Author's Note: Sorry for the delay! I wanted to get this out earlier, but it's been kind of a crazy time (at least here in the USA). Thank you to everyone who is reading, and a special thank you to those who reviewed! Feedback (especially constructive criticism) is always appreciated. Without further ado, here's the next installment...


CHAPTER III - PHANTOM

"I wanted to turn down the job." Kyoko said miserably, not daring to glance up from her full dogeza on the floor. "I knew it was for his MV, and I detest working with him, but-" Kyoko blushed. Even if it wasn't a secret that she was broke, it was embarrassing to say it out loud. Unfortunately, pride was a luxury she couldn't afford. "Between school exams and Setsu and then Guam I really haven't been able to earn that much because all that was LoveMe work and I don't get paid for - not that I am complaining! Being able to observe Tsuruga-san's acting and learning first hand is priceless! I really do not think that I deserve to be paid for being Setsu!" Kyoko shook her head, trying to force herself to focus on the topic at hand. "I've been short on cash recently and I still have to pay acting school dues because President Takarada already lets me pay in installments but I'm two payments behind and I don't want to have to quit acting school, because I really love studying to become a better actress, so," Kyoko nervously wiped her eye, "so I took this job, even though I knew it was for Sho, because I just… I couldn't see any other way." Kyoko visibly deflated after finishing her rant, almost sinking into the floor. The room was silent.

Finally, she dared to glance at her senpai's face. The Tsuruga Ren doll continued to stare up at her with disapproval. She pouted at it. "What was I supposed to do, then?"

She knew it was rude to run away from her senpai without so much as a 'hello', but trapped between Shotaro and Ren, her self preservation kicked in and she had bolted for shelter like a scared rabbit. But in ten minutes, her respite would be up, and Kyoko would have to leave the safety of her dressing room and walk out into what was certain to be the worst on-set atmosphere she had ever faced. So far, the only reason Kyoko had been able to keep her grudges in check (relatively) was because she had been mentally prepared for Sho's usual cocky arrogance and spoiled tantrums. But she was not prepared for Tsuruga Ren to show up. If Kyoko had any money, she would have felt very safe betting it all on Shotaro never inviting Tsuruga Ren onto his MV set. Or any set. Or anywhere at all. Well, if I didn't need the money, Kyoko grumbled, I wouldn't be on this set either.

Frankly, if Kyoko had known this was what she'd have to deal with, she would have asked for more money. Kyoko wasn't even sure that there was a sum anyone could offer her to be in the same room as Shotaro and Ren at the same time. The actress couldn't believe that the one time she finally got to play a character that was pure and beautiful, the production was cursed. She could already see the afternoon playing out: Shotaro being the arrogant, selfish idiot jerk that he was and Ren becoming an icy angry demon lord until even the King of Professionalism himself snapped and turned into BJ and committed murder on set and oh god there's no way it isn't going to happen, Tsuruga-san is definitely going to kill him and I'm going to witness a murder, I'm not strong enough to stop Tsuruga-san especially when he's angry-

Kyoko froze. She knew she had sensed ice crystals in the hall. How could she forget? It was exactly the same chilling atmosphere as when she had been in Sho's PV the first time. Ren had accused her of participating only to ruin it. His look of contempt had made her blood stop here she was again filming with Sho, only this time it was a million times worse because when she inevitably lost her temper, Ren would be here to witness her unprofessional behavior. After all the progress they had made, now that he finally didn't hate her - it was all going to be undone! Kyoko hadn't even spoken to him since Guam, she'd barely seen him! Besides that unfortunate night in the car at TBM when Shotaro had lectured her…

"Even if by some mistake I revert to a foolish person again, as far as Tsuruga-san is concerned, he's impossible as the object of my regard!"

"Why can you assert that sort of thing?"

"In that case, for the rest of my life, I'll serve as a nakai in your parents' home!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"Kyoko-chan," an alarmed stagehand called through the door. "Ten minutes to set!"


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Mercifully, Ren wasn't yet on set. Kyoko breathed a sigh of relief for even a few precious minutes of delay. It's fine. It's totally fine. I can do this! I'm Christine Daae. Tsuruga Ren is nobody. An acting bible that just happens to be in human form! A guiding star! An acting god!

