This is the revised version. Enjoy!

...

When Kyoko reentered the lobby after grabbing what she needed, she saw Tsuruga-san standing by himself, once more contemplating his coffee with a frown.

"I'll try this again shall I?" Kyoko teased as she walked up and he looked over at her, "Good morning. Have a nice night?"

A sheepish expression came over his face, and Ren said, "Nick suggested beer pong. We had no beer. But he did have whisky. I may have a bit of a headache."

Kyoko giggled at his hangdog expression, "Poor thing. Maria-chan did want lunch with us though. Will you make it to Tokyo?"

"Course I will. Won't be a problem. Shall we?" He gestured to the doors and Kyoko smiled and fell in step with him.

Once they were on their way in Ren's car, Kyoko broached last night's topic again.

"Did you actually get my text about rehearsal last night?"

"Not last night no, kind of glanced over it this morning. What were you thinking? We have that first scene ah, Monday right?"

"Yeah, I don't think we can fit a rehearsal in for that. Director Shingai said we're running behind by about a day, so I think the shooting schedule is tight then."

"Hmm, well, how about this, how about we put it from our minds today, as we don't have Yashiro-san here, and he's the one with my schedule. What do you say?"

Kyoko frowned, "Is it ok to keep it until tomorrow? I could just give him a call now and check."

Ren went ahead and tried to soothe her worry by squeezing her hand with his own, before placing his hand back on his steering wheel.

"Hey, don't worry, I think we'll be able to manage. It's good to make sure we keep that in mind, but our priority today is the premiere. We don't want to be consumed with the stress of this production and make missteps at the premiere, right?"

Some of Kyoko's worry did clear up at that. "Yes, that does make sense."

Ren reached out to ruffle her hair and he shot her a smile, "I know shooting will be difficult for episode four, especially since we won't have a lot chance for possible reshoots since we need to spend so much time on episode five, but I trust that we'll be able to get through it, so long as we make sure to depend on each other."

Kyoko returned his smile, her worry firmly put aside by that remark. They drove along in silence for a while, before Kyoko had another thought bothering her enough for her to ask another question.

"Tsuruga-san, why am I here? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I could support you today, but I am curious. I have been since you first invited me."

Ren shrugged, "Who better to be here with me?"

"You've said that before. It made me think. Wouldn't Director Konoe, or the president, be better to join you? They were certainly more involved with the whole process of you being Cain Heel and BJ."

Ren shot her a wry glance, "Involved for longer perhaps, but they were not 'more involved'. Not by a long shot. I've said before that I don't know that I would have even been able to complete the work without you there."

Kyoko was pondering that, when she was suddenly horrified by a thought that struck her. Kyoko swung her gaze towards Ren and demanded, "Wait, did the president have us become the Heel siblings because you told him about us as kids? Does he know about us? About that time when we were kids in Kyoto?"

"What? No! God, no! I have told no one about that. No," Ren was so fervent that Kyoko then felt somewhat insulted.

"Geez, alright. I thought, well I don't know what I thought. The president's reasonings were so mysterious at the time," she huffed and turned back to her passenger side window.

Ren studied her for a moment out of the corner of his eye.

"I imagine that yeah, normally people do discuss things like happy memories. But ah, I'm a little self-conscious if you haven't noticed. Especially about things that are important to me. Perhaps I should ah…be more open about that. But, normally, I'm selfish enough to just want to keep it to myself."

Kyoko couldn't help but smile as she noticed the light blush on his face. Sometimes Ren was too cute for her to pretend to not notice. She was distracted from that train of thought when he let out a heavy sigh.

"God, I don't think I even talked about that when I had to see a grief counselor. I sure don't remember if I did at least."

Kyoko blinked, the only indicator of her surprise, "You had to see a grief counselor?" As soon as the question left her, she wished that it never had. Not only was it rude to pry, it was a dumb thing to ask. Of course he should have.

But Ren only nodded and said, "Stipulation of being in LME's employ. The president needed to be reassured that I wouldn't spiral when my grief or my depression overwhelmed me. He made me see a counselor once a week for a while. I had to talk about at least one thing when I saw the counselor. Didn't have to be about my problems, but I had to talk at least a little."

