AN: Yesterday I didn't update because I've been ill for a week with the flu and I just didn't feel up to writing this one but I felt like it this morning. Depending on my workload I'll either write the next chapter tomorrow or Sunday. I would say that this chapter is about 50% from the manga but 50% edited because of the new relationships. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

Dear Guest: If I make a mistake, it's totally accidental and I already said I was sick. I have changed the error so thanks for pointing it out to me like I'm an idiot. Great. Maybe I shouldn't write any more fanfics because I'm such an idiot.

Act Sixteen – The Princess and the Prince

Kyoko felt her heart beat in her chest, the feeling of being in his arms made her feel amazing as if she were one of her prized fairytale princesses. Then it dawned on her. Corn, he wasn't being very realistic in what he was doing. They were supposed to act as acquaintances and as far as Kyoko knew, acquaintances didn't scoop you up and carry you off into the sunset. "I should," she whispered into his chest, "I should get down. You should put me down."

Ren blinked at her, "Aren't you hurt?" he asked before his smile made her blush. "I don't mind carrying someone who is hurt. I don't think that anyone else minds me taking care of an injured woman."

Kyoko paused and shook her head. "It's not that I'm an injured woman," she told him, "but you wanted to keep our friendship a secret," she said and he frowned, raising his head so they weren't making eye contact anymore. He sighed. He knew that she was right despite his want to hold her.

"I really am fine," Kyoko pouted, "You should put me down," she said and Ren sighed.

"You can only move at the speed of a turtle," he told her, "of course I'm worried about you."

"I just don't want you to feel like our plan got messed up," Kyoko said and Ren saw how serious he was. He found the entry steps to the location and placed her down gently, being mindful of her foot. He looked at her like a lost puppy who had just been told off for doing something naughty.

"Well, since you're so determined," he said, "I'll drop you off here but," he came closer so that he could whisper to her, "If you do need me for anything then please ask for me. You're my friend and I care about you," he said before walking off. Kyoko blinked as she couldn't get that disappointed puppy look off of her mind. As she saw his back though, he looked frustrated. He wasn't angry with her, right? This had started off as his plan, his set of rules.

Kyoko dropped her head. There would have been some misunderstandings if more people had seen Corn holding her or if some photographs had been taken. It was best this way. Kyoko attempted to get her mind to a peaceful place but then felt a strange zapping around her as if there was something ominous. This place wasn't haunted, was it?

She turned from side to side but there was nobody there. It felt so hateful and she worried that there would be some phantom that would haunt Corn. Wait, was there a secret war going on between the fairy world and the ghost world? She worried about Corn. Did he know about the ghosts? They might attack him whilst he was playing the part of Ren Tsuruga. Did they have a grudge against her now that she had proven she sided with the fairies. If only she had something to protect both her and Corn from the curse, a talisman maybe.

…

…

As Kyoko sat down, she saw Ren's manager, Yashiro, come over. She wanted to make a good impression on him because she wasn't sure whether he liked her or not. He pulled out some bandages and Kyoko blinked but then nodded her head. Had Corn sent him over to help her in his place? She blushed as she imagined Ren coming close and bandaging her foot. She shook her head. Love was a foolish emotion and love with a fairy prince would only end badly for her.

"May I help?" Yashiro asked and Kyoko looked at him before nodding.

"If that isn't too much trouble," she said and Yashiro unrolled the bandage and very gently touched her foot. Kyoko turned her head to the side. He seemed to be quite skilled. As he bandaged her foot up he coughed and looked down at his work.

"All right," he told her, "This most probably should be okay," he informed her and Kyoko nodded. She was glad for any help. She knew that she should probably see a doctor or something but she wanted to protect Ruriko and more than anything, she wanted to witness Ren acting in person.

"Thank you," she said nervously, "Yashiro-san?" she asked and he nodded, "You knew how to bandage my foot?"

"Of course," he told her and Kyoko smiled at him, "I have to know basic medical and CPR skills to be a manager. If something were to happen to Ren on set then I'm responsible for him," he turned to her. "You're pretty close to Ren aren't you?"

"Yeah," Kyoko said before looking ahead of her, "I don't want to cause him trouble though. I feel that I've done that a lot since we met with each other again. Ren is friendly towards others but I worry that there are people that might take advantage of him," she said and Yashiro looked confused. "Ren is friendly towards anyone even if he might not trust them. That friendliness, I've found, can lead to your downfall."

Yashiro chuckled, "I don't think that's the case. Ren is able to take care of himself," he told her and Kyoko looked at him. She nodded. Yashiro didn't know that Ren was actually a fairy prince so of course he'd treat him like a human. She knew differently though because she knew Corn's very treasured secret.

"Plus," Yashiro continued, "I can say as long as it's work related, Ren would become very strict and not tolerate any mistake. Whether they are of himself or of others, his expectations are the same." Kyoko nodded. That sounded like Corn exactly and she was happy that his manager at least knew that part of him. She knew that he didn't like her acting out of revenge but he was willing to give her a chance. She just didn't want him to feel that she was acting disrespectful of him.

