What if she'd known the whole time who we was? What if she'd deceived not only Ren, but us readers as well?

"What are you talking about?" she laughed, the sound both torturous and sweet. "As if you could be Corn. Corn is a being of beauty and magnificence that we mere mortals can only dream of imitating. His radiance is so absolute that only the completely pure of heart can see his true appearance. Even a pure maiden such as I am unable to perceive him perfectly without my adolescent innocence."

"I'm not making this up Mogami-san," said Ren. "I am your fairy prince, Corn."

Kyoko faltered, no doubt from the seriousness in Ren's voice. Then the sparkles were back.

"Nonsense," said Kyoko. "Please don't think you can trick me Tsuruga-san. I've learned since meeting you not to trust everything I hear. I won't give you an excuse to dock Love-me points again."

"I'm not—"

The girl took hold of his hands, eyes sparkling. "I understand, you're so attentive to your lowly Kohai. Helping me learn even if it makes you the bad guy. I really am undeserving of your attentiveness."

"Mogami-san," said Ren. "Please stop and listen to me."

"And do not think I take it for granted," said Kyoko, twirling happily. "For it is because of you that I was able to see him in Guam in the first place. Had I not come with you to the shoot then I would never—"

"You wanted a place to cry where no one could see you."

Kyoko froze, her back to Ren in mid-twirl. He couldn't see her expression, her backside the only key to discerning her feelings.

"That's not something you told me, Tsuruga Ren," continued Ren. "You told Corn. You told me. You told me you loved hamburgers and bowed to rocks that looked like eggs. You cried for me when I said I couldn't fly. You shared all your sadness and disappointment. You shared your joy and enthusiasm for the small things. Then you cried when I had to leave."

She still didn't move.

"Mogami-san, please look at me."

Her shoulders lifted and then fell from a deep breath. Then she turned. There was no anger. No accusing glare or horrified feelings of betrayal. She looked as if she'd lost something as precious to her as life.

"Why…" her voice trembled. So did her eyes. "Why did you have to go and ruin everything?"

Ren blinked at her. "Mogami-san… I don't understand."

Kyoko grew frustrated. "Of course, I knew it was you! How could I not know?"

Ren reeled back. His mind sped as it tried to make sense of it. To understand how she could know.

"How long…" he said weakly.

Her gaze lowered, hand crossing her stomach to grip the other arm. A defensive stance. "When we were on the terrace," she said, voice quiet. "When I asked you why you looked so much like Tsuruga-san."

That whole time! She'd known that whole time. He thought of everything that had happened after that. The talk of loving her, the curse, the kiss, him jumping off the rail. His mind flickered even further when she'd run to him in tears, crying for Corn. It didn't make sense.

Something curled in his stomach. It made him jumpy, his hands twitching. He recognized this feeling. As if the world were spinning out of control.

"Why…" he asked, his conscious shaking. He didn't deserve to feel angry at the deceit, but he couldn't help the twinge of shame at being caught. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Her stare was tired. "I don't know," she shrugged. "Maybe for the same reason you did? Because I didn't want our friendship to end."

"Our friendship doesn't have to end," said Ren hurriedly. That was the last thing he wanted.

"Not ours," she gestured between them. "Not Mogami-san and Tsuruga-san. But Mogami-chan and Corn. The friendship they held."

They. She spoke as if they were characters, and maybe they were. A little portion of their past. He was no longer a boy who felt cursed and she… she was no longer a little girl who came crying to him every time she felt sad.

"Why can't it continue?" he said. "In the relationship between Tsuruga-san and Mogami-san?"

Kyoko shook her head. "The same reason Cain and Setsu can't become us. It's because they're not real. They're pieces of fiction drizzled with reality. A shadow of what's real."

The curdling in his stomach grew worse.

"If that's the case, then even this is a sham." His words had no bite. They were stated simply. With a perfect calmness that he didn't feel. With his inner-self screaming at him to stop, he leveled his gaze at Kyoko, whose eyes had grown wide. "Even Tsuruga Ren is not the real me."

A sheen passed across Kyoko's eyes, dropping her expression into pure grief.

"Must you destroy even that?" said Kyoko.

Ren could no longer keep the impassive feelings from his face, for Ren was swiftly leaving him. The true feelings and inner-self he was still trying to polish slipped free. It expressed his surprise at what she had implied. He felt exposed. Stupid and foolish.

"Mogami-san," said Ren slowly. "Just what do you know about me?"

Her hands gripped the hem of her dress. The wonderful yellow sundress she had bought just for the occasion. The day out with just the two of them. He saw a flicker in her eyes. The desire to deceive and be gentle with him.

"Mogami-san," he said sharply, making her flinch. "Spill it. Everything. What do you know about me?"

Her hands clenched hard one more time, before relaxing. Her calm breath felt surreal as she faced his still swirling feelings.

"I know Tsuruga Ren is a stage name," she started. "I know you've spent at least some time in America, getting fired from several jobs. I know you're in love with... a high school girl-"

Ren's eyes widened, his mouth falling open. She plowed on before he had time to process what she'd said.