Kyoko always marveled whenever this side of Ren came out. This open and honest man that was so comfortable with her that he didn't mind explaining things that mattered to him. And her heart ached for the boy that had to learn the hard way how to deal with his issues. Ren spoke up again.

"There's this trick they have you do when you feel like you're drowning under all your problems. They have you think of a place that you want to be, of a place that makes you happy. And you just stop, and focus on that, and hopefully, it keeps you from spiraling."

"What would you think of?" Kyoko almost bit her tongue when she asked. It was yet another horribly rude question. She was however, undeniably fascinated by this side of Ren that he liked to keep hidden away.

He sent her a sad smile before he turned his focus back to the road, "That forest of course. With that river and the sunlight streaming in through the canopy of the trees." Kyoko suddenly understood with crystal clarity why this had come to mind for Ren when she'd asked about it.

"Even though they asked, I never even explained what helped. I'm pretty selfish huh?" he darted a glance at her, clearly nervous to hear her response.

Kyoko shook her head, "No, I don't think you are. Not with this. You're a private sort of person. Honestly, it's a privilege that you do explain things to me that matter to you. It makes me feel special." This last bit she said very quietly, shy to admit it, but wanting to share with him as he'd shared with her.

Ren's hand trailed back down to her hands that were clasped together in her lap and he held them tight for a moment, then let them go.

"Of course you're special. Don't ever doubt that, ok?" his voice was so achingly gentle when he said that, that she had to quickly blink back tears.

She nodded, so he knew she had heard him and Kyoko heard a soft laugh come from his direction and felt his hand ruffling her hair. Her head was bowed so her hair hid her face, and Ren never noticed the small, secret smile that crossed her face.

"Hey sleepyhead, we're here." Kyoko was shaken gently awake and she blinked her eyes open after a second, stifling a yawn as best she could as she stretched. Ren hid a smile as he watched her do this. Shortly after their earlier discussion, Kyoko had fallen into a light doze and Ren had been relieved. He always felt somewhat scraped raw whenever they talked about emotionally heavy issues.

Kyoko stretched once more once when stepped out of his car.

"Is everyone else here already?" she asked.

"I believe so."

They were proven correct when Ten-san met them in the lobby to escort them up to the hotel room the president had arranged for their use near the theater. Ren followed along affably as Ten-san and Kyoko chatted about the dress Saishi had designated for her to wear for the evening, and the jewelry and shoes Ten-san had found to pair with it.

When Ren opened the door to the room as they came upon it, a figure lept out at him in haze of curls and strawberry-scented shampoo.

"Ren-sama! I've missed you so muuuch!" Ren laughed and gave Maria-chan a tight squeeze, but she soon squirmed away, yelling about her big sister.

The next hour was consumed by Ren and Kyoko having lunch with Maria-chan and Ten-san (with ice cream for dessert). Afterwards, the girls decided to do their nails together, and Ren caught up on his email correspondence that he'd been neglecting since the day before (although Maria-chan made a persuasive case for him to get a pedicure, he eventually just had to say no). Shortly after that, Lory and Ruto showed up and Ren coordinated with them about the evening's dinner and travel plans. By then, the girls had moved on to creating voodoo dolls with scraps of fabric and stuffing that Maria-chan had brought along.

Once their plans were finalized, Ren went off to one of the ensuite bathrooms (he was not surprised by the luxurious accommodations as Lory always insisted on them) to put on his evening garb. When he reemerged, he was surprised to see only Maria-chan at one of the tables of the room.

"Where's your grandfather Maria-chan?"

"He and Sebastian-san went some place."

"Sebastian-san?"

"Kyoko onee-san calls Ruto-san that when she thinks he can't overhear."

Ren laughed lightly and shook his head, "Well Maria-chan, how do I look?"

Maria looked up from her doll, and studied him thoughtfully for a moment, "I still say a pedicure would have been good for you." She said eventually.

Ren chuckled as he buttoned up his cuffs.

They waited in companionable silence for a moment before Maria spoke again, "Your tie matches onee-san's dress. Was that your idea?"

Ren, surprised, looked down at his tie, "Can't say that it was. Ten-san was the one who put my look together though."

Maria watched him from under her lashes and Ren suddenly felt like she knew more than what she was letting on.

"Maria-chan?"

