Author's Note: This chapter is basically a re-write of my original chapter, with some tweaks. Sorry, I know! But new content is coming!

P.S. Thank you to DramaqueenBlair, who pointed out in a review that Sho was a little OOC in my original chapter. Hopefully the changes I've made help fix that some!


CHAPTER I - OVERTURE

"That's the last of the changes. As soon as we have all those updates confirmed, we will provide the final shooting schedule. Thank you all for your hard work today!"

With that, the production manager wrapped up the meeting. Staff members stood from their chairs, some already making their way out the door to their next appointment while others greeted coworkers and grabbed leftover coffee and pastries. Aki Shoko glanced at her watch, then politely excused herself from a group of colleagues.

"Sho, it's time to head out," she said, setting down two paper cups on the immaculate glass conference table. The rockstar stood up lazily and stretched while she gathered both their things and slung her large leather tote over her shoulder. "We don't want to be late for your 11:00 at Fuji."

They weren't really in danger of being late, but she was anxious to get in the car. Shoko was rarely nervous, her cool composure was one reason she was good at her (admittedly very stressful) job. But the morning's meeting left her with a nagging sensation that she couldn't quite forget, like a hangnail she kept brushing over. Shoko lifted her coffee to take a sip and then thought the better of it - she didn't need to be any more on edge.

The fact that Sho was sitting in the backseat grinning so broadly he looked feral was not helping ease her growing sense of apprehension. Shoko had never seen him look so smug and pleased with himself ever since she'd known him. So she was understandably hesitant to make a fuss by interrupting during the meeting, especially when Sho had been so adamant about his opinion. But still…

"It's not too late, you know," Shoko said. "If you change your mind about the casting, we can still call Asami-san and -"

"What?" Sho glanced up from his phone.

"I was just saying, the casting. It's not set in stone, yet. If you changed your mind, we could still-"

"Why would I change my mind?" The musician was confused. Shoko was usually so smart, but for some reason Sho didn't understand, she was failing to grasp the pure genius that was his plan.

Probably because his manager thought it was less of a genius idea and more of a terrible one. And even though it was probably futile, because Sho had made up his mind and he was used to getting his way, she still had to make one last attempt to get her charge to see reason.

"Well, Kyoko I understand as a choice," Shoko said lightly. And it did make sense - both professionally and personally, although Shoko knew Sho would never admit (to himself or anyone else) to some of those reasons. As for the other casting choice, Shoko had been surprised by Sho's choice, to say the least. She didn't even want to really say his name. "But... are you sure about your other pick?" Shoko glanced in the rearview mirror and saw a grin that looked more like bared fangs.

"Oh yeah, I'm sure," Sho said smugly.

"But you can't stand him." His manager was baffled.

"It's a genius idea. Asami-san agreed," Sho said impatiently. "she thought it was a great idea." He turned his attention back to his phone. Shoko pursed her lips. She had a hunch the producer had agreed because Asami knew that Sho's acting abilities were mediocre at best, and that wasn't going to cut it this time around. And while the producer may have a point, Shoko really didn't think that this was the solution to that problem.

The rest of the ride was silent, each occupied by their own thoughts. When they pulled into the parking lot at the studio, Shoko gave up, resigned.

"Well," she muttered to herself, turning off the engine. "No point in stressing about it yet. They might not even take the parts."

Sho snorted. Shoko didn't know Kyoko the way he did. He knew she'd accept, just like the last time, thinking she could get the better of him. Not this time, Kyoko. This time, Sho was ready, his plans all falling nicely into place.

"I'm Fuwa Sho," he said. "Who wouldn't want a part in my MV?"


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Kyoko really, really, really did not want to accept this job. She let out a deep sigh, all the air and optimism leaving her body. She was nothing but a splotch of hot pink on the LoveMe Section room floor. Perhaps, if she stayed like this long enough, she could become one with the floor tiles, cold and unfeeling and not at all troubled by her current dilemma.