"Someone's getting an awfully big head," Sho drawled, walking up behind her.

"Pardon?" She whirled around.

"It's pretty stuck-up to spend the entire lunch break in your dressing room. Makes it seem like you think you're better than everyone." Sho watched Kyoko's face carefully. "Unless you're trying to hide."

"What?" Kyoko barely managed to keep her voice and face calm. How could Shotaro, of all people, accuse her of thinking she was better than everyone?! That was his personality! Kyoko clenched her fists to keep her grudges from escaping. I'm Christine Daae! Everything is fine. Be cool be cool BE COOL! "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Then why'd you sprint away before lunch?"

"I-" Kyoko faltered, trying to come up with a quick excuse. Sho leaned in over her, pinning her wrist to the wall above her head.

"Whatever your reasons, it'd better not have anything to do with the arrival of Mr. #1 Giant Empty Headed Pretty Face," Sho lowered his voice, his gaze drilling into Kyoko's stiff face. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Miraculously, even though Sho was less than a foot away from her she managed to avoid his stare. "Don't forget your goal is defeating me. And nothing else. One hint of feelings for Tsuruga, and I'll put you back on the train to Kyoto myself."

In this industry, if you don't deny something immediately and clearly, people will take it as confirmation. Kyoko needed someone who could put Sho in his place. She grasped for someone - anyone besides herself, and Mio came to the surface.

"That naive, idiotic, pathetic love-sick Kyoko-chan is gone. You destroyed her yourself, remember? When you tore her heart out and ripped it to shreds?" Kyoko sounded almost bored, but there was a flinty undercurrent to her voice. "I don't ever want to be that girl again."

How on earth could that stupid idiot think that she would fall in love again, after all that he had put her through? Like Kyoko didn't know that love was nothing but pain and disappointment. She would bite off her own arms before she let Sho claim that she was nothing but a stupid, lovesick, useless woman.

Sho was taken aback. Kyoko was being weirdly calm. He had expected her to yell or try to kick him in the shin. He was about to retort when the far side of the studio erupted into squeals.

"UWAAAAH!"

"So handsome!"

"I want him to kidnap me!"

"AAH!"

The background dancers and female extras were all swooning as an imposing cloaked figure strode across the studio floor, eating up the distance with long, fluid steps. A dark cape swirled over an equally dark suit. Ren's hair fell forward over one of his eyes, while the other half of his face was covered by a bone-white mask with the jutting cheekbones and imposing frown of an angry demon god.

It's BJ. A fancy, gentleman-styled BJ. At least Kyoko wouldn't have to worry about looking afraid - her heart palpitations were all too real. Only because he is scary! Kyoko thought frantically, taking in his towering height and the dramatic sweep of the cloak over his broad shoulders. How can he be so terrifying and attractive at the same time?! Kyoko immediately shook off the thoughts, trying to pretend she never said it in her mind. Frightening! NOT attractive at all! She swallowed the lump in her throat.

This was going to be difficult.


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The set was hushed as the cameras rolled, and Kyoko was grateful for the chance to stand off to the side for a few minutes and fortify her mental defenses. Thank you, Mio-sama! Kyoko didn't care which characters she used to get through filming this MV, as long as she could keep her real self hidden. If she didn't convince Sho that she didn't have feelings for Tsuru... Kyoko didn't even dare to think his name, quickly shoving the thoughts down hard and locking the box. She imagined burying the locked box of feelings beneath the floorboards of her mind, mentally covering the floorboards with twenty layers of concrete for good measure.

"-mi-san?... Mogami-san?"

Kyoko jumped. "Yes?!"

"Are you feeling alright?" Ren peered at her face.

Kyoko's eyes avoided his face, following the line of his shoulder and arm down to the hand resting on her shoulder. A look of doom flashed across her face for the briefest instant, and then she had somehow teleported backwards out of reach, bowing frantically.

"I'm sorry! Yes! I'm fine!"

"Are you sure?" Ren glanced over the actress. She looked ready to bolt. Or maybe throw up. Either way, he wouldn't say she looked fine.

"Positive! Yes! Absolutely fine! Sorry to trouble you!"

"You're not troubling me. I'm just curious what you were thinking about so deeply." Ren said lightly.