Her gaze swung away and Ren's eyes narrowed in suspicion. He was distracted from pursuing that path when Ten-san exited from the other bathroom of the suite.

She bowed theatrically, "Happy to join you for this evening's premiere, I present to you, Kyoko-san of LME."

She had a devious grin on her face when she lifted herself out of her bow. Ren hardly noticed, so preoccupied he was with staring at Kyoko as she stepped out into the suite's common area.

If the dress had been any other color, perhaps Ren wouldn't have been so startled to see how mature Kyoko seemed in it. As it stood though, the sleeveless, floor-length dress was a striking shade of garnet. Which was appropriate, as gold and garnet earrings were hanging from Kyoko's ears, and she was wearing a matching bracelet. The accents of black beadwork that glittered in various places along the draped folds of the bodice were done in an elegant fashion and Ren could only applaud the final result.

He was also relieved that other than the color, the dress was more modest than, say, what Kyoko wore to the Box 'R' wrap party. At least, he thought this, until she stepped forward and did a little twirl, and the slit in her dress went up so far on her left leg that it reached mid-thigh. Ren fervently hoped that he'd smothered the strangled sound that just came out of his throat well enough that no one paid it any mind.

Maria was clapping, her eyes shining as she praised her big sister for looking so edgy and fashionable. Ren let out a sigh of relief as it seemed Ten-san, Maria-chan, and Kyoko were thoroughly distracted from his reaction by oohing and aahing over how well the jewelry and black strappy heels matched the dress itself. He leaned against the wall of windows, hoping the chill from the glass could help cool him off some.

For a few moments, he just got to enjoy the girls having fun as they all waited for Lory to return from where he and Ruto-san had gone. He was fiddling with the knot in his tie, trying to loosen it a little when Lory stepped back in the room. After praising the pair of them, as well as Ten-san, for how good they looked, Lory strode up to Ren, shaking his head in exasperation.

Ren glanced at the president, and fiddled with his tie some more.

Lory smacked Ren's hands away from his garnet-colored tie, and readjusted it himself, "Knock that off Ren. No one wants to see you all nervous like this. You're the cool, collected gentleman, remember?

"Hardly feel like it these days," Ren mumbled, knowing Lory would understand what he meant, beyond the premiere he was about to attend. Lory tsked, a noise that still made Ren feel like he was an anxiety-ridden teenager to this day.

"I know you're worried about a lot these days. But," Lory shot him a reassuring glance, "Do know that what you have been able to accomplish at your age is really remarkable Ren. It's common to be where you're at now, feeling all that worry boiling up inside, but remember you've got people around you now that can help with that. Any time you just need to talk something over, or need to talk about anything at all, we're here to listen. You know?" Lory smiled, and tilted his head so Ren's gaze followed his to the others in the room, who were sending Ren similar reassuring expressions. Ren's eyes caught and held Kyoko's, and Ren couldn't keep his lips from twitching up into a smile as she sent him a small grin.

"Thanks Boss," said Ren.

"No problem kid."

Director Ogata Hiroaki looked around the theater from his perch on the box seat balcony in avid curiosity. He'd been surprised, but delighted when Director Konoe had reached out to him and invited him to the premiere of Tragic Marker. Ogata was a fan of horror himself, and had been considering attending a premiere of the movie after seeing a couple of the teaser trailers. He by far preferred attending the fancy Tokyo premiere that Director Konoe and the cast were at though. He was always interested in how the cast and crew enjoyed the final production.

He and Konoe had chatted earlier in the lobby when he'd come in, which had been nice. Since then, Ogata had kept his eyes peeled for the various actors and actresses that had been in the movie. There was a lot of hubbub about the supposed Actor X, or Cain Heel as he'd overheard some of the actors call him, and Ogata was eager to see him show up.

He'd theorized that the man might not even show, but Konoe lingered in the lobby, so Ogata had a sneaking suspicion that there was still a certain actor that had yet to come in. Konoe had cordoned off a section of the box seats of the theater and nearly all the seats were full, so Ogata was pretty sure Konoe was only waiting on one more person to appear.

It was highly probable that Actor X was who he was waiting on, as all the top billed cast aside from him had already taken their seats. The buzz outside the lobby doors increased in volume all of a sudden, and Ogata kept his eyes peeled. When the ushers opened the door, he leaned over the balcony railing, eager to see who had caused such a ruckus.

