AN: Thanks for all the support. I really need to cut down on my obsessing and paranoia as it's turning a lot of people off of me.

Act Twenty – First Time On Camera

Ren looked away as he tried to control his feelings for her. He listened to the people around him who were talking about her. He had wanted to say something as well but that might lead Kyoko to tell him that they should still remain as strangers. He paused as he heard the words of others.

"Is she really that girl from earlier on?"

"She is rather pretty"

Ren bowed his head. He had wanted to be the person who could so easily say that to her but it seemed that he had missed his chance. He slowly took a deep breath before letting it out. It was Ruriko who seemed to break through the compliments and, although he felt guilty about it, Ren was glad that she had.

"Hmph!" Ruriko said as she took a step forward, "Just do a little makeup and dress up the outer appearance and anyone will look pretty!" she stated before facing Kyoko straight on. Kyoko looked at her, expecting for the worst types of attacks. She mentally prepared her as she faced Ruriko. "This you, it's not bad. Compared to the previous you, It is as if you are transformed into a different person."

Kyoko grinned as she put her hands together, feeling a type of magic surround her. Ruriko hadn't really insulted her at all, she had just spoken the truth. "True, true. It is as you said," Kyoko smiled with her eyes bright and filled with excitement as Ren raised an eyebrow watching her. "The makeup artist is my fairy godmother," she said as the knife in Ren's gut twisted in even deeper. If he had known her love of fairytales and magic then maybe he wouldn't have tried to convince her he was a fairy in the first place.

Kyoko continued to speak, "I am still indulging in the feeling of being Cinderella who had a spell cast on her." Kyoko grinned before spinning around in complete bliss and joy. "I feel like I'm dreaming," she said as if an American schoolgirl getting ready for the prom.

Ruriko stared at her getting annoyed because of this over the top reaction.

Kyoko continued to speak as everyone watched her in shock, "Moreover, this transformation is due to the makeup! Find a professional to do it and of course you will be pretty!" Ren put his hand out wanting to keep her calm but Kyoko stretched her arms out. "I can say it out loud!" She announced, "This is me! My happiest moment in sixteen years! Everyone, listen to me! I am so fortunate!"

Ren bowed his head as he tried to hide the emotions he felt. He was mentally kicking himself. He was taking advantage of that lonely and sad lifestyle that she had been forced to experience as a kid. He wasn't some knight on a white horse. He was a jerk. He closed his eyes as he tried to take deep breaths, not wanting to see Kyoko in this way whilst he knew that he just continued to lie to her.

Kyoko calmed down a little and dabbed at her eyes, "All this happiness is all thanks to Ruriko-chan," she said as she approached the idol. She smiled as she looked at her rival, "So willful, arrogant, and condescending," she commented and Ruriko glared at her, "Thank you.'

Ruriko glared at her, she had never been insulted like this to her face. "You…" she said puzzled by the bizarre behavior, "Are you picking a fight with me?"

Kyoko closed her eyes again and tilted her head to the side, "Because," she still continued to say. "Ruriko-chan. I want to be even happier. I want to defeat you." Kyoko's eyes had a frightening glare as if she were a predator and Ruriko was her prey. When Ren felt this, he was shocked and he let a little frustration into his expression. He understood that given her circumstances, this was natural for her and he had to try to have a little understanding but he wanted a happy life for her. He wanted her not to feed on anger but it wasn't his right to step in and change her.

Ruriko flew back. She wasn't used to being talked to in this way and her face showed the anger that Kyoko had managed to pull from her. "This job is mine!" she yelled out. Everyone could see that she wasn't going to let Kyoko just take it from her. If Ruriko was any good as an actress then this would be the time to shine.

Seiji grinned, happy to see that things were going so smoothly for them but it still caused Ren to tense up. He wanted the best for Kyoko and he didn't feel that this was best for her. He did want to see her happy but acting was important to him, quite possibly more important than she was, he didn't want her disrespecting his sacrifice and his father's legacy despite people not knowing his background.

…

…

Ren felt his feelings get even more complicated as they started the first scene of the acting test. Kyoko was going to be performing the task of walking across in a kimono and acting as if she were a wealthier young lady. She could do it easily and Ren had no doubt in that. However, he wasn't sure how he felt about Kyoko the actress, was this where she would find her happiness? He looked around to where all of the people were waiting, expecting something great from her. Would she be able to deliver? He hoped so.

Kyoko closed her eyes as she tried to get into her role. She had never stood in front of a camera before, this would be her first time doing so and two things were weighing on her mind. First of all, she wanted to steal the part away from Ruriko. She wanted to prove that she was a superior actress to her. Second of all though, she didn't want to lose the way that Ren viewed her, she didn't want to lead Corn to hate her.

If she performed the best that she could there was less likely of Corn being annoyed by her acting and she wanted to have a good friendship with her fairy prince. As she heard the board clap, she opened her eyes, snapping into character as if she had always been meant to be an actress. She listened to the scene around her, bringing that awareness into her character as well.

Once she heard her cue, Kyoko moved forward with ease. She glided across the room just as she had done so at the Fuwa ryokan. She had been praised by the Fuwa parents for her grace and elegance and now it was time to show the same grace and elegance here as well.