"Nothing really!" Kyoko continued increasing the distance between them, shuffling backwards as if she was worried close proximity would allow Ren to read her thoughts. "Just, um, visualizing…"

Ren did not fail to notice that she was trying to physically avoid him. It stung. "Mogami-san, yo-"

"Okay, all good! Places for scene 5!" Asami called loudly. Bowing for the hundredth time, Kyoko was grateful to scurry off towards the set, leaving Ren alone with his growing anxiety.


«×»«×»«×»«×»«×»«×»


"Cut!" Asami-san said. "Kyoko-san, you're off your mark. You need to be farther camera right."

"Yes! I'm sorry!" The actress bowed. Sho rolled his eyes at her, but Kyoko was pointedly ignoring him, turning away to gaze impassively out across the studio.

"Get it together." The musician complained loudly. "This is like our fiftieth take."

"Mogami-san isn't the only one who's made mistakes." Ren said in such a polite tone that made the hair on the back of Kyoko's neck stand up.

"Great point," Sho retorted. "If you could get it together too, that would be great." the musician muttered.

"Like you can talk, Sho! You've rui-"

"Five minute break!" The producer's voice cut through the budding fight. Asami gently massaged her temples while Sho stormed off the stage. Shoko caught the producer's eye, shooting her a look that clearly said I told you this would happen before hurrying after the pop star.

"Sho, you can't just run off every time you get frustrated." Shoko said patiently, catching up to the pop star, the click of her heels on the tile matching with his heavy stomps. "We knew this was going to be difficult going in. With your limited acting exp-"

"They're the actors, not me!" Sho protested. "It's their job. Isn't that why we hired them!? Mr. so-called 'Number One Guy in Show Business'?"

No, we hired them because you demanded it. Shoko sighed. For all her frustration, she really did care about the young musician, and it was clear his anger stemmed less from professional reasons than personal ones.

"They've made mistakes too," she conceded in soothing tones. "Nobody's perfect. The plot is a little more complicated than your last video with Kyoko. It's a much more subtle and nuanced feeling that we're trying to convey, right? - innocence, betrayal, jealousy, redemption,"

What is this, an eighth grade book report? Sho didn't need his manager to explain his own song and MV to him.

"I wrote the damn song, I know what it's about."

Shoko watched him stalk off like an offended cat with a rueful smile on her face.

Do you really, Sho?


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"I am so sorry!" Kyoko bowed deeply.

"It's quite alright, Mogami-san," Ren said. He wished she would stop being so formal. "You don't need to apologize, it's not your fault."

Yes I do because yes it is and I am so sorry! For that bastard's rudeness! For ruining the take! For running away from you at lunch! I'm sorry that we are both here, in this situation! Which would not have happened if that stupid bastard had just believed me when I told him I didn't have FEELINGS FOR Y-

Ren watched the expressions flipping rapidly across Kyoko's face. It was clear that she hadn't expected to see him here. And the fact that his presence made her so obviously uncomfortable stabbed tiny needles into his heart. Ren had tried acting as normal as possible, hoping his feigned nonchalance would put her at ease. He desperately grasped for some reason, any lame excuse, to invite her over to his apartment so they could talk privately. He opened his mouth to speak when Kyoko's stomach growled.

She turned bright red.

"Mogami-san," Ren teased, "You have to eat lunch. Hasn't anyone ever told you that skipping meals is bad for your health?"

"Ha-ha." Kyoko deadpanned. "Very funny, Tsuruga-san."

"Do you want me to ask Yashiro to get you so-?"

"No, that's fine! I couldn't ask such a favor!" Kyoko immediately protested. "Besides, unlike you, Tsuruga-san, I ate breakfast! So I'm really not that hungry." Kyoko blushed as her stomach made another audible gurgle.

"Are you sure?" Ren insisted. "I'm sure he'd be happy to."

"It's really fine," Kyoko said. This is so embarrassing!

"Well, you'll just have to make sure to eat lunch with me tomorrow, then." Ren said with false cheer, ignoring the apprehension plainly displayed across Kyoko's face.

"I-"

"Oi, heads up!" Kyoko turned around just in time to see Sho hurl something directly at her head. She instinctively caught the projectile before it smacked into her face.