When a couple walked in, and Konoe went to greet them, all smiles, even Ogata had to blink, then look again. Then he did it again, scrubbing a hand over his face, and peering back out at the lobby. As inexplicable as it was, Ogata had to admit that Tsuruga Ren and Mogami Kyoko had indeed just walked in. Ogata stared as he watched Konoe greet them enthusiastically.

Others in the cast had been watching along with Ogata, and he heard them muttering back and forth, surprise and shock the most notable reactions.

"Why is he here?"

"Who's that with him?"

"Man, that's a killer dress!"

"Seriously, any ideas for why Tsuruga freaking Ren just walked through the door?"

"Wait, are they dating?"

"Honestly Manaka-san, is romance all you think of?"

"Ok, seriously, why is the director all over him? We have other famous people that are just here for the premiere, why's Tsuruga getting so much attention?"

Ogata blinked dumbly as Konoe himself ushered the pair up to a set of box seats and installed them right next to his own seat. The director was chattering a mile a minute as Ren and Kyoko just looked, for all the world, like they were completely absorbed in what he was telling them.

Ogata then remembered the first night he'd met Konoe, in LME's underground parking lot, and what they'd overheard there.

"Oh shit," he whispered to himself, realization striking him like a thunderbolt. Ogata hurriedly took his seat as the house lights dimmed. Ren and Kyoko had gotten there with just enough time to spare.

Ogata would bet his autographed Dark Moon finale script that their agency president had planned that deliberately. If he had in fact planned out every single part of this, just for a certain reveal to happen the night Tragic Marker premiered...well. The LME president would indeed be on a whole other level. His admiration for the craftiness of LME's president doubled in that moment.

By far, the most difficult thing to withstand while watching Tragic Marker, was keeping his hands to himself. Every time Kyoko pressed close to him, her nails digging into his arm as evidence of how much the movie scared her, Ren had to inhale slowly, then exhale even slower. Being so close to her for such an extended period of time was...problematic. And for more than one reason.

He sent up a prayer of endurance and willpower, and nearly let out a strangled sound when Kyoko tucked her face into his shoulder to hide from Black Jack's first murder scene. He curled his arm around her shoulders, and patted her updo with a careful hand.

"There, there. Only an hour more to go." he whispered quietly, so Konoe wouldn't notice what he was doing.

She shot him a nasty glare and he had to smother a snicker.

By luck, or by sheer willpower, Ren's libido had calmed considerably by the time the house lights came up again. Konoe turned eagerly to him.

"Well? Final thoughts?"

Ren considered that for a moment, "An impressive addition to the famed Japanese horror genre. But was the face makeup a little much do you think? Really, all I remember are the hours in makeup putting it on." He let out a laugh and Konoe did too.

"Ah, you'll have to take that up with our makeup staff. I'm just the director."

Ren laughed again and waved it off, "No, I kid, I kid. Honestly Director Konoe, I'm honored to have been able to complete this endeavor with you at the helm. I think I will personally have a great deal of attachment to this production for quite some time. You were the first to hire me for a role such as this. Thank you for taking that chance."

Ren held out his hand, and Konoe looked touched as they shook on it.

"I can honestly say that you, and your companion there," Konoe peeked around Ren to smile at Kyoko and she blushed, but smiled back, "You two were a genuine pleasure to work with."

Konoe stood then, hands on his hips with a satisfied expression on his face, as he appeared, for all intents and purposes, like a king surveying his kingdom. He glanced back down at them after a moment, and said, "Shall we make your introductions?"

Ren stood as well, and turned to offer his elbow for Kyoko to take, "Princess," he teased and she huffed a laugh but stood so he could escort her down the steps of the box.

The rest of the cast spilled into the lobby shortly after the trio did. Murasame, Manaka and a couple others were part of the first group to make a beeline for them.

Konoe smiled as they showed up, holding up his hands to forestall their many questions, "Everyone, I'm pleased to introduce Tsuruga Ren. Otherwise known as Cain Heel."

Ren smiled, and bowed, "It was wonderful to work with you all."

There was a ringing silence for a moment before Murasame spoke up, "You have got to be kidding me. There's no way."