Kotonami Kanae opened the door to see the limp puddle that was her friend splayed on the floor, mumbling softly.

"Are you talking to one of your weird dolls again?" Kyoko looked up from the floor, something clutched in her right hand. The dark-haired actress bent down to inspect it, and indeed it was an identical copy of Tsuruga Ren's expression of utter disapproval, though in slightly chibi form, staring back at her. She had to clap a hand over her mouth to suppress the laughter bubbling out. When she was under control Kanae managed a passably disdainful tone. "I don't even want to know."

"MOKO-SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN," Kyoko launched herself at her friend, blubbering. "Moko-san, I don't know what to do!" Kyoko wailed, and latched around her friend's ankle.

"Mo! Your nose is dripping! Gross!" The tall brunette huffed, fishing around in her purse for some eye drops while she simultaneously yanked her leg out of Kyoko's grip, leaving her friend in a dejected heap on the floor. "Your face is going to be all blotchy! And you call yourself an actress…" She sat down at the table, feigning irritation. "I only have a few minutes, so if you're going to tell me what's bothering you, you'd better make it quick."

Kanae only caught parts of Kyoko's incoherent gratitude babble as the shorter actress pulled herself up from the floor, runny nose and all. The older girl drummed her fingers impatiently on the table, her nails clicking against the hard plastic surface rhythmically as the actress pretended to listen half-heartedly to her friend's problem.

"Mmm," Kanae said, "If you really need the money, it sounds like you don't have much of a choice." Kanae couldn't help but sympathize - she wasn't quite as hard up for cash as Kyoko was, but it really did strike her as unfair, especially when they did so much LoveMe work for free. And Kanae knew that Kyoko took on more LoveMe jobs than herself. The actress frowned. Kyoko watched her friend, entranced. As depressing as her current situation was, she was so happy that Kanae was here, sympathizing with her! Finally! She was so lucky to have such a wonderful, understanding, talented, beautiful -

"STOP! Urgh, I can just FEEL that you're thinking something sappy!" Kanae glanced at her watch and blanched. She was going to be late. Standing up, she hastily shoved her things in her bag and grabbed her jacket from her locker. Kanae glanced back from the door. "It's probably not even a week of shooting. You did it before, right? How bad could it be?" With that remark Kanae was off, leaving her friend audibly pouting behind her.

Kyoko knew that Kanae was right. She had put up with Sho before, she could do it again. And she really did need the money. She was working more than she ever had, especially with Cain Heel's crazy schedule. But Setsu was LoveMe work, and it didn't pay. Plus, she had bought souvenirs in Guam for her landlords and Kanae and Maria, which had been unexpectedly pricey. But even so...

"I JUST DON'T WANT TO!" Kyoko shrieked, pounding her fists on the table and stomping her feet so hard she might crack the tiles. She squirmed, falling off her chair and rolling back and forth, leaving tears and scuff marks all over the floor. But even as she whined, Kyoko knew she didn't really have a choice. Kanae was right, although not just because of the money. After their most recent encounter, Kyoko was sure she'd never hear the end of it from him if she didn't accept. The thought of Sho ridiculing her, accusing her of not being a serious actress but just being blinded by love! And bringing Tsuruga-san into it, too! Who does that idiot think he is?!

Even more than Sho, Kyoko was furious at herself. How could she claim to be a professional actress if she was worried about someone as stupid as Sho seeing through her? Not that he was! She wasn't some lovesick idiot. As if she would ever forget the lesson Sho taught her firsthand about what happens to stupid girls who fall in love. Especially with people who would never love her back.

Resigned, Kyoko grit her teeth and pushed herself up off the floor. She found the paper with the job offer, methodically smoothing out the creases in the paper from where she had crumpled it. Kyoko picked up her bag and headed back upstairs to inform the Talento section head that she would be accepting this job offer after all.


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High upstairs in his lavish office, Takarada Lory, President of LME, sat on an ornate sofa, a cup of tea in one hand, while he puzzled over the romantic progress (or lack thereof) of his favorite couple.