Yashiro looked at her ankle again, "You better go to the hospital for a checkup," he informed her and Kyoko bowed her head. She didn't want to go. She knew that usually people did go but she wanted to see Kuon perform, she wanted to protect Ruriko. Both of those things wouldn't be accomplished if she just stayed here. She nervously looked away from him. "This is just a temporary bandage," Yashiro continued. "I feel it's better you go to a doctor for a checkup."

Kyoko bit her bottom lip. She didn't want to go. She could take care of herself, right? Besides wouldn't Corn get frustrated with her if she took her work lightly. No. She would have to battle through this. "No," she said as she looked the way she had come. "You said hospital, it might take more than an hour going back and forth…by car." She saw him nod and dropped her head. "Forget it. Luckily you used bandages to help secure my injury first, it doesn't hurt as much now. Moreover, I still have a mission that is unaccomplished and there's something else I really have to see for myself."

Yashiro blinked as Kyoko looked out into the distance as if she could see a literal ray of light. His expression softened. She was a pure hearted girl who would most likely bring Ren a lot of happiness. Despite his better judgment, Yashiro nodded agreeing to not push her to leave.

…..

…..

Ren tried to keep his mind on his work, trying to do what he and Kyoko had originally planned. It was getting harder though. Despite how guilty he felt about constantly misleading her, he was enjoying having her around him. Maybe if he told her the truth before it was too late, she wouldn't end up hating him. He just had to play his cards right.

"Wait, the button at the cuff came off," one of the people from the costume department said and he lifted his wrist in order to help her. He had to keep his face at a neutral so people wouldn't know that he was focusing on whether Kyoko was okay or not. As cute as she had been trying to get up like a turtle, he should never take pleasure in her pain. He also knew that she wouldn't forgive herself if he missed work to take her to the hospital despite that being what he wanted to do.

He could hear Ruriko moving behind him, grumbling to himself. Usually he would pay someone who did that attention, probably reinforcing bad behavior but he blamed Ruriko for Kyoko getting hurt. If Kyoko hadn't suggested that they act like acquaintances he most likely would be trying to get the truth from her about the injury. Was it foolish that Kyoko's ankle was making it hard for him to concentrate on his own work?

Ruriko came near him and Ren knew that he couldn't ignore her any further. He turned to her with a gentleman's smile, hoping that his frustration wouldn't show. "Ah, it's Ruriko-chan," he said hoping to act with a happy tone. "You're finally here." He saw her blush and his mind flashed to Kyoko for a moment, he couldn't call her out on that but he could call her out on something else. "I'm getting impatient waiting for you."

He saw her face turn into one that showed disgust as she quickly turned away from him. He frowned at her. She was too much like a diva and as she turned, he readjusted his expression to that smile again.

As she left this time, the director approached Ren.

"She does not seem pleased with your attitude," Seiji told him and Ren counted his inhale in his head before counting his exhale. "It was initially set up as your fervent wish to co-star with her in the movie. Just say something she likes to hear, and that will settle it. It has only just begun."

Ren sighed, he looked away. How could he tell the director that his feelings for Kyoko were making this complicated. He wanted to protect her from girls who would use her and she was placing herself in situations that wouldn't turn out well for her. "Doing it this way," Ren said bitterly, "she won't be dragged in and she will know the true meaning of where the difficulty lies in."

Seiji sighed, "That is also right," he agreed. "She has to be forced to be aware of a crisis. If you must blame someone, it is President Takarada."

Ren nodded, "Right," he said as he tried to get into a professional mindset once again. "If this movie shooting does not wrap, he should indeed be hated."

…

…

Kyoko looked up from where she had been thinking about Corn and how she needed to watch more of the work he had done when he had been Ren when her attention was stolen by Ruriko coming out, dressed in a kimono. She could still accomplish her job at looking after her. She hobbled along using the crutch that she had been lent and called her name with a smile on her face. "Ruriko-chaaan!" she called like a schoolgirl waiting for her friend. "Good," she sighed in relief, "The movie hasn't started yet."

Kyoko felt her body turn cold as Ruriko glared at her. There was such hatred in that glare and Kyoko didn't understand what was going on. She could feel an aura of hatred from Ruriko and she didn't understand what had happened. This was like the ghostly feel she had had earlier. Wait, did Ruriko want to take advantage of Corn? Was she from a long line of fairy slayers?

No, she was over thinking things. Ruriko might have just heard something from the cast or she might be annoyed because of the sunlight. She didn't think Ruriko even knew about the fairy kingdom. She tried to laugh it off but the glare deepened.

What was happening here?

End of Act 16

Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated

Thank you to the reviewers or Act 15

Dreamerkins, H-Nala, Kaname671, Kris XD, misherukuro, MWEH, PaulaGaTo, The Real Jackie-O,

Author Response

Kyoko will have quite a mixed reaction when she finds out that Corn isn't a fairy and she'll develop some mistrust in him. I'm glad that people aren't too annoyed that I'm copying the manga, I rarely do it and sometimes I dislike when people do it so I'm scared to do it so closely. Since it's something that I've never really done before, I find it challenging in some ways to make it a bit different. Thanks again for all the support.