Manaka tilted her head, then said, "No actually, the height checks out."

Ren let out a nervous laugh. "It's a bit obvious that, huh?"

Murasame still seemed dumbfounded, but others were curious and then everyone started talking all over each other to try to make themselves heard. It wasn't until about fifteen minutes later, when everyone's curiosity was sufficiently satisfied for the moment, that Manaka spoke again.

She looked around where Ren and Konoe had been answering questions, and addressed Kyoko.

"Hey, who are you? I don't know you."

Murasame was appalled, "Manaka-chan! That was so rude!"

Manaka rolled her eyes, "I'm a curious type, you know that!"

Kyoko laughed, and waved it off, "It's fine. I hadn't introduced myself because this was your guys' big night. I didn't want to be a bother. I'm Kyoko-san, from LME."

There was mischievousness in Manaka's eyes that made Ren extremely nervous. But before he could divert Manaka's attention, she asked,

"So you are guys like, dating?"

Ren felt a familiar panic settle across his shoulders like a heavy mantle, but Kyoko just laughed again, "Not at all! I just lost a bet!"

Manaka pouted, but brightened after a second, "What kind of bet gets you escorted by the Tsuruga Ren to a premiere? I'd like to be in on it!"

Ren winced as Kyoko stiffened. Her voice was more curt when she replied.

"Just a silly one. Can't really recall the parameters of it at the moment."

Ren dared to glance down at her out of the corner of his eye, surprised by how she had phrased that. There was a particular look in her eye that got his pulse racing again. Moistening his suddenly dry lips, he interrupted their conversation.

"Kyoko, you remember that the president did want us back soon. Ruto-san is supposed to be waiting out there with our car."

Kyoko looked up at him as she wrapped her hand around his elbow again. If Ren wasn't reading her completely wrong, she was relieved to be leaving. They said their goodbyes, and began exiting. As they did so, they had the misfortune to hear Manaka exclaim,

"I am obviously at the wrong agency."

Ren darted a glance down at Kyoko again, and he caught a small sneer on her face before she took a deep breath, and rearranged her features into a more pleasant, neutral expression.

"Excellently done there." He whispered down to her. She smiled back at him. They were nearly out the door, when a voice behind them surprised them.

"How unexpected to see you two here."

Kyoko and Ren turned, not sure if they'd really heard who they thought they had. Kyoko was the first to answer.

"Director Ogata! Oh gosh! How have you been?!"

He laughed as Kyoko graced him with a small hug, "I've not been too bad. My last production had some problems, but we at least finished it ahead of schedule. And you two?"

"We've been well." Ren replied for them, as Kyoko returned to her place at his side.

"So, unless I'm stupidly unobservant, you were indeed the mysterious Actor X? Am I correct?" Ogata's voice was slightly teasing, but curiosity was alight in his features.

"Hah, yes, yes I was."

"It was marvelously done Ren-kun. Oh, and Momose-kun told me you two and Oohara-kun were in something together right now. How's that been?"

Kyoko brightened, "It's been amazing! There's so much to it, and it's so in depth! Oh, but we won't be shooting for as long as we were with Dark Moon. It's just a miniseries."

"Well how interesting. I look forward to seeing it."

"Should be airing around the first of the year. We sure hope you'll enjoy it. It's been something of a passion project for us." Ren said, smiling at the excited expression that was mirrored on both Kyoko and Ogata's faces.

Since Ruto-san was waiting on them, Ren made sure that they said their goodbyes shortly thereafter, so they could return to the hotel. But they didn't escape until Ogata-san managed to get a picture with them, (Ren wondered at this habit of his and Momose-san's).

Ren didn't think Kyoko breathed a sigh of actual relief until after Ruto-san had dropped them back off, and they shut the hotel room door behind them. The plan was for them to next change out of their evening garb, so Ten-san could come by and take it back with her once they'd notified her that it was available, and then they'd be off to their on-location site again.

Ren let Kyoko know he was going to go change and she nodded to show she'd heard as she plopped down at a table to start undoing her hairstyle. Ren changed quickly. The theater had gotten him overheated for more than one reason, and he was eager to change into something cooler. Once he was back in a tee-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, he exited to the common area. He glanced curiously over to where Kyoko was looking out the window at the lights of the city. It appeared that all she had done was undo her hair.

