AN: I usually tend not to answer questions from guest reviews just because I don't know how to, but I think I'm going to start putting the answers right at the bottom so if you do have questions that's where I'll answer them. As for this fic, I really hope you enjoy 😊

Chapter Nine – New Challenges

"It's a dance."

Kyoko closed her eyes as she mentally kicked herself for that response. She had been reminded of when she had first talked with Ren whilst she was Bo and how Kuon was having trouble figuring out what certain words meant. Then again, was Shou really that stupid? The reason why Ren…Kuon had had difficulty with the word was that he was brought up in America and it was a really used word. Kyoko didn't really know how she could convince this idiot in front of her that Kuon was a dance.

If it was a dance, it'd be a very complicated one but one that she'd enjoy doing.

"A dance?" Shou asked as he laughed at that, "I'm pretty sure it's not a dance."

"Well, how familiar are you with dances?" Kyoko challenged him by raising an eyebrow, "You, who barely moves in your music videos, don't know a single thing about dancing."

Shou laughed again at that. This girl in front of him really had guts to challenge such a stupid notion. He knew about dances, he just didn't think that someone like Kyoko did. "Are you kidding? It's you with your dreams of being a princess that means you don't consider anything outside of those big fancy balls dancing. I bet you don't know any kind of informal dance."

"I told you," Kyoko said with a certain amount of stubbornness in her voice, "I know how to dance the Kuon."

"Oh, really?" Shou said as he was more concerned with protecting his performer's ego than what the word actually meant anymore. "So, show me a move of it."

Kyoko laughed, "You'd love to see it, however I wouldn't give you the time of day."

"I can just look it up online," Shou argued as Kyoko looked down. Kuon wasn't a name that only one person had and of course the recent net results wouldn't be posting about Ren so maybe it was alright if he looked it up. He'd probably only click on a few results and then give up on it.

Nothing to worry about there.

"So, look it up," Kyoko told him with a level of unrivaled confidence in her voice.

Shou nodded, "I will. So, are you still getting closer to Tsuruga, the guy's a complete tool. I mean, I heard that he only looks tall, thin, pretty girls," he said as Kyoko looked to the side. She didn't want to admit to this guy that she was dating Ren. That would be horrible, plus, it would only upset Ren and she didn't want that to happen.

"Tsuruga-san is my mentor. I only want to get close to his acting ability," she lied but looked down. This guy had spread so many lies and denied so many things that she didn't actually feel guilty if she didn't go back to Kyoto like she had vowed to. Plus, she was pretty sure that even if she did go there, Kuon would just follow after her.

Before Shou could say anything else, Kyoko heard her phone ring and she looked down. She was surprised to see the president's number and so took the call.

As she talked to the president, Shou gave up on her.

Apparently there was a new opportunity for her that Takarada-san would tell her tomorrow morning.

….

….

Kyoko had tried to forget all about Shou as she served the people at the restaurant. After a shift where she had managed to tire herself with hard work she could be proud of, she was about to go to bed before she checked her phone. Two calls from Kuon. Well, she just hoped he hadn't gone to sleep yet.

She called him back with a smile on her face.

"Hey there, Kyoko" she heard her boyfriend say in his dreamy voice. "I'm glad you called me back."

"Well, why wouldn't I call you back? I mean, I didn't disturb you, did I?" Kyoko asked as she held the phone to her ear and smiled as she felt giddy inside. This man was her boyfriend despite that information not being public knowledge.

"No, not at all," Kuon said as Kyoko pulled her knees up to her. "There's something important I need to discuss with you. Maybe doing it over the phone isn't the best idea, but I have to make a decision soon."

Kyoko took a quick breath in, "Is everything alright, Kuon? You're not in trouble, right?" she questioned him and she heard a weak laugh from the other end of the line.

"Nothing like that. I've just been offered a few international jobs. It's always been a dream of mine to find jobs in America and I've been given the opportunity…it's just going to be hard to leave you," he said honestly as Kyoko hesitated. She suddenly felt a little sad but she had to continue for his sake.

"That sounds like a great opportunity," she commented as she looked away. Maybe if this had happened in a few years she would have been able to find work for herself so that she could join him. She really didn't want to not see him for that long a stretch. However, standing in between him and his dreams was something that she wanted to do a lot less than be without him.