"-I know that you have some sort of complex toward your father. He was probably a great man, or actor, which made you feel as if your wings could never spread. I know that a darkness in your heart has dissipated and that you're starting to feel as if you deserve love again." Her eyes flickered for the briefest of moments to the ground before back into his eyes. "And I've guessed that what caused this melancholy had something to do with a violent nature in your youth and a death that you feel responsible for."

That's where Ren's memories ended. Whatever had happened after that, it didn't matter. He couldn't piece together how Kyoko had known as much as she did, but he wasn't trying very hard. His mind had become a dull hum, assisted by the generous amount of alcohol he had consumed. Thinking hurt too much, because in thinking, he realized just how much things could not stay the same.

I really did screw this up, he thought to himself. If only I hadn't come clean, then I wouldn't have ruined it.

Ice clinked against the glass in his hand, telling him it was empty. He didn't bother refilling it, just as he hadn't bothered turning on the lights after the sun had set. He couldn't summon the energy to care.

So, what would happen now? Kyoko guessed he was not only a liar but a murderer as well. A villain who'd taken another person's life. He'd never imagined he'd feel this devastated that she knew his darkest secret. His greatest sin.

He felt filthy compared to her. The worst may be that she somehow knew. She knew he was in love with her, but she'd never said anything.

There was only one reason for keeping that silent.

A knock shook him from his feelings. He padded to the door, knowing who would be there. What he didn't expect was the cheerful woman at his door.

"Um, good evening!" said Kyoko nervously. "I'm sorry it's late but I really needed help with something."

She waited, determination shining in her eyes.

Ren withheld the urge to sigh.

"Not tonight Mogami-san," he said. "It's been a long day, and I was about to go to sleep." The last thing he wanted was to speak to her when he was upset and drunk. Especially when it was because of her.

He moved to close the door, but Kyoko stuck her foot out. It caught on the space between the floor and the frame, ceasing its movement.

"But I can't!" she huffed. "Because this particular scene is really hard for me to figure out. My mind keeps running in circles until I'm dizzy."

"A scene?" blinked Ren. "As in, for an acting bit?"

She nodded, biting her bottom lip.

"That's too bad," said Ren, smiling sweetly at her. It was plastic. Completely fake as he pressed on the door. "You should come back tomorrow when I'm not so tired. I'll be able to be of better help at that time."

"I'm not leaving!"

"Mogami-san…"

She wouldn't budge. Lips turned down into an adorable pout. Dang, that was not playing fair.

"Pleaseee," she drew out the word. "I promise I'll make it worth it."

It was terrible how easily his mind sent that sentence to the gutter. And another indication why he shouldn't let her in. But his will was weak. His desire for her company too strong. To have her near.

The hesitation was enough, and a second later Kyoko had pushed through the door in a whirlwind, heading straight for his sofa. Ren took a moment to collect his disjointed feelings before following her. He winced as she turned on the light.

As he blinked, he finally got a better look at her. She was still in her yellow dress, makeup smudged. He recognized the marks mascara made on the face when a woman had been rubbing her eyes for the past hour.

"I've been thinking all night," she huffed, "About this certain scene. It's a scene between two friends who have had a lot of misunderstandings but then they all come out in a split second. I'm supposed to depict their reunion after being apart for a while to mull things over."

Ren sighed, knowing she wasn't even trying to be discreet. This was her way of broaching the uncomfortable topic of them. Of how they were going to get through this.

He sat down on the sofa, Kyoko's eyes never leaving him. Her stance was straight and ridged, nervousness bleeding from her.

"Well," he said slowly. "Tell me more. What's supposed to happen in this scene?"

"I… don't really know." She pulled a face. "The director is being a pain and didn't write out the entire scene. They're supposed to make up in the end, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to even start the conversation. They had… well, not a fight but the guy just learned his friend knew more about him than he wanted. I don't know what the guy is feeling."

"Of course, you don't," said Ren. "It sounds like he hasn't told his friend how he feels, and she hasn't asked. Besides, the man may have a reason for keeping part of himself secret."

"But she's worried!"

Kyoko sat down, body leaning toward him as she spoke in earnest. "She doesn't care why he's lied to her or the type of person he was in the past. She just wants…"

Kyoko suddenly looked away, gritting her teeth in frustration. Were those tears in her eyes? He must have imagined them, for when she looked back, they were gone.

"She just wants her friend back," she pleaded. "Or in this case… her senpai."

Slowly, Ren turned to face her on the sofa. Kyoko's eyes followed his every movement, waiting.

"Is this our fate, Mogami-san?" said Ren. "To act out our friendship and feelings? Why does it need to be so complex?"

She fell quiet, head lowered in thought. Her expression sharpened in that mature way when she was concentrating on something important. Then it softened, shifting with vulnerability.

"I think… we do it because it's complex," she said. "Because feelings and friendships aren't always easy. And it shows how scared we are of ruining it."

Hope shone in her expression, though what it was she hoped for, Ren did not know.

"I think you may be right," said Ren. "Looks like I managed to do just that."

