Heels 9
Disclaimer as usual: I do not own the characters, just the order the words are put together.
Black neko hime – Your reviews always make me write an additional 1000 words. Thank you for your repeated support. I hope you will like this one that is even longer than the last ^^ Not as much mental development maybe but… I set the scene for it ^^
PaulaGaTo – Thank you! My arms are healed and stronger than ever ^^ And your previous review ^^ hihi I honestly was afraid I would get reported for low rating… But it seems that people accepted it hihi ^^
Kurakuma – I hope this made you happy as well ^^ I kept my promise. ^^
MyuPanChan – I would love your ideas. Even if I wouldn't use them, I'm sure I would be inspired and intrigued. I would love to get your ideas ^^
Elderwolves – You are a great inspiration. I was on the same track but your review made me really see it. I hope you will like what I have in store for you. ^^ Thank you for the honest and thoughtful review. I treasured it for days and had it as my screensaver. I hoped to capture my readers and you couldn't stop reading. I… wow... Thank you.
Shinigamis Wrath – Thank you! Please do! I hope I will be able to keep you trapped for a while more ^^
Chitzuki Kurenai – Me too ^^
Alitablake – I like the "testing-the-waters"- Kyoko. She is here to stay ^^ I was in a slump but now I'm revived. I plan for big reveals and a lot of slip-ups ^^ Thank you for noticing my take on Ren's beauty.
12 – Thank you! Really!
Setsuka e Cain – hope you like this one too ^^
CamogianGrl – I love Lory ^^ He is the ultimate fangirl ^^ I hope you get what happened with the offers. They were big and tempting. But the man has picked his way and does not even see it as a sacrifice. ^^
Star – Two chapters in a week ^^ Plenty to read I hope ^^ Thank you for taking your time to write ^^
Lilmonkey37043 – It sounds like it was happy tears at least ^^ I will allow that ^^ Thank you. I like those parts too. Poor Lory ^^ (but as you said – he loves it^^)
BiancaGhost – Sorry I have been too slow. But to make it up to you - 2 chapters in a week! Woooo! Hugs!
Guests – Thank you all!
To KetriaTM – All my love and respect for you ^^ Thank you so much for supporting me and for being my Beta. You give me confidence and courage to continue ^^ Love
… Let's begin…
Kyoko woke up in what seemed like heaven, with a calf cramp from hell.
She pulled herself up to a sitting position and gripped her left foot and began to stretch it with a wince.
"What is it?" Cain asked worriedly beside her as he followed her up to sit.
"Just cramps." She said and pulled her foot slowly until it relaxed.
"Hmmm?" His voice was still heavy with sleep as he nuzzled into her hair. He seemed to be focused on her face rather on her foot. "You need me to get some pads?" He asked and totally sidestepped her still sluggish mind.
"What?"
"If it is the cramps, do you need pads? Should I go buy some?" He asked and realization hit her like lightning and made her fully awake immediately.
'I said cramps, not a cramp.'
"It's just a leg cramp." Setsu smirked while Kyoko was flustered and burning on the inside.
'H-he offered to do what?'
"Then water?" Cain asked and cradled her closer with a grip around her waist. The tightening of her calf finally died down and she carefully let go of her foot.
"You worry too much." She sighed and turned to him. His head was on her shoulder and he peeked between his bangs at her. Kyoko's heart had to restart in her chest.
"I will always worry about you. And care for you." Cain lifted his nose up to her neck and it made a shiver tickle her spine.
"I know." She said and glanced at the time. It was still early. "Do you want to get back to sleep?"
"If you stay with me." He mumbled and Setsu let him pull them back into bed.
'Who cared if they would be a little late?' Setsu grunted and turned around to let herself be wrapped in his arms. Kyoko still rumbled, half impressed and half devastated about the ease Ren had talked about her 'lady business'.
'I promise you he is a foreigner…'
.
Ren knew he probably had freaked the girl out with his offer but he had been too tired to care for her tact and only cared for her health.
He had woken with a start but calmed down when she curled up on his chest some moments later. The day before had been taxing and he still worried about the girl and what was on her mind. But he couldn't fully focus on the small things when his mind finally had found some peace in their relationship.
To finally be able to trust in their feelings for each other, no matter their kind, was balm for his soul.
Ren allowed himself to soak in the feeling for a while but the harsh sun and the temperature soon chased them out of their bliss.
"Seems like it will be awfully hot today." Setsu groaned in his arms and Cain sighed.
"Even if I tell you to stay at the hotel…"
"I would follow you." She ended his sentence and then pulled out of his arms. For the first time did he not feel the need to pull her straight back.
'You know that the opportunity will come again.' Kuon snorted a laugh at the joy that spread inside the man at the thought. 'You sure are easy.'
'Shut up.' Ren mentally groaned as he followed Setsu out of the bed to start the day.
.
'How is it possible for people to live on this island?' Setsu cursed as she wiped the sweat of her brow. There was no wind and no clouds in the sky. Even if she was sitting in the shadow of the trees, she had to fight for every breath. The wig felt like it was floating on top of her scalp and the back of her knees itched from the sweat.