"So, it would really be alright with you if I did this. I'd only do it if you're okay with a long-distance relationship. Kyoko, you mean a lot to me so if you don't want me to go," Kuon said and Kyoko could hear the mixed emotions in his voice.

"I can't say that I won't miss you terribly, Kuon" she told him before smiling weakly, "but we can make it work. Plus, I don't think I could be happy with anyone else, I love you, Corn," she said as her cheeks turned red.

Kuon laughed, "love you too."

….

….

Kyoko had no idea what was going to go on when she headed for LME. If she had known then she probably would have been a bit more excited than anxious about what her boyfriend had told her the previous night. She knew in her heart that Kuon was all that she could want, but the idea of trying to keep the secret alone for who knew how long was a little intimidating.

If it came out, she would have to deal with the press releases alone and fend off those exhausting fangirls that he had. She would have to try to persuade Shou to leave her alone and without Reino's fear of Ren, maybe he would cause some problems too.

It was when she was led into the president's office by Sebastian and saw Kuon…Ren on the sofa watching her, that she suddenly felt a little bit of excitement. She had to calm herself down. Maybe she could still hide her relationship from the president if she acted well enough.

She could tell it was too late by his smile.

"So," Lory said with a grin as he stood there looking like a French musketeer that day, "Congratulations should be in order," he told her, "I think that this means that you are a graduate of the Love Me program, or at least I'll have to test you to figure that out."

Kyoko paused, "You know?" she asked before looking at Ren, "Is it okay that he knows?"

Ren nodded and then sighed, "He managed to get it out of me, apparently he had spies hidden again and he also knows that I told you who I really am. I also told him about the international offers, though he knew about those as well."

"Well those of course I knew about," Lory commented as he sat down. "You don't think that offers get given to your manager without me knowing about them. That's why I thought of the perfect test for Kyoko here, if she's willing to accept it."

Kyoko looked between the two of them.

Okay, hopefully this wasn't too hard a test. She didn't want to have one more thing barring her from getting out of that ridiculously colored jumpsuit.

"I think that it's a great opportunity," Kuon said as Kyoko came and sat down next to him. "That is, if you're alright with spending more time together?" he asked as Kyoko tilted her head to the side. She was getting to be confused about what exactly could be happening here.

"I want you to study under two, possibly three, actors in a masterclass. These will all be in the areas in which Kuon will be working, I just think that since you've already had a debut, I could help you improve your craft," Lory said as Kyoko's eyes lit up.

"Really? You don't have to do that, I don't want to be a burden on," Kyoko said quickly but Lory tried to brush away her worries with a wave of his hand.

"Kyoko, if you want to grow as an actress, you will really have to learn the right techniques and skills as an actor. I don't want you embarrassing LME with attempts like your one to hide your relationship with Kuon here," Lory said as Kyoko paled.

"Don't these actors have things that they need to do," she worried.

"Well, the first person is Kuu, so if you want to disappoi-" Lory began but Kyoko immediately straightened her posture as she sat. Just like a schoolgirl in class, she raised her hand and then said with a lot of conviction in her voice.

"No, don't tell Father that. I will gladly work with him," she turned back to Kuon and then looked down, "I mean, if that's alright with you."

"It sounds great. I bet my dad will be really excited plus that gives us a reason to spend time with them without anyone knowing who I really am," Kuon laughed as Kyoko nodded. She did not want for him to find out that Shou, of all people, had learned his true name. She just hoped there weren't any web results to give him proof.

"So, I'll get the tickets set up for when you've finished your most recent jobs," Lory said before looking at Kuon. "I also think that the time might come soon for you to tell Japan who you really are."

"How about I do it when I come back?" Kuon asked as Kyoko smiled.

"I think Japan will be thrilled to know your real name," she tried to encourage him and he reached out to hold her hand. Even though this was a new relationship for him, it was moving much quicker than either of them had believed that it would. Hopefully, by moving this fast and by working abroad, they wouldn't be rushing into things that would lead them to dangerous situations.

He would feel terrible if they broke up whilst in a foreign country, he just hoped he wouldn't put too much pressure on Kyoko whilst they were there.

However, he had to admit that he was hopeful that this would be beneficial to them. He really wanted it to work out for the best and maybe one day for them to commit to one another forever. He just hoped that Kyoko felt the same way.

AN 2:
- So, when I said that Ren was in an interview last chapter it was one that I didn't show so I guess I broke the show don't tell rule.