kuon daring him to come and rip off her bikini. No one knew that she pulled the edge of the bikini bottom down to tempt him. She really wanted to video call him and show him all the racier poses she had thought of that she couldn't use for the shoot.

"Kyoko-chan." Ichida called to her once she was dressed and ready to leave. "Don't forget these as per your contract they are all yours."

He handed her a large gift bag and she peered inside. In the bag were not only the four swimsuits she had modeled but also some undergarments and a couple of the shirts and skirts.

"I couldn't accept this." She said but Yashiro took the bag and gave Ichida a bow. Kyoko copied him not wanting to be impolite. "Thank you."

"We look forward to working with you again Kyoko-chan." Ichida said before taking his leave.

Kyoko didn't know how to feel about that ominous departure. It was a paying job that was bound to get her noticed more. She didn't know if she could live up to their expectations, however. She wasn't a sexy swimsuit model. Her face and body weren't suited for lingerie ads.

"They think otherwise Kyoko." Kanae said when she voiced her concerns at dinner.

"That's because I tricked them and acted my way through it." Kyoko said stabbing her chopstick into a fried scallop.

"You'll never get through to her." Kuon said through the phone screen.

"Isn't it Ren's job to make his girlfriend feel sexy enough for this type of work?" Kijima asked with a smirk and Kuon rolled his eyes.

"I think Kyoko-chan has a very lovely body and a cute face." Chiori said nibbling on her gyoza.

Kyoko pouted at all of them. Of course, them would say things like that. They were her friends and would never say things that would discourage her from working.

"I know exactly what you're thinking, and it isn't true." Koga said grouchily. "If we thought you were suitable for something we would all speak up. It would be too embarrassing to watch you fail at a job. We could never risk being seen in public with you again if something you were in flopped. That includes print ads and commercials as well as your serious acting gigs."

"Print ads and commercials are serious acting gigs Koga. Just because you don't typically do them doesn't mean they aren't for serious actors." Kuon said.

"Yeah, Ren and I have been in several commercials together."

"You're just saying that because you lucked out and got locked into a contract with a luxury clothing brand. That doesn't happen for everyone, and most modeling gigs are one offs." Koga said.

Kyoko continued to stab at her scallop ripping it apart.

"Except I am being offered another job with them and Yashiro-san said they would most likely make me their official spokesperson. I would have to wear their clothes everywhere, their sexy adult clothes." Kyoko said then shut up feeling like she was complaining about suddenly winning the lottery. Poor little rich girl with all her free clothes.

Her friends didn't mock her for it though. They knew she wasn't used to being seen as beautiful or sexy. She didn't wear things that weren't from the thrift store unless one of them bought it for her. Even then they had to come up with good excuses for her to accept their gifts.

"You know," Chiori started scooting closer to her, "You have a friend who is roughly your same size and would be more than happy to take some of those things off your hands. All those expensive lingerie won't fit in your closet."

"It'll fit in my closet." Kuon said with a pout. He had been looking forward to her modeling those clothes for him.

Everyone including Kyoko laughed knowing exactly what Kuon was thinking. Kyoko picked up her scallop piece by piece and ate it as her friends continued to talk and hassle each other. Koga was appearing in a new romantic comedy which Kanae had to tease him about.

"I can't wait for your co-star to butter you up so she can ask for Tsuruga-san's phone number."

"Hey, that was only one time." Koga countered. "And it was hilarious when Kyoko answered the call in that scary British voice. What was it she said something about a brother?"

"Who the hell do you think you are calling my Nii-san? Nii-san is mine and mine alone. If you put your filthy hands on him, I'll cut them off and wear them as trophies around my neck." Kyoko said in a deadpan Setsuka voice.

"Creepy." Kijima said with a shiver. "I am doing a spy drama next. It'll be all of your next favorite drama to watch." He held his hands up like a gun and looked around sneakily.

"Oh yeah right. I'll be bored after the first episode." Koga said but smirked to let Kijima know he was joking.

"Ren and I will watch it together." Kyoko chirped happily.

"Congratulations dude you're going to be background noise to their kinky sex." Koga said.

"Uh!" Kyoko uttered embarrassed because he wasn't completely wrong.

"I'd take offense to that except I know I'll be getting laid, and you Koga only have your hand to comfort you." Kuon said mischievously as he watched Kyoko's expression become more mortified.

"Kuo… Corn!" Kyoko shouted and the boys laughed as Kanae and Chiori shook their heads.

"Mr. Tsuruga, you're wanted back on set." They all heard someone call for Kuon who sighed.

"I have to get back to work. Talk to you all later. Sweet dreams Kyoko." He said.

"Have a nice day, Corn." She said blowing him a kiss as their friends made disgusted gagging noises.

"G'night Corn." Koga swooned into the screen.

"Oh Ren, Ren I miss you big, sweet corn." Kijima said in his highest most girlish voice.

Kuon rolled his eyes and ended the call.

"Seriously though are we talking a standard ear of corn or one of those big monster sized corns?" Koga asked shamelessly.

"Why would you need to know that?" Kanae asked not the least bit interested in Kuon's penis.

"I have a decent sized ear of corn. I want to know how I compare." Koga said.

"Me too." Kijima said.

"Yes, do tell Kyoko." Chiori chimed in eyes filled with excitement.

Kyoko looked at all three of them and shook her head. "It has nothing to do with size and everything to do with skill and stamina." Kana had given her that line to use.

"Damnit!" Koga said throwing his chopsticks down. "That just confirms that it's big."

"How?" Kanae asked.

"It just does. Look at her face. It's huge is practically written across her forehead. Can't I beat that guy at anything?" Koga said sulking. "I'm going to bed." He got up and walked over to their couch plopping down with his face in a throw pillow.

Kanae and Kyoko met eyes with Chiori each scrunching their brows in confusion. Who had invited him to stay the night?

"Me too. G'night girls." Kijima said settling himself on the floor with a pillow Koga had set down for him.

"Um, excuse me." Kanae said standing up and stomping over to them.

"No, it's time for sleep now." Koga said waving her away.

"Go home!" the three girls said in unison, but it fell on deaf ears.

"Oh, for the love of…" Kanae said as she went to clear the table. Sometimes she could just curse Kyoko for giving her so many annoying friends.

"Kijima-san why are you and Koga-san sleeping in our living room?" Kyoko asked bringing them proper pillows and blankets.

"Because it would be rude of us to kick you out of your room. Thank you, sweet and lovely Kyoko." Kijima said batting his eyes at her.

"Yes, I know but you could always go home." Kyoko said.

"I bet he pissed off Momose-san again and doesn't want to be alone." Chiori said then snorted a laugh when Kijima glared at her.

"Yeah, he needs moral support and all that you know." Koga said waving them away. "Go away now I need my beauty sleep."

"Goodnight Koga-san. Kijima-san let us know if you need some advice." Kyoko said before her and Chiori went to help Kanae with the dishes then went to bed.

A/N: Sorry no sexy times with Kuon.