It almost felt like an insult when she watched Cain's flawless face covered in the black robe.
'He is not human.' She thought but figured there was some sort of trick to it. 'Like if you shivered of cold, you could pull a deep breath and relax and the shivers and the cold would disappear for as long as you stayed relaxed.' There had to be some way to channel the heat to a more manageable area than her head.
'He joked about it being visualization but I could maybe make it work?' Kyoko felt the thrill of a possible new skill and the beauty of it was that she could practice even as Setsu without anyone noticing.
'This is stupid.' Setsu sighed but let the girl have her fun.
It took over an hour before she might have gotten some results. First she thought that she just was warm enough to perspire even on her arms, but as her arms lifted more water, the sweat lessened on her forehead.
'OH!' Kyoko wanted to dance when she noticed. 'I might be able to do this.'
'Sure.' Setsu rolled her eyes mentally and shifted in her seat. She wore a white, corset like, tube top with fake black leather details. The white was somewhat cool but it was fitted tight and seemed to cling to her frame. The small black shorts that left her legs bare were a blessing at least.
"Setsu." Cain called and she slowly got up to join him. Even if she moved carefully did she feel weak and she had to blink away black spots from her sight.
"You done?" She asked to gain time.
"Break."
"Fine. You have to drink a lot." She said with a glare at the sun.
"I am." Cain said and glanced around before he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the nearby trailer. It had been set up earlier that day to allow the actors and workers a cool hideout from the sun.
The siblings usually kept to themselves but as everyone were in there, so was the water and food. The Heels were the last ones to arrive and the happy chatter died out when they entered. They made it halfway down the trailer before someone spoke again.
"Hi." The woman that had shared pictures with her some days before greeted. Setsu just met her eyes and then moved past for the table with refreshments. Cain followed and stayed close to her back.
"Rare to see you here." Murasame greeted them and Setsu tilted her head.
"You didn't give us much choice when you hid all the water here." She gave him the bored face that ticked him off. Murasame pulled a breath and then smiled their way.
'Wow, I'm impressed.' Setsu thought without even a hint of excitement.
"Well, it gave your brother a reason to get some cool air. BJs clothes are the worst in the heat after all." Murasame said and Setsu turned to her brother. Cain gave her a questioning rise of an eyebrow but stayed still when she reached out to touch him. Setsu stroked his exposed stomach and then slipped inside the robe to his side and back. He was hot like a furnace. All the heat seemed to vibrate beneath the surface, waiting to either be released or cook him alive.
"He is right." Setsu grunted in English and Cain twitched in annoyance. "Oh, quit it." She sighed his way and the worry escalated inside of her. She glanced around and got an idea. She picked four bottles of water and a pair of towels that had been put out. "Come." She said and walked out the trailer again. She noticed that Cain and Murasame both followed her with intrigued looks on their faces.
She led them to an area with dense shadows and a few abandoned chairs.
"Take off your robe." Setsu turned to Cain and he didn't hesitate more than a moment before he unwrapped the black fabric and handed it to her. "Sit." She ordered and pointed to a knee-high stool in front of her. She handed him one bottle of water when he walked past her and sat down facing her.
He had a bare top with just the high boots and black pants on. The special makeup still seemed to hold together and there was no way Setsu would destroy hours of work only for them to be forced to redo it.
'If I destroy it, it means hours more in the sun.'
She moved to Cain's back and put two of the bottles on a chair while Murasame leaned against a nearby tree.
"What are you doing?" The actor asked but Setsu ignored him. She turned the lid until the bottle opened and she then poured it over Cain's back. She felt how he first tensed up and then relaxed. The water was aching cold and she almost heard it sizzle against his skin. She dried the water off before it stained his pants and then did the same thing again. Cain didn't stop her and she hit the back of his head with some water. He craned his neck to allow her access.
She used two of the bottles to cool down his back and felt the satisfaction when goosebumps formed under her hands nearing the end of the second bottle. She could feel the relief in his skin as she worked the soaked towel down his arms and behind his ears where she hadn't been able to rinse directly.
'Thank heavens.' Kyoko exhaled when she poured the last drops out of the bottle. 'I'm glad that I could help him.'
'Good thinking.' Setsu was equally satisfied as she saw Cain breathe steadily and calm.
"Back to set!" Someone called from the general direction of the trailer and Setsu leaned down and kissed the nape of her brother.
"Done." She whispered when her lips lost contact again. She still hovered by his ear so she knew he could hear her.
"I would have liked to return the favour." Cain smirked over his shoulder before he slowly got back up on his feet.
"I rather do it later, when we are alone." She smirked his way.
"I'm jealous." Murasame sighed and Kyoko almost died of embarrassment. He had watched the whole time. Setsu saw that he was still leaning against the tree with his arm folded and a surprisingly neutral expression on his face.
Cain gave him a death glare as she watched but it only made Murasame smile. He pushed away from the trunk and slowly walked to the set while Cain pulled the heavy robe back on.
"Drink the last bottle, Setsu." Cain ordered her way and Setsu obediently opened the bottle and downed two big gulps. Cain watched while she drank and then reached out for her neck.