"Seichii, Seichii, you troublesome man," Lory muttered, flicking back and forth between the options. "What's the key to your heart this time?" He finally settled on B. (gently tease) and was about to confirm when Sebastian floated in.

"Is Ren back?" Lory asked. The aide nodded. "Very good, send him in." Sebastian bowed. Barely a minute later, Tsuruga Ren appeared led by Lory's assistant who promptly melted away after setting down a full service English tea tray.

"Welcome back, Ren!" the president smiled. "You must be tired. Come! Sit down, sit down. Have some tea." He motioned to the opposite couch. Lory had read Jelly's report from Guam, and while it had been unsurprisingly dull, the president was still disappointed in the complete lack of evolution between LoveMe Girl #1 and his secret LoveMe Boy. He had hoped that his 'Something Dangerous' mission would lead to something, but no. Good thing Lory was there to give the boy a few gentle nudges in the right direction. Or more accurately, several hundred pointed shoves, because Ren was as dull as iron when it came to love, and just as hard to move. Luckily (for him, not Ren), Lory had stumbled into exactly the right prod just earlier that day. He concealed his delighted smirk behind a sip of tea.

Ren was busy taking in the president's ensemble that day: cream-colored breeches tucked into tall brown riding boots, a white silk shirt and cravat peeking out from an ornately embroidered mustard vest, and a long moss green wool riding coat. Ren thought the top hat and riding crop were a bit much. But then again, the president was almost always eccentrically dressed, so in the grand scheme of things today's outfit really was rather tame. The older man seemed lost in thought, and Ren was content to sit in silence for a few minutes and rest. After a few minutes the president seemed to shake himself out of some reverie and was ready to talk. Skipping briefly over a short inquiry about Guam and some other necessary preamble, the president dove in for the kill.

"I'm sorry to ask this so soon after you've just come back," the president began. "But I owe a producer a favor, you see, and I was hoping you'd be willing to take on a small project rather last minute."

"Of course," Ren replied evenly.

"Agreeing so easily?" The president's eyes twinkled mischievously. "How careless of you, Ren! You don't even know the project's about." Lory chided. But Ren just smiled. The president liked teasing him. And Ren doubted that Lory could come up with any more perfect torture than Setsu.

"I'm a little tired," he said easily, "so I'm conceding. I'm afraid I can't keep up with your mind games today."

"How silly of you," the older man replied, "to think we're even playing in the same league." Ren merely gave a small shrug. "Well, I really do appreciate it, Ren. And the good news is, it shouldn't take up too much of your time. Think of it as a way to ease back into your normal schedule. Filming is starting rather soon, I understand. You can go over the details with Yashiro." Lory handed the star a thin folder and waved him off.

Ren stood and left after wishing the president a good rest of his day. As soon as the actor had left the room, Takarada Lory burst into a giddy smile. He could not contain his glee. The president spent the rest of his day in a frightfully good mood.

Yashiro fell into step with the tall star as Ren exited the president's office, taking the folder from Ren and scanning the first few pages. The actor was surprised at the quiet. He had expected his manager to give him an earful for taking an acting gig immediately, instead of trying to see Kyoko.

"-n. Ren?"

"Hmm?" Ren realized he had been spacing out in the elevator. They were already in the parking garage under the building. "I'm sorry, I missed that."

"I said," Yashiro said, getting into Ren's car, "Did you look at this offer before you accepted it from the President?"

"No," Ren said, buckling his seatbelt and backing out of the space. "Why? Is it bad or something?"

"Well, I think you'll find it interesting, to say the least..." There was something terrible in the even tone of his manager's pleasant voice. Ren found himself suppressing a shiver.

"And why is that?" He asked, pulling into the busy Tokyo traffic.

"Because," Yashiro couldn't keep the teasing out of his voice. "This is a role in Fuwa Sho's newest MV."

The car screeched to a halt.