"Can't have your growling stomach ruin the takes." the musician said, reveling in Kyoko's open-mouthed surprise. The actress was holding the roll like she'd never seen a vending machine anpan before. Although knowing how seriously she took nutrition, it was possible she had never considered it as a food.

"Is this poisoned?" The actress asked, glaring at the snack suspiciously.

"What?! That's so rude!" Sho retorted. "I go out of my way to help you and you ask me if it's poisoned?! Unbelievable!"

"It is unbelievable! It's downright ominous, you giving me this!"

"Who said it was a gift, idiot?" Sho sneered. "I'm not wasting my money on you! You owe me 800 yen."

"EIGHT HUNDRED YEN?!" Kyoko was aghast. She threw the bread at Sho. "I don't want your weird expensive poisoned snack!"

"IT'S NOT POISONED, JUST EAT IT!"

"NO!"

"YOUR STUPID GURGLING STOMACH IS GOING TO RUIN MY SHOOT!"

"IF ANYTHING IS GOING TO RUIN THIS SHOOT IT'S YOUR TERRIBLE ACTING, SHOTA-" Kyoko was abruptly cut off, choking on the large bite of roll Sho shoved in her mouth. Kyoko coughed hard.

"Mogami-san, are you alright?" Ren tried to pat the actress on the back, but she waved him off with a weak hand.

"She's fine," Sho said tensely as Kyoko continued to cough before she managed to choke down the bread.

"Oh dear, Kyoko-chan we need to fix your make-up," the assistant said, looking at the actress' watery eyes and smeared lipstick. As the make-up artist led her away, Kyoko glared over her shoulder at the musician with all the indignancy she could muster, but Sho was totally unperturbed. He grinned triumphantly back at her, staring pointedly at her hand. Kyoko looked down - she was holding the unfinished roll.


«×»«×»«×»«×»«×»«×»


"Okay," Asami said briskly. "That looks good. Kyoko-san, don't worry about keeping the dialogue the same, just ad-lib as you need. Whatever keeps the scene moving." The actress nodded. "Tsuruga-san, that was great, but you could be even more menacing. We want the audience to almost be worried for Kyoko's life." The tall actor nodded, face blank. "Great, great. Sho, that looked great! How did it feel? Do you need any more practice with the door?"

"I think I'm good," Sho said coolly. "I know how to go through a door." A few of the extras on set giggled at his remark, while the set designer and stunt engineer looked unamused.

"Great!" Asami-san glanced at her watch. "Then let's give it another camera!"

"Rolling!"

"Phantom Scene 7, Take 3 mark!" A stage assistant snapped the top of the clapboard down.

"Action!"

The camera pans down overhead, following Kyoko through a bustling backstage hallway. She is distracted, unaware of the admiring glances cast her way. In her daze, she almost walks straight past Sho, who leans against the wall outside a dressing room door. Kyoko almost bumps into his arm, but jumps back to apologize. Their eyes meet and the camera lingers, zooming into their faces. The actress blushes under Sho's openly admiring gaze. He pulls a large bouquet of crimson roses from behind his back. Kyoko curtseys to thank him. Sho hands over the bouquet and asks her something, gesturing to the exit. After a moment's hesitation, she nods, and holds up a finger before slipping inside the dressing room, leaving an excited Sho waiting outside the door.

Inside the dressing room is dark except for a small lamp on a vanity table. On the opposite side of the room is a large ornate wardrobe. Kyoko sets the flowers down on the vanity, a tender expression on her face. Behind her, a shadow moves, barely visible in the dark room. Kyoko pauses, thinking she heard movement, but after a moment shrugs it off and is busy with her flowers. The shadow moves again, this time closer to the young actress. The outline of an impossibly tall figure creeps across the room to the door. The camera shows a close-up of a black leather glove locking the door, then cuts back to the room where a shadowed man looms behind the unsuspecting Kyoko. In the dim room, the white mask glows like a skull.

"Door team on standby," a stage assistant whispered, breaking the tense silence that had fallen over the production crew. Another set tech nodded, holding the remote to unlock the door at the producer's signal.