She walked into his grip and let him pull their foreheads together. He stayed there just for a while as he breathed out words that she was barely able to hear.
"Thank you." She guessed he said and somehow did she know that it was from the man behind the role. Maybe because he said it in Japanese or the way he said it but it made Kyoko tremble on the inside.
"Hey. Come on. Let's get this over with, BJ." Murasame called and his voice was almost merry. Setsu caught Cain's frown before he turned around and she followed a step behind when they headed back to the set.
.
Heat.
'How is it possible to keep sane when one's skin felt like it was burning?' Kuon had been on the brink of breaking loose and hijacking the trailer until dark, when Setsu had saved his mind. The cold water had been ripping all the heat out of him and he even shivered when he walked back on set.
'She saved me again.' Ren mused and felt his heart fuel on the gratitude and picked up speed.
.
Kyoko was about eighty percent sure that she sweated less after than before the break. The cold water in her hands had helped some but she wanted to believe it to be her mental powers too. The moist still formed beneath the wig but it didn't roll down her temples any longer.
It was a stupid decision but when the sun moved and the shadows left her, she stayed and challenged the direct heat.
'Hot.' Setsu groaned and felt even more sluggish than usual. She drank some water in a try to bring her mind back on track but it still felt slow and uncooperative.
"And CUT!" The director's call pulled her focus forward again and she saw Cain walk up to the smiling director.
It was the final scene and he probably wanted to discuss the next day of filming that would start in the early morning hours.
'I need to translate.' Setsu thought and quickly, by the Heel's standard, got out of her seat.
Cain met her eyes over the distance and she managed two steps before the world suddenly lost all light and her body stopped obeying.
.
They had been on a roll after the break and the camera crew had after a few days of experience learned how to avoid the rays of light. Murasame had embraced the lead role and pulled through in a way that even impressed Cain.
However, no matter how enjoyable acting could be when all gears aligned, nothing would get in the way of his second to last evening with his sister.
When the director called for the end of the day, he immediately turned to the waiting girl. He met her gaze even across the distance and alarms started to blare the moment he did.
"Setsu!" He could not help to call out when her eyes rolled back into her head. She seemed to be suspended upright for a moment and then crumpled to the ground. Screw walking.
Cain reached her about the moment she hit the ground and he pulled her up into his lap not even a second later. It was like he had been stupid enough to stick his hands onto a heated stove.
'She is too warm!' Ren cursed but couldn't help the tint of relief when he realized that it was most likely just a heatstroke.
"Shit!" Murasame cursed beside him as he skidded to a stop. "Must be heatstroke." Cain couldn't focus on the irritating man as he pulled off his gloves and stroked the fainted girl's face. Her skin was scolding hot and surprisingly dry.
'She must be dehydrated.' Cain cursed and glared at the half empty bottle that had dropped to the ground when she fell.
"You! Bring more water to the trailer!" Murasame called and Ren could see him point at some people close by. "Let's take her to the trailer." He continued Cain's direction and the brother scooped her up into his arms.
The temporary moment of calm was crumbling when she still didn't move at all. The two cases of heatstroke that he had seen before had woken up directly after they collapsed.
"Setsu." He called but turned to follow Murasame to the trailer either way.
"Oh god. Is she all right?" The director asked at his elbow but Cain was too tense to answer.
It felt like he walked into a walk-in fridge when he climbed the stairs to the trailer and Cain immediately put Setsu down on the sofa.
Cain couldn't help but to carefully stroke her face with worry.
"Get some towels and drench them in water." Murasame said behind him but judging by the tone it was directed to someone else. Ren couldn't help but to feel thankful to the actor that barked orders in his stead. It wouldn't have stopped Cain but he could keep his whole focus on the girl instead and he was thankful.
Kyoko looked carefree and relaxed in her unconscious state and Cain trailed his fingers over her pulse point from time to time. Her heart rate had initially climbed but then slowed down again. He didn't have to fake a strained expression when she continued to not move.
"Should we call a doctor?" The Director asked and Cain shook his head.
'It's Kyoko's reputation on the line. If it's just heatstroke, then…'
"Here." Murasame called out and that time it was directed at him. The actor held out a wet cold towel and Cain immediately took it and started to pat around her neck and forehead.
"She will be fine." The actor cooed and Cain couldn't help but to nod silently in agreement.
'Of course she will be. Then I will have to punish her for letting herself get a heatstroke.' Kuon grunted and Ren wanted to smile.
'She scared you.'
'Of course she did. She just crumbled. I almost broke out.'
'A few days ago, you might have been able to do that.' Ren patted the towel over her forehead again and the red skin calmed down slightly.
"Heel, I will call for a cab." Murasame said. "She needs a cool bath even if she wakes up and then sleep. You better return to the hotel as soon as possible."
"Yeah." Cain grunted as all the men in his mind warmed up to the yakuza actor.
"Mmm." Kyoko suddenly sighed and Cain snapped closer to her face.
'Better call her name…'
"Setsu?" Cain asked and her eyelids parted slowly. Her gaze was unfocused for an alarming amount of time but then zeroed in on his face.