Kyoko, now Choko, looked at the two other women. She blinked surprised as she brought herself into character even more and now Ren was completely infatuated with the scene. "What did you say about me, Mother?" she asked. She stood in the proper position for a woman dressed like she was and her eyes registered the younger woman. "It is Midori Onee-san" she said with a soft smile before bowing elegantly and deeply. "It has been a while."

She was impressively talented.

Ren looked around him. Everyone else was seeing this, weren't they, they were able to see how talented she was. He felt guilty for being angry at her before and wondered if he could make this moment a turning point for her. He had the idea forming that acting could really bring her happiness and if that was the case then he would encourage it.

He saw Seiji looking at her in wonder. She had performed so much better than they had been expecting and Ren caught Yashiro staring at him with a smirk. He quickly adjusted his face, making sure to look down to keep the expression of wonder out of his face. He needed to focus on the fact that he was Ren Tsuruga. He had to keep his composure at all costs.

One word from the director though made it so that Ren couldn't help but to smile, "Perfect."

He could hear some of the crew telling her how good her technique was, the posture, the mannerisms and how she must have learned these thing somewhere. Ren knew the truth. He knew how much energy and diligence the young Kyoko had put in when she had been growing up. He wouldn't share that though. He knew that Kyoko knew but if he didn't want to reveal him and Kyoko to have been friends for one summer in their childhoods, he would have to keep his mouth closed.

He saw Kyoko walk away and his eyes followed her. Why was he so drawn to this girl? It was unprofessional of him. However, as Kyoko managed to find a place where she felt herself unseen, her face suddenly showed her pain and she crouched on the floor. Ren took a moment to look around and since the attention was now on Ruriko, he could make his way over to her.

"Mogami-san," he said and she froze, taking a quick look back at him before bowing her head. "You're still in pain," he approached her, his face portraying his deep concern for her well-being, "even though you wish to pretend you forgot," he said as he made her sit on the floor. "I think whichever place that is in, pain will still be pain," he said.

Kyoko looked down, "It's not that bad and won't this draw unnecessary attention to you?" she asked. Kyoko had to admit that she was glad and felt very special to have Corn beside her, worrying about her wellbeing.

Ren gently touched her shoulder, "Here," he said as he put one of her arms around his waist. "Nobody's watching. I want for you to sit down on that chair," he said with a tilt of his head and Kyoko looked at him before nodding.

As she sat down, Ren gently took the sandal off of her foot and checked on her bandages.

He sighed as he gently examined her foot, "You shouldn't do that to yourself," he told her and Kyoko blinked confused. "It starts to be your fault when you don't take care of yourself. Who asked you to use your left foot to walk as if nothing happened?" he asked her as his eyes showed how much care he had for her. "It is a sprain now, but if you go on like this, be careful for me, please?" he asked her as Kyoko could almost see those brown eyes turn to the emerald ones that were filled with so much kindness and affection. "If you're not careful, it'll turn into a fracture."

"Because…" Kyoko started to argue and she looked into Ren's eyes as he waited for her reason, "to walk steadily both feet have to be used."

Ren looked at her with concern. Was she this determined to prove herself? Was this all for revenge on the guy who had hurt her? He blinked before letting out a deep sigh. He couldn't stop her and he wasn't her boyfriend so he couldn't ask for her not to do this. "Just, be careful, okay?" he asked her before touching her cheek and immediately pulling away. "I really care about you."

Kyoko blinked hard but as he pulled away she realized that this was just out of his kind nature and the heart of a fairy prince. Corn didn't know how to handle human relationships and she was letting her own feelings, her own perspective get the better of her.

"I really want for you to be careful in the next scene, okay?" Kyoko blinked at him and Ren looked down trying to concentrate on her ankle, "It is better that you not compete with her in the next scene," he said and Kyoko leaned forward. Corn was being incredibly serious about this.

"Why?" she asked and he looked at her seeming pained as he turned away for a moment as if unsure how to respond to her. "Is it the scene where there is an uphill climbing?" she continued and Ren sighed before looking down again.

"It is a tea ceremony scene," he told her and Kyoko paled knowing how difficult that would be but she wanted to do it. You never got a free ride in life but she wasn't going to pass up this chance. She'd apologize to him later but she was ready to tackle what came next.

End of Act 20

Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated

Thank you to the reviewers of Act 19

Guest, H-Nala, Kaname671, Kris XD, , MWEH

Author Response:

I think I need a change in perspective and the holiday season doesn't help with that. Unfortunately, Kyoko is and isn't the person who Ren will tell that he's not a fairy prince to if you know what I mean which will cause further problems 😉 Let's say that the corresponding chapter to when he'll tell her in this fic is where there is also discussion of a certain "dance".

Also, I know that those who have been following me for a while know this but it's been popping up on a lot of different fics recently. One of my pet peeves as a writer and a busy student/retail employee as well as a writer is that I really hate when people pressure me to update, I find it incredibly rude so please don't do it anymore. I know that it is just people excited to read the next chapter but when I feel pressured, I am less likely to update and sometimes if pressured too much I purposefully don't update because I feel pressured to do so. Anyway, I know this might sound a little harsh but I'm requesting you not to do that anymore. Thank you.