Leaving her to her thoughts for the moment, he grabbed himself a drink from the fridge in the kitchenette of the suite. When she was silent for a few more moments, his curiosity was piqued enough that he finally asked.

"What are you thinking about?"

"You. Us. The future."

It was an absent-minded reply, and she leaned against the wall, and peered out into the night life of the city she could see from the window. It made Ren pause, set his drink down, and wander towards her.

"Care to elaborate," he asked, his voice carefully neutral.

"I wonder about you. How you're doing, I mean how you're really doing. You use us and we when I'm around in way that makes me wonder what you want from us together. I wonder what the future holds. Is that what you wanted to hear?" The Kyoko he was seeing now, he had little experience with.

This Kyoko was an incarnation that seemed to no longer fuss about propriety and it was intoxicating. Ren had only had it happen to him a few times before now. It in turn, unsurprisingly, simply made him want more in return. More of her attention, more of her focus, more of her wondering.

He stopped near where she was propped up against the wall as she continued to determinedly look out the window. He slowly reached out, using his forearm and shoulder to lean in and press in close to her. Ren's lips quirked up for a millisecond as Kyoko didn't even bother to flinch away from him.

"Well, when it comes to us, as you put it, I'm pretty sure you know I'm happy with whatever you're willing to give. I'm...fairly certain you've known that for a while I think."

She contemplated the city's nightscape some more, but didn't disagree. He spoke again.

"Unless I'm reading this completely wrong, you also know why that is."

"Because I'm special?" She said this quietly. Ren almost didn't catch it. A familiar anxiety began to claw at his insides and he inhaled deep, before taking the plunge once more. He was tired of hiding.

He snuck an arm around Kyoko's torso, hugging her close to him and pressing a kiss to her hair.

"Because you're special." Ren affirmed.

"Because we knew each other as kids?"

Ren stopped breathing in the scent of her shampoo as she asked this, catching the slight tremor in her voice.

"Because, the very first day we met at LME," Ren replied, determined to clear up this misconception, "You sat outside our building for hours. You've not stopped surprising me since."

There was a long, quiet moment before Kyoko huffed out a disbelieving laugh.

"No. No way! You hated me then!"

"Sure. You hated me too. That didn't make you any less interesting. I didn't remember the rest til months later. That time in the hallway as a matter of fact, when you dropped Corn."

"Unbelievable. There's no way that-"

"That what? There's no way that a lonely, lost person like me would notice someone so fierce and determined?"

Kyoko groaned and buried her face in her hands, muttering something Ren couldn't hear. He waited her out patiently, his head on her shoulder, his body curling into her warmth.

"And most surprising of all, you were like that because your heart had been broken. You know what happened when my heart was broken? When I thought I'd lost everything?" Ren recognized that his voice sounded almost detached as he asked her this. Kyoko stilled, raising her face from her hands.

"It seemed like I just became a shadow. I existed, but only when people shined a light on me. They had to give me that light. And I still didn't feel real. But you. Well. You made people see you. You weren't going to be in anyone's shadow. No one would ever dare call you nothing but a poor imitation of someone else."

Kyoko's hands fell to his arm then, and she squeezed tight. He heard tears in her voice when she spoke.

"You know you're what inspired me right? I wouldn't be here today, doing the work I am now, if it wasn't for you. I started out on this path because of a choice I made, and Sawara-san and the president gave me a chance, but that would have all been for nothing if I hadn't met you."

"You praise me too highly." Ren's voice was full of self-loathing and Kyoko shook him a bit, her nails digging into his arm.

"Listen to me! If not for that tea ceremony scene, I would never have worked as hard as I did. I would have been content to act like Moko-san did then, from the script, and as I was taught. You dragged a response out of me because of your own ability. You did that. No one else. I have worked so hard to get on your level and I don't know how else to tell you what that has meant to me."

Ren's voice was choked up in his throat, and he had to swallow hard before he could speak again.

"Kyoko. What do you mean?"

"I mean that I'm happy that I'm special to you. Because you've been special to me for a long, long time. I know we've had a rocky time of it. We're both quick to anger or to miscommunicate at times. But, if not for you, I wouldn't be where I am now. So, thank you."