"You are beautiful." Kyoko sighed and Murasame laughed shortly.
"Seems like she is fine." He said and turned around. "I will head out to call." He moved while he spoke and disappeared out the door while he pulled the two statists he had ordered around with him. "Come, leave them alone for a bit."
Cain glanced over his shoulder until the door closed behind them and turned to Setsu. He caught her lips like if he tried to hold on to her and she sighed pleased.
"What happened?" She breathed against his lips and Cain pulled away.
"Heatstroke."
"Sorry."
"You are not forgiven." Cain pressed his lips to hers again. She lifted her hand to run it over his scalp and he put their foreheads together the next time he let her lips go. "Don't scare me like that."
"Don't ever again take a job that involves tropical islands."
"I promise. Next one will be in Siberia." Cain grunted and got up on his feet again. He bent down and scooped her up in his arms. Setsu grunted with discomfort and Ren's heart jumped with real stress.
"What?" He asked.
"I'm dizzy." Setsu pouted and leaned onto his shoulder with concerning heaviness.
'It's just a heatstroke, right?' Kuon pressed in their head and Ren pushed him deeper behind Cain.
'Of course. Think about punishments instead.' Ren distracted him and Kuon perked up.
"Tell me if you need a break. We are going to the hotel."
"You are mad right?" She asked with a small pout on her chapped lips and Cain smirked her way darkly.
"The devil himself would not challenge me right now."
"Marvellous." She sighed and relaxed into his arms.
.
It was not the first time she had fainted. When you pushed yourself to the brink of your ability all your childhood; food, water and sleep often suffered. And there was that time with Ruriko.
'You are really stupid, aren't you?' Setsu sighed and Kyoko blushed.
'I thought my mental training worked.' Kyoko thought dejected and Setsu shook her head in disbelief.
'Even Ren did not stay out in the direct sunlight. That was just stupid.'
'Sorry. I risked blowing our cover.' Kyoko mentally cried and Setsu rolled her eyes.
'Well, it seems that fainting had one good effect.' She mumbled as the grudges vibrated in the air of anger emitting from the guy that carried her.
She glanced up at his face and saw his jaw clench.
'Yep. Nii-san is angry.' Setsu sing-songed humourlessly.
They had left the cab and were walking down the hallway to their room. Cain had stopped the car on the way at one instance and now carried a bag in one hand. Somehow did he manage to carry her and the bag while unlocking the hotel door.
As soon as Cain kicked the door closed behind them did he let her down on the floor and stepped past her inside.
Kyoko tried to hide the way her body tilted and how she tried to regain balance but she stumbled and had to grip the wall behind her.
The world spun around again but Cain was at fault. He had gone back to pick her up and she barely had time to adjust before her back hit the bed.
"Are you out to anger me?" Cain growled and Kyoko tried to find her bearings. She laid diagonally on the bed with Cain hovering over her. He still had the bag in his hand and she could hear him shuffle around inside of it.
"No, it was not my intention this time." Setsu answered calmly while he got up on his knees. He collected her hands with one hand and continued to dig around in the bag with the other.
She watched silently until he finally turned to her and pushed a bottle in her hands.
"Drink it all." He said and gripped her shoulders to pull her up against the pillows. Setsu followed his rough handling and sank back onto the headboard. The bottle in her hand was a full litre bottle of sports drink.
"I can't drink it all. I will drown." Setsu commented and Cain's eyes got darker. He dug into the bag again and Setsu's eyes widened slightly when he came back with a chunk of ice.
'Where did he get that?'
"If you stop drinking, this ice will punish you. If you drink, I will reward you." Cain said and Kyoko had to push down the blush when Cain laid down on her legs with his head over her half bare stomach. Setsu lifted the bottle and undid the lid. Cain watched her every move and their eyes were locked when she tilted it against her lips and drank.
Cain leaned down and kissed her stomach. It was like lightning bolt to her gut and Kyoko ran into cover inside her mind together with her grudges.
'Oh! What… What is he doing?' Kyoko squealed.
'Oh, I like this.' Setsu purred.
She drank four slow sips and then stopped for air. Cain lifted the ice and popped it into his mouth before pressing it just above her belly button. Setsu inhaled sharply when the ice-cold chunk conflicted with her heated skin and gut that burned like after half a bottle of scotch.
"Drink." Cain said still with the ice in his mouth. She didn't follow it directly so he dragged the ice with his lips halfway around her belly button. Setsu started to drink again. As soon as she started to swallow, he sucked the ice into his mouth and left only soft kisses on her skin.
He moved up and pushed the fabric out of the way. It was a furnace burning inside her body that gained sparks of energy with every kiss. After almost a third of the bottle did she have to pause. The ice was there the moment after.
"Cold." She hissed and Cain trapped her eyes again.
"Drink." He said when he reached for the next block of ice. It looked half melted but was still a decent size. Cain moved up until he could kiss her collarbone.
'He is so close!' Kyoko wailed on the inside and Setsu thought the same but with a less restrained angle on their feelings.
"I don't know if you could call this punishment." She purred but lifted the bottle again and continued drinking. The ice was gone but cold lips put burning marks on her shoulder and nibbled on the skin. The chill mixed with the heat and Setsu gripped his face with her free hand.