"But it doesn't have to be a bad thing," said Kyoko quickly. "Please, I don't want to lose you, or Corn."

Ren's eyes flickered back to Kyoko, hard.

"You want to go back to how we were?" said Ren. "Pretending we don't know the other's darkest secrets? Like you don't know my feelings?"

Kyoko bit her lip, looking away. Her hesitance softened Ren's anger, unable to stay mad with her. Even when she was indirectly rejecting him.

They were silent for a few minutes, though her expression stayed anything but. Ren watched dully as she transitioned through several different extremes of distress and hope all without verbalizing a single sound. His alcohol dampened mind smiled at her antics, proud he was what caused her such distress. It was the vile monopolizing side of himself that was usually carefully locked away with Kuon.

Finally, he decided to interrupt her inner dialog.

"Are you scared of me?"

Kyoko froze, practically a creaking doll as she turned to him.

"W-w-what would make you say that?" she sputtered.

"Because I'm a murderer." Her eyes widened, but she waited for him to continue. "Because I'm a violent person. You saw BJ. You witnessed my inner demons first hand, Mogami-san."

"I did," she said slowly. "But didn't you promise that 'until you finished this life of yours, that you'd never act unlike yourself or in a way that would disappoint me again?' To live as 'my version of you?' " Her eyes were shining, red coating her cheeks all the way up to her ears. She looked positively adorable. "As long as I continued to watch over you? You promised me that."

Ren's breath caught. He recognized those words. The promise he'd made as Cain when they'd been in that very compromising position on the bed. Though he'd said it as Cain, he'd also made that promise as himself. As Ren. As Kuon. He hadn't thought she'd noticed, but she had. She'd seen through him. Seen his true self so easily.

It no longer surprised him that she knew so much about him.

Peace spread through him. It softened his fears and encompassed his heart within its soft arms. Just as that kiss on his forehead had calmed him, her words had halted his fears in their tracks. She destroyed his defenses so easily. Accepted him. Every violent behavior and dark words, she accepted them and brought out the good, indirectly promising to continue watching over him.

He reached forward, taking one of her shaking hands to his lips. He placed a kiss on her knuckles, savoring their texture.

She wouldn't hate him, he knew this now. Whatever he told her, she would listen and take him forward. Even after he'd lied and potentially hurt her, she still sought to help. What had he done in his life to deserve this woman?

When he looked up, Kyoko's entire face resembled a volcano suspended in eruption.

"Mogami-san," he said.

"Y-yes?"

"Can I tell you my story? Not right now, but later, of what happened? How I became responsible for my friend's death?"

Her embarrassment vanished as she scrutinized his expression, face open with concern and care.

"I-if you're alright with me," she said. "I'd like to hear it. Yes. I'd very much like to listen."

Ren let out a breath. He pressed her knuckled to his forehead, fighting to gain control of himself. Everything she did and said touched him so deeply, exposed to her as he was. It was beginning to be too much.

"Thank you," he said. "When I'm ready, I'll let you know."

Twenty minutes later, Ren waved goodbye from the curb of the Darumaya. Kyoko returned to wave from the door, her face still a tinge pink. They hadn't talked much after she'd promised to listen, but it hadn't been a bad thing. The silence had been comfortable. Full of hope and promises for their future. There was still much to be cleared up between them, but it didn't need to happen all at once. They could take their time. Go at their own pace. The last thing he wanted was to scare her, especially at the cusp of understanding everything.

As Ren got into his car, he couldn't help but think of one point they'd talked about while driving. Kyoko had started fidgeting, taking several glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking. Finally, he'd spoken up.

"What is it?" he said.

Kyoko jumped, then glanced down, face red. "Um... you know, there's one thing that I can't figure out about your Corn persona."

"What is it?" said Ren, preparing mentally for the question.

"You said as Corn that you lo-l-liked me. What was that a metaphor for?"

Ren slammed on the brakes, jerking his head toward her.

"Come again?" he said.

She squirmed. "Well, I figured the wings were your career and the curse was your inner darkness, but I can't figure out what that k-k-kiss was for. Or saying that you—" her eyes flickered to him. "You know," she finished lamely.

Ren stared, the implications of her words reaching him. Then hope flared bright within him.

She didn't know about his feelings for her!

Keeping his face perfectly still, Ren returned his eyes to the road to keep driving.

"That is a story for another time," he said. "After I tell you the first one." A good amount of time after when she was no longer afraid of love.

Kyoko had nodded after that, continuing to sneak glances all the way until he'd parked.

Ren looked at his hand resting on the steering wheel. It was shaking, suppressed feelings spilling over. His heart couldn't take the suspense anymore. It was begging to be let free.

He let out a helpless chuckle, pressing his fist to his forehead.

"I'm completely losing it here," he said. "Kyoko-chan, you torturous angel. You have no idea how far you've made me fallen."

Because sleep is for the weak and I needed to do something short.

Thanks so much for reading!

And thank you all for the reviews. Wow. So if I do decided to expand one of these, I take it crimson threads would be the most popular. Good to know. XD