Ren squeezed her tight, both arms enclosing her and he buried his head in the junction between her neck and her shoulder. They stood there for a long, quiet moment. Absent-mindedly now, Ren took his fingertips and dragged them across her skin, from her wrist all the way up her arm, and then back down. He did this several times, relishing in their closeness.

"What are you thinking?" The question came from Kyoko.

"I'm thinking that a week from now, we could go watch the stars from the rooftop of where we're staying on location. Weather's supposed to be nice. No cloudy skies."

With his face so near hers, he felt the muscles of her cheek move as she smiled. Ren's eyes were closed, but he pressed a soft kiss to her collarbone in response.

"What else?"

"I'm thinking three months from now, it'll be damn hard to get some time away from work for us, considering that one role I just auditioned for. So I'll have to do something extra nice for your birthday."

"Who said you were invited?"

"Maria-chan. Her grandfather wore her down. This year's party will be even more elaborate than last year's apparently."

Kyoko let out a quiet laugh and Ren pressed more soft kisses to her collarbone and her shoulder. The bodice of her dress had a boat neckline and Ren utilized that to his full advantage.

"What else are you thinking of?" Kyoko caught his hand as it trailed back down her arm, and she interlocked their fingers and held tight. Ren's heart tripped over itself, and his pulse raced.

"I'm thinking that six months from now, we'll be coming up on my birthday. I'm thinking I'll need to take an extended vacation. Been going nonstop you know. Should start planning for a vacation now. It'd be the sensible thing to do."

"Yes, that would be sensible indeed."

Ren stopped when his lips pressed into Kyoko's neck, and he felt her pulse pounding against his lips. It felt like in that moment, as if the temperature in their room had increased by at least twenty degrees and he swallowed hard again, his mouth gone dry.

"And you? Are you a workaholic, same as me? Or do you do things like vacation?" he asked.

Kyoko was silent, but then sighed, her voice trembling so much when she spoke, that Ren held her tight in the hope that it'd soothe her nerves.

"I imagine I could be persuaded to vacation. It is sensible after all, to take time away, and come back refreshed." Kyoko raised their interlocked hands to her mouth and she pressed a soft kiss to the back of his hand.

Ren closed his eyes, breathed deep and smiled.

"Where will you go?" she asked.

"I'm inordinately fond of rivers and forests. So probably there."

"Sounds lonely." Kyoko said, carefully looking at their interlocked hands and not at him. Ren smirked, and pressed his nose and mouth closer to her ear.

"Oh I don't know," he demurred, his voice quiet as his lips grazed the shell of her ear. Kyoko shivered, "I often find myself dreaming of such places. Did you know, I'm never alone in those dreams?"

There was quiet moment, but then Kyoko huffed, and said, "You've fallen into quite the bad habit these past few months." Ren froze, then raised his head from where he'd tucked it into the curve of her neck and shoulder.

"I'm sorry?" his voice was carefully neutral.

Kyoko unlocked her fingers from his, pressed her hand to the side of his face and trailed her hand up and over until it hit his hairline. She buried her fingers in his hair and pulled. Ren would like to say he was able to keep quiet when this occurred, but a strangled sound left him and he heard Kyoko sigh in satisfaction.

"You've got a bad habit of touching me in places that drive me crazy."

Ren blinked, astonished at the purr he heard in her voice, and had to smother a groan when she pressed their faces close together, in an imitation of what he'd been doing earlier.

"I'm afraid I haven't the foggiest what you mean," Ren dared to say, and felt her hand tighten in his hair again. He's prepared now though, and doesn't make a sound.

Kyoko turned her head and shot him an agitated look out of the corner of her eye and Ren couldn't hide the pleased smirk that movement sparked. Her eyes narrowed when she caught it.

"Disingenuous to the very end?" she demanded. Ren only shrugged, eager to see what new reaction he could provoke from her. He didn't have long to wait.

Kyoko's breath hitched, and before Ren realized what was happening, she had thrown her arms around his neck, her hands curling tight into his hair, and she planted her lips on his. He quickly reoriented himself, and returned her feverishly hot kisses. The first thought he was actually cognizant of coming to mind, was that this was nothing like what had occurred between them in Guam.