"I want a kiss."
"Not until the bottle is empty." Cain said firmly and showed her the ice between his teeth. He turned away from her grip and pressed the cold to her neck directly. Goosebumps rose on her burning skin.
'I'm so confused.' Kyoko thought as she got pulled out of her corner. 'Am I hot or cold?'
She made it past the halfway mark when Cain licked a cold stroke straight over her pulse point and some liquid escaped when she shivered. It travelled over her chin and continued down her throat. Cain licked it up until her jaw line without disturbing her drinking. He kissed his way to her ear instead.
"Drink it up. So I can kiss you." He breathed and Kyoko gulped down a few more. She had maybe one third left when she pulled away from air.
"I will drink it. Just kiss me." She gasped and she felt a slight tremor pass through Ren's body.
"No. Drink." It seemed like he forced the words out of his mouth. The ice met her skin the moment later and she pulled a few needed breaths and then quickly poured almost all the rest down. It wasn't she that pulled the bottle away but Cain. She stared in confusion when he pulled the almost empty bottle from her lips and pressed it to his own.
She didn't have to wonder for long what he was doing as his hand cradled her face the next moment and he pressed their lips tightly together.
'Ahh. Brother plans a full pay back. First the ice now the indirect drinking.' Setsu hummed and let him open her lips with his. She was fully prepared and drank the last when he passed it over to her. She was barely able to swallow the liquid before an almond sized shard of ice landed on her tongue. Cain chased it with his own and they clashed for a single moment. Cain parted with a hitched breath.
Kyoko felt like she had arrived at a different La-la land than she usually visited. This version had more fire and now even ice. She didn't want to move or do anything but explore this new land in detail.
Cain didn't seem to share her wish as he backed out of the bed with the bag in his hands. He dug around in it and found two additional bottles of sport drinks and tossed them onto the bed.
'No-o, don't stop.' Kyoko followed him with her eyes as he moved to the small refrigerator and popped the bag into the freeze-box inside it. The beer rattled in the door when he pushed it closed.
He was maybe five meters away but Setsu could see in the tension of his jaw when Cain left the body.
.
Ren pushed the bag of ice inside the freezing compartment and then pulled a deep steading breath.
'Kiss me? She actually asked it straight out. Never thought I would hear those words from her lips.' Ren sighed and a small smile grew on his lips.
"Ren?" He didn't know how she noticed but it didn't matter.
"Yes, Kyoko?" He turned and saw her sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked somewhere between Setsu and herself at the moment. It was her face but Setsu's relaxed body.
"I am really sorry." Kyoko almost whispered and Ren could not help to notice the way she tilted her head. It was not the usual prim and proper girl but more like the girl at the Dark moon party that had asked if he wanted his way with her.
"I know that you didn't faint on purpose. But you scared me." Ren exhaled and then smiled. Kyoko softly smiled his way in return.
'She is so beautiful.' Ren walked up and sat down beside her on the short end of the bed. Their arms brushed as the added weight made them tilt into the middle. Ren's heart trembled with happiness when she didn't move away from the touch.
"It wasn't my intention but fainting fits our cover story." Kyoko laughed softly. "That I'm holed up in the hotel room because I can't stand the heat." She clarified and Ren smiled too.
"Yes." Ren glanced to the side and caught the faint blush on her cheeks. "It is a day early but we could make it into something useful."
"Yes!" Kyoko suddenly burst out in excitement. "I have learned a lot about that!"
"About what?" Ren asked in confusion. Their soft air had vanished and alarms started to blare inside his head.
"How to make something bad into something useful with my acting!" Kyoko smiled widely with the excitement overflowing. "Setsu and Cain are doing bad things all the time so I have been forced to adapt."
'What is she talking about?' Kuon questioned but Ren soon connected her words to something he didn't want to realize.
'Is it… the kissing? Is the kissing the 'bad things' she is talking about?'
"Father and the President said so too. That everything you experience is useful in acting." She pushed on and Ren got up on his feet.
"That's right. You never know what kind of roles you play in the future." Ren forced himself to say.
'I hate this.' Ren cursed. 'I didn't even realize that I had started to hope it meant something more for her. Just because it meant the world to me…'
'Damn it.' Kuon cursed and ripped his hair mentally.
"Ren?" He hadn't been able to fool her then. Her voice was hesitant and filled with questions.
"I'm happy to hear that you gained something from this job. I did feel reductant, taking your time to be my lucky charm." Ren tried so hard to make his voice neutral.
"No!" He heard the bed creak when she stood up behind him. He didn't have the courage to meet her eyes at the moment but kept them focused out the window to his right. "I really enjoyed this act. I have learned a lot about myself and about acting!" Kyoko pulled his robe like to make sure he listened to her words.
'No…' Kuon growled on the inside. 'Don't get your hopes up AGAIN. Just because she enjoyed the act doesn't mean that anything has changed regarding how she feels about you. Or even love in general.'
"Ren. I thought you meant that you still wanted to act like the siblings from time to time. But maybe in fact…" Her dejected voice kicked his heart back to life.