The camera is focused on Kyoko, who is arranging the roses in a vase. The mirror on top of the vanity, the Phantom towers over the girl. Dark eyes glint behind the bone white mask and a gloved hand reaches out. Kyoko glances up in the mirror and begins to scream. She whips around and the gloved hand covers her mouth, while another arm seizes her around the waist.

On the other side of the door, Sho startles.

"Kyoko!" Sho pounds on the door. The musician puts his ear against the door and listens, then raises his hand to knock again when a loud *THUMP* is followed by the sound of breaking glass.

"Kyoko?! Hey!" Sho reaches for the handle again and turns. When that fails, he shoves his shoulder against the door in desperation. Forgetting his blocking, Sho looks into the camera for a moment - he is desperate.

"Okay, now." Asami-san whispered, pointing at a stagehand. The door technician nodded and hit the release button.

Sho shoves again hard, stumbling forward awkwardly as the door abruptly swings open. The musician looks around frantically. The floor glistens with water and shards of glass, the roses are scattered across the ground. Sho glances into the vanity mirror and catches movement. He spins around just in time to see the door of the wardrobe slam shut. The room is empty.

"Cut!" Asami stood and went to check the playback footage. However she was pretty sure they had it, as long as the editors cut Sho's glance towards the camera. The producer made a mental note.

"Kyoko?" Sho looked around the room stupidly. He wandered over to the wardrobe door and tried to pull it open, but it remained stubbornly shut. "Hey! Kyoko!"

"What?" Kyoko responded, irritated. "I'm right here."

"Huh?" Sho spun around, she was standing in the 'hallway' part of the set. "How'd you get over there."

"I teleported," Kyoko rolled her eyes. "I walked, dummy." Sho bristled.

"You make a good damsel in distress," Sho commented. "Can't say anything about the rest of your acting, but you really got the 'helpless girl waiting for a prince to come and save her' act down."

"Good thing I'm not waiting for you to save me," Kyoko replied, "or I'd be waiting for eternity." The musician opened his mouth to retort, but Shoko hurried over to interrupt before the two stars could start their tenth shouting match of the day.

"Great work, Sho! That's a wrap for today." Shoko linked her arm through Sho's and pulled him down the hall. "Hurry and change so we can go get some dinner."


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Taking off his costume proved to be more time-consuming than putting it on. Ren tapped his foot as the make-up and hair assistants fussed with delicately removing the adhesive that kept the Phantom's mask in place. He knew he should be grateful for their careful consideration of his skin, but at the moment Ren didn't care one bit about his face. He thanked the make-up crew, then quickly slipped to his dressing room to change back into his regular clothes. When he exited, Yashiro was waiting, his phone held in a gloved hand.

"Good work today, Ren." he said, continuing to type out a message as they walked down the hall. As they approached Kyoko's dressing room door, Ren slowed down. He hesitated.

"I was thinking of offering Mogami-san a ride home."

"Of course."

"I just want to make sure she gets home alright." Ren tried to ignore the creepy grin that stretched across his manager's face. He knocked lightly on the door.

Yashiro was an incredibly discrete manager, but Ren had given up on his discretion when it came to Kyoko. It was painful to watch a grown man rooting for his love life like Ren was the star of some reality dating show. But on a deeper level, the actor was almost grateful.

Especially when Yashiro did so much extra work, just to give Ren an extra ten minutes with Kyoko. Yashiro's rationale was that he didn't trust Ren to make any moves without some prodding. Which was why he was surprised why Ren noted the time and tepidly suggested inviting Kyoko to have dinner with them.

"Really, Ren," Yashiro sighed. "You need to stop making me your third wheel."

"You're not a third wheel."

"You're right." Yashiro agreed. "Can't be a third wheel if she doesn't know you're asking her on a date."

"It's not a date."

The manager closed his phone and looked at Ren. "Say what you will about Fuwa Sho," Yashiro held up his hands. "I'm not defending him, but you have to admit - at least he's willing to go after what he wants."

Ren had no defense. This whole set-up was proof of just how committed Sho was to occupying Kyoko's attention. The minutes slid by as Ren continued to brood.

"Tsuruga-san! You're still here?"

Ren smiled at the production assistant. "We're just waiting for Mogami-san." He gestured to the dressing room door.

"What?" The assistant looked puzzled. "But she left almost 20 minutes ago. You must have just missed her."