His hands grasped at her back, and held her tightly to him. Ren felt a little as if he'd gone mad; like his shivers would shake him right out of his bones, but his skin was so hot that he was, without a doubt, so present in this moment that it would be seared into his memory forever.

Kyoko's lips pressed hard into his, and he licked back, wanting to taste more of her. Ren couldn't figure out if he groaned, or she did, but the result was that he pushed her up against the wall, and tried to close her in tight so she couldn't ever escape again, so he could hear more noises fall from her lips. He placed kisses across her cheekbone, down her throat, and he would have kept going except Kyoko yanked on his hair, and Ren knew that that groan was his.

He stared at her, bewildered, but then she just brought his lips to hers again. He sighed contentedly as Kyoko's tongue found his, clumsy, but determined. She followed this up by dragging her hands across his cheeks, down along his chest, and then curled them tight into his dress shirt. The paths of her hands left a trail of blinding desire that Ren would sell his soul to fulfill, but he knew they weren't ready for that. He pulled away slowly, placing softer, less passionate kisses back along her cheekbones and to the tip of her nose.

Kyoko blinked up at him, confusion and concern flickering in her gaze. Ren smiled ruefully.

"We shouldn't get too carried away. Now's not the right time."

Kyoko's face was as red as he'd ever seen it, but she nodded in agreement, and he cleared his throat and stepped away. He proceeded to the room's small kitchenette, opened the freezer door of the fridge, and promptly stuck his head in. He heard giggling behind him, and took his head out long enough to shoot a resolute look at Kyoko.

"Laugh all you like. I can take it."

She snuck closer, placed her hands on his back, and rubbed her face against his shirt. Ren was distinctly reminded of her rubbing her face against his hoodie that night she'd needed help with her Natsu and she'd done that exact thing every time she'd yawned. He refocused on keeping his head in the freezer so he would not act on how utterly adorable Kyoko could be when her guard was down.

"I'll be good, I promise. Won't you come out of there?"

"Nope. You're a dangerous one Mogami Kyoko."

"Same could be said for you. You smell so good all the time. And your smiles drive me crazy. Even your angry ones. And well, don't even get me started on your hands."

Ren's ego was cautiously pleased to hear this. He snuck a glance back down at her and saw her sneaking one back up at him. He cleared his throat again and glanced away.

As he didn't want to melt the ice cream that had been left behind by the president, he went ahead and shut the freezer door.

"Well." Ren said matter-of-factly, "Your smiles drive me crazy. And I want your hands on me all the time. So I think we're on pretty even ground." Ren finished, marveling at the honest words he was no longer scared to say out loud.

Kyoko's blush deepened and she let go of his shirt to take a step back. Ren's eyes narrowed as he turned to face her head-on.

"Nope. You still have the advantage. Your blushes are your best weapon."

"Weapon?!" she squawked. Ren couldn't help but snicker. Kyoko scowled up at him and he grinned back.

He played with a bit of her hair, and bent down slightly to press a kiss to it.

"Yes. Those are dangerous things you know."

The tension between them seemed to completely dissipate while Kyoko scolded him for being so ornery. Ren felt relieved. He hadn't really known what to do once Kyoko had done what she did. She had him so tied up in knots, it seemed like the hardest thing to do was to attempt to navigate the dangerous waters between them in a fashion that didn't have him making a misstep.

After a while of withstanding her scolding, Ren decided to remind her that they needed to be getting back soon. Kyoko pouted for a second, and that gave Ren an idea. He took her phone from where it'd been laying out on the table and he motioned her over to the window again.

Angling the camera just right, he placed both of them where the camera would catch the pair of them, as well as much of her dress, and the pretty city lights of the night she seemed to like so much.

"For posterity, hm?" he asked, and Kyoko's cheeks pinked, evidence of how pleased she was that he'd thought of it.

"Alright princess, smile for the camera," Ren teased. Right as he hit the camera button, he felt lips against his cheek. He had no doubt that the picture he'd just got would actually have him blushing. He sighed, once more resigned to looking uncool if made the girl next to him happy.

As she stared down at the picture, a beautiful smile graced her features, and Ren felt himself fall in love all over again. Her voice was quiet, but he found himself blushing again when she smiled up at him and said,

"Thank you Kuon. I love it."

…

Edited for better flow and whatnot.

-artsy