"I did. But I realize now how selfish that was. You may forget me ever mention it."
"But if I want it too?" Her voice forced him to glance on her face. It was beet red and glowing with a light that crumbled layers of his heart's defence.
'No… If you say that… then I can't help but feel hope.' Ren sighed and turned to her. She did it for acting, but didn't mind the act.
"If I could let you relax and be able to spend more time with you…" Kyoko continued to talk in that shy and embarrassed way.
'Kyoko…' Ren couldn't help it when he reached out for her. He pulled her into his arms and pressed them together. He half cursed himself for giving in to his desires but Kyoko joined him the next moment. Her arms moved from his robe to around his waist.
"You might want to scold me for this but… I want to think that we are more than Senpai and Kohai." Kyoko's words trembled with uncertainty but Ren let go of her and leaned back until he could see her face. Every other man on this earth would have read her beet red face as a confession but Ren knew that her words were not the ones he wished for.
'Still, it is an improvement…' Kuon sighed.
"We are friends." He confirmed and then froze when her relieved smile sent flowers flying all over him.
.
...Time skip...
.
Kyoko tried to deny it even if it was evident to anyone that looked at her that she had some sort of countdown going on. She flipped her phone open every other minute and her eyes sparkled more and more for each time. Amamiya glanced at her questionably and Kyoko tried to order her face into a more innocent one.
"Is there something happening today?" The co-actor finally asked when Kyoko practically started to shiver in excitement.
"What?" She had not heard the full question but she could figure out what the girl had said.
"No, there is nothing. Why would it? What would that be?" Kyoko asked evasively and shook her head in denial.
"Then, are you waiting for a text message?" The third love me member asked and Kyoko could not help the blush on her cheeks.
"Y-yes, maybe." Kyoko had never been one for lying and she could reveal that much to her friend. "I mean. I have sent a message. I hope that I will receive an answer." She trailed off the words into uncertainty and diverted her eyes from the girls analysing glare.
"Fine. You don't have to tell me." Amamiya said and flipped her hair to the side.
'Must be from Tsuruga judging by that blush.' The girl thought with humour.
"I..." Kyoko began but the low burr of vibration against a hard surface made her snap her head to the phone.
'Seriously.' Amamiya could not stop herself from smiling at the expression on the girl's face. It was almost like she was traveling into some kind of fantasy land. The third love me member kept her eyes on her senpai and got to see a range of amusing emotions on the others face. First excitement, then doubt, followed by fluster and happiness.
"I guess you are busy after work then?" Amamiya asked and Kyoko jumped when she was brought back to reality.
"Y-yes." Kyoko nodded and her eyes burned with a happy fire.
'Good thing I didn't have time to ask her to eat out yet. She would have refused this offer then and she would have been unhappy.' Amamiya started to gather the things laying around and stacked them together like Kyoko would have done. She glanced at the love me member's hands that pushed buttons with slight hesitation. Kyoko paused a moment and then pressed the send button. The excitement was palpable in the air. It didn't take more than a minute before the answer arrived and Kyoko hadn't turned her eyes off the screen in the whole time.
'It must have been a positive response.' Amamiya thought and placed the last papers on top of the paper pile. Kyoko quickly pulled her bag up and stuffed the manuscript from Box R into it.
"I got this. You go ahead, Senpai." Amamiya smiled and Kyoko blushed beet red but the fire in her eyes was back and in full force. It took Amamiya's breath away.
"Thank you! See you tomorrow." Kyoko called and the third love me member watched how the girl ran to Director Ana to greet him and then was out of the office with the speed of a bullet.
Chiori chuckled under her breath and started to chase the stray papers that had flown into the air with Kyoko's fast-as-a-bullet exit.
.
Setsu stared at the unmoving dog statue with a kindred spirit. Hachiko had been a symbol of devotion during and after death. She couldn't help to feel somewhat connected to the thought he represented.
'Devotion.' Setsu hummed. 'It could be my middle name.'
'Yes, and like Hachiko, are we waiting for the target of our devotion.' Kyoko thought worriedly. It wasn't like Cain to be late to a meeting with his sister.
'He is right behind us, right now. If you didn't notice.' Setsu hummed and Kyoko noticed the large circle that people took their effort to avoid her with.
"Setsu." The gentle voice sounded from behind her and Setsu slowly turned around.
It was Cain in all his glory, bed head, dark and dangerous. Setsu didn't hesitate one moment before she walked up and slipped inside his arms.
"Are you well?" Setsu asked and Cain leaned down to kiss her. Kyoko felt her heart reach inhuman beats per minute when their lips touched.
"Now I am." Cain sighed and cradled her head closer to his. They breathed the same air and just stayed still for a moment to appreciate the closeness to the other.
"As am I." Setsu whispered and let her hand travel up to his neck and stroked the skin, happy that her biker gloves allowed skin to skin contact.
"You have no idea how badly I have missed you." Cain ghosted over her lips and Setsu smirked.
"I have a slight idea." Setsu sighed and intertwined their fingers into a tight hold.
"You think you do." Cain grunted and she could see his mood turn dark.
"I also have a slight idea how to catch up again." Setsu purred and held up a key card in her hand. She might as well have started to sing out loud for the poorly hidden surprise on his face.
"What's that?" He grunted and Stiles smirked.
"You will have to see."
.
Ren couldn't help but to stop still and watch the girl of his dreams, standing tall and confident in front of the Hachiko statue. Her edgy style and aura made people go out of their way to avoid her. She also pulled the stares from several men and that's what made him close the distance between them until they shared the same space again.
His whole body screamed for him to pick her up and run away with her. Trap her body to his for hours and not let her leave.
The black and blue key card in her hand didn't make it easier to hold back when they obviously had a private place together.
However, she sidestepped him and it was not a hotel that she led him to.
'What did you think?' Ren snorted out in displease and rolled his eyes mentally.
'Then what is this place?' Kuon hummed and Cain stared at the alley that led them to a building with the same colour team as the key card.
"Have you eaten?" The girl asked and when he hesitated, she rolled her eyes and pulled him a bit faster to the counter where a bored looking girl sat and stared at a screen.
"Number 5, 8 and 32 to this room." Setsu said with confidence and the girl snapped a bit more awake when she noticed them outside her cubicle.
"5, 8 and..?"
"32." Setsu said and the girl nodded.
"Ten minutes." The girl said and bowed. "Thank you for staying with us today."
"Setsu?" Cain asked as the girl pulled him through the doors at the right side of the cube and into a long hallway with about five doors on each side.
There were numbers printed on each of them and Setsu led him into the one on the furthest right with the number 31. He could only watch as she opened the door with the key card and pulled him inside.
Cain strained his eyes to see what the girl had pulled him into but it was far too dark to make out more than ruff shapes. There was a L shaped couch big enough for at least 10 people just to the left of the door and a table that rested in front of it.
It was too dark to see but the air and the echo of the door closing made Ren think that the room was unusually big.
A popping sound from Setsu's direction made him turn and he could see a pink gum between her teeth. She had pushed the door closed and revealed a bin with different kinds of bats behind it. Kuon watched as she picked out a black aluminium bat and started to twirl it around in her hand.
She blew another bubble and then flipped the light switch on the wall beside the crate.
Ren heard the flicker of iridescent lights behind him and turned around.
Two fully equipped batting cages were fitted inside the room side by side and the bat in her hand began to make sense.
'She brought me to a private batting cage. I didn't even know they had this in town.' Ren thought and watched the girl spin the bat again. She watched him through hooded eyes and smirked.
"I know you would be up for some exercise after the plane ride and the paralyzing sun." Setsu smiled and Ren could feel the thrill that coursed through Kuon.
'A fight. Nice. It has been some time since I used a bat.'
'At least for its intended purpose.' Cain grunted and mentally snorted.
"You will play too?" Cain asked and Setsu tilted her head with a wicked grin.
"Oh Nii-san. You will have to give it your all to come out on top of this." Setsu smirked and put the end of the bat to the floor.
"Is that so?" Cain smirked back at her and they moved as one man to each cage. Setsu only wore short shorts and a bustier when she entered the cage. She took her stance and pressed normal level with confidence.
'This is not her first time.' Cain mused and grabbed one of the wooden bats that leaned on the cage to the left. Setsu waited with her back turned to him and Ren had to focus to not get distracted by the girl's legs and behind that was right in front of him.
'Should have taken the other cage.' Ren muttered but Kuon roared his approval for the sight.
Setsu pressed go when he got into place and he could only stare when she hit the first ball with a satisfying ping.
'She is good.' Kuon smirked and took his position.
.
Kyoko felt the glee in her mind seep out to her face. Without anyone that mocked her misses did she feel confident and she hit even straighter than she had expected. After about ten hits, she hadn't missed even one.
The confidence hummed pleasantly in her bones and even if she missed one ball by a hair's width some moments later, she still felt amazing.
The round was 20 balls and she then turned to Cain that still had two more to go. The fire in his eyes was a contrast to the character that he had played and both personalities in Kyoko's brain agreed that he fitted more as this, full of life and with burning eyes.
"When did you get so good at batting?" Cain asked with a smirk but she was prepared.
"Well, when you left for the audition, I needed something to pass my time. And it keeps irritating bugs away when you can make a good swing."
"I see." Cain said and walked out of the cage to her side again.
'He bought it.' Kyoko sing-songed happily and put the bat down for the moment. Setsu had seen movement from the door and stepped out of her own cage.
"Foods here." She pointed and the man looked slightly confused with the intrusion. His focus must have been elsewhere.
"If you plan to make me work out, I hope you didn't order anything heavy."
"Do not doubt me." Setsu smirked and Cain found quesadillas and vegetable sticks to his disposal. She sank down on the short arm of the sofa and Cain slipped down beside her.
It didn't take long before she hand-fed him everything in little bites.
Kyoko couldn't help to feel her heart flutter when she finally was close to Ren again. Their closeness and relationship would have been impossible to do as themselves. The media and Ren's fans would have run them over and started rumours that would make trouble for them both.
It was a blessing sent to them and Kyoko couldn't help but to smile a bit when she saw Ren relax against the backrest with a content sigh and a lively glow in his eyes.
She glanced at the batting cage again and was thankful for her childhood and what it had prepared her for. Batting had been one of two sports she and Sho spent time doing in the pastime. He hated badminton because she beat him every time. They went to the batting cage instead and if she did too good it only took one or two comments about her skill to bring her down a level. Baseball demanded both mind and body to be in sync and Sho had known where to hit.
Cain and Ren would never say the words Sho had and Kyoko doubted she would lose this game.
"Setsu." Cain called her attention. She turned to him and slowly bit on a piece of quesadilla. She closed the distance between them after she swallowed and melted their lips together.
The response flared in the heat of his lips and the hands on her hips. He just needed a little more coaxing before she moved to straddle his lap. Both his hands gripped her hard and pulled her close.
"I have missed you." Cain breathed between kisses and Setsu smirked against his lips.
"I know." The girl reached up to touch his hair. Cain let her with a smile on his lips and then pulled her even closer.
"I don't think you do." He whispered and Setsu smiled.
"Let me guess. Every time you got a moment of free time did you remember my juicy lips?" Setsu asked and let her lower lip slide against his. "Every time you laid in your bed, you felt the cold space beside you that was proof of my absence. You would lie awake and count the hours until you were able to see me again."
"Maybe you do know then." Cain sighed and slid his hand across her back.
"I have been separated from you just as long as you have been separated from me." She smiled and leaned in to really savour the feeling of their closeness.
"It was a double suffering then." Cain hummed.
"Never this long again. Please." Setsu purred and Cain nodded.
"I might not be able to look like your brother every time. But I will always be waiting beneath the surface for you to call me out."
"I might turn greedy." Setsu warned and Cain smiled the smile that lit fires in her gut.
"No matter how many times you call for me, it won't be anywhere near enough."
'I might get greedy.' Kyoko repeated inside her mind.
'Go for it. Make yourself happy. You can see for yourself that Ren likes it.' Setsu said and pointed at the soft relaxed face that was day and night compared to the professional smile that she had seen just the other day when he visited the daruma.
'I will be greedy.' Kyoko knew it.
.
'Please ask me.' Ren tried to beg with his eyes and Setsu smiled that mischievous grin that said to him that he was in over his head. He loved it.
'Whatever she thinks is too much would probably be the least amount I need to survive.' Kuon snorted and reached for some of the snacks. He put some vegetable sticks into his mouth and smiled amused when she nibbled on the other end.
They returned to the batting cages after a while and Kuon had to fight with all his might to keep even steps with the girl. He was utterly defeated when she came out one strike above him.
Ren didn't mind too much when he saw that the girl tried to keep unfazed but broke out in victorious smiles all the time when she didn't think he noticed.
Cain, Kuon and Ren were not men that easily admitted defeat but the girl's smiles and pink blushes made him feel like he came through with a victory. He could live with being the loser on paper.
Ren glanced at the time and then back to the girl. Setsu wiped her bat slowly with a slight smirk and then joined him by the door.
He had no idea how her schedule was for the following day but they were closing in on midnight. He guessed their time was running out but felt strangely at ease. He knew she was in his future and it soothed him.
Setsu gripped his hand and pulled him outside without rushing. She threw some money at the girl at the entrance and the bored girl broke out in a wide smile when she saw the big tip.
"Please come again." She bowed and Setsu pulled her brother's hand to lead him out.
"I had fun." Cain said and Setsu glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. He had meant it as a farewell gesture but her expression told him that he was way wrong.
"This is just the beginning." Setsu smirked and pulled up a second key card from her pocket.
Ren didn't have to freak out over nothing this time. The excitement was real because the key card was printed with the katakana for a hotel and the room number 307.
.
There was a lot of kissing but the time apart and their shortage of sleep made them soon curl up under the comforter, draped around each other.
Setsu relaxed on top of the brother and let her head rest above his heart. The beats and his warm hands that stroked patterns on her back soon lulled her to the sleep that had escaped her during their time apart.
Ren set the alarm and then relaxed beneath the sleeping girl. He wanted to stay awake to treasure the moment but she was a spell to relax him and he soon caved for the feeling. He wanted to laugh at how easy sleeping beside her had turned into an addiction and that his body had failed him more than usual since they parted. He carefully removed her wig and his own and then welcomed the traitorous sleep.
'She excelled all my expectations.' Ren thought as his eyes fluttered closed. 'Oh, I hope this is the start of a tradition.'
.
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Authors note…
When I did the rewriting this time, I erased an author's note in the middle of this chapter. Everyone should know what they are getting themselves into when they read a fanfiction, and if you have read this far, I hope you want more.
The note was by the "Time skip". I bid goodbye to the fans that wanted to keep Kyoren's relationship on the same level as the Manga. Buuuuuuut I don't want that. So, there are a lot of chapters after this one, and their relationship will definitely evolve.
Has anyone tried the "relax until you don't freeze" – thing I mention in this story? I actually like that feeling. It's just horrible when you slip back into the shivers again.
Dear people that review; You are the world to me!