"Fuck!"

Kyoko giggled into her hand as Kanae palmed herself in the forehead. They were sitting in the LoveMe Room at LME going over some English pronunciation exercises. Kanae had been doing okay, but there was definitely room for improvement. Kyoko patted her shoulder.

"You pronounced 'fuck' okay! See, you're making progress!," she said to her friend in English. Kanae glared at her.

"Easy for you to say with your good English."

Kyoko closed the Japanese to English dictionary they were using and set it aside. "We've been going at this for a couple of hours. Do you want to get some food and take a break?"

Kanae rubbed the spot between her eyebrows. "Please."

They walked down the tiled hallway of LME toward L.A. Hearts. They were passing the men's bathroom when their leisurely walk was interrupted.

"MOTHER FUCKER!" The door of the bathroom banged open to reveal the neon pink nightmare that was Sho Fuwa. He was carrying a mop and dragging a fluorescent yellow bucket on wheels behind him and wearing a pair of bright pink rubber gloves. He had a utility belt around his waist, with a bottle of cleaner and a toilet brush on it. He looked around the hall with a murderous glint in his eye. "IF I FIND OUT WHO SHIT IN THE URINAL, I SWEAR ON ALL THAT IS HOLY, I WILL END YOU!"

His voice carried through the halls, stopping passersby in their tracks. A couple of women nearby sped up to get away from the madman in pink. Kyoko made her excuses to Kanae and hastened over to Sho. She threw a hand over his mouth and dragged him into the bathroom. "Shotarou, you can't yell in here like that!"

"I'M SO FUCKING- mmph!" She threw her hand back over his mouth.

"When I take my hand off, your voice will either be at a normal level, or I'm going straight to the President. Do you understand?" Oh, if looks could kill, she thought as his eyes bored into hers. She took her hand away.

"I'm so FUCKING tired of people disrespecting me! I just cleaned that fucking urinal, and some asshole came in here and took a shit in it! They piss all over the floors, they write stupid shit in permanent marker on the stalls! Do you have any idea how many DICKS I've scrubbed off the fucking stall walls today!? EIGHT, KYOKO."

She bit down hard on her own tongue to resist the urge to laugh. She cleared her throat.

"Shotarou, I understand. Really. I had to clean floors and stuff when I first started, too, and it was no picnic. But if you want to stick around, you have to play nice." She held out her hand. "Give me your stamp book."

He looked down at her with big scared eyes. "No. Please, not the book."

"Give it, Sho. Now."

He peeled his pink glove off and dug into his pocket. He thrust the little booklet and stamps into her hand. He looked away as she stamped it. When he gathered his courage and looked down at the page, his eyes widened when he saw the words: 10 Points, Must Put In A Little More Effort. He blinked.

"It's not negative. I thought for sure it'd be negative."

She shook her head and handed the booklet and stamps back. "You're trying, and that needs to be acknowledged." She pointed to the corner of the bathroom. "Why don't you put your cleaning stuff over there and come have lunch with me and Moko-san?"

He threw the utility belt into the corner with the mop and bucket. "You ain't gotta tell me twice."

When they showed up at L.A. Hearts, they joined Kanae in line. Sho took one look at Kanae and slicked his hair back.

"I don't think we've met. I'm Sho Fuwa."

Kyoko's eyes rolled in her head as she watched his attempt at being suave. Kanae looked him up and down.

"So you're the asshole that dragged Kyoko to Tokyo and left her. Charmed, I'm sure."

Kyoko covered her mouth and shook with silent laughter at her friend's audacity as Sho blushed, chastened. They got their lunches and sat down at a table together. "So," Kanae began, "What are you even doing here? I thought you were signed with Akatoki."

Sho gave Kyoko a look before he spoke. "I had an injury, and I'm not able to sing, so Akatoki dropped me."

Kanae nodded. "Karma is a bitch."

Yeah, so is Ren Tsuruga, thought Sho, bitterly.

Kyoko laughed nervously. "Sho did apologize, and he is trying to do better, Moko-san."

"Kyoko," Kanae said, entirely straight-faced, "Just because some time has passed and the dog shit has turned white and stopped stinking does not mean that it is now ice cream."

Sho stood up at the table. "DID YOU JUST CALL ME DOG SHIT!?"

Kanae stood up, ready to match his energy. "I DID, AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?"

"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM!?"

Kanae picked up her sandwich, which was still in the wrapper, and then flashed him a glare that could have cleaved flesh from bone. "My problem, Fuwa, is that you broke my best friend's heart, and then you had the AUDACITY to try to hit on me. You are stinking up my agency, and it's not just the toilet water on your jumpsuit."

Sho sniffed himself comically and looked at her, aghast as she continued.

"You bring nothing of value, to wit, you exist to cause pain to people. One of those people who BABIED you for the better part of your natural life. After you've finished your sandwich, you should go back to the bathroom where you belong, because you are a TURD," she concluded with maximum venom. Kanae nodded at Kyoko. "I'll see you back in the LoveMe room." She flipped her hair and strode away with as much grace as possible after having used such language in public, and left Kyoko (and several other diners) to stare after her in awe.

Sho stared after her with his mouth gaping open. "Did she REALLY just call me a TURD?"

Kyoko nodded sagely as she took a bite of her sandwich. "She did." She took a sip from her water bottle. "I think she'll come around, though."

Sho raised a cynical eyebrow. "You think she'll come around?"

Kyoko smiled. "I know Moko-san, and she's tough, and she can be mean, but if you keep working and prove that you're not such a jerk anymore, I think she'll accept you."

Sho was skeptical that someone who had called him dog shit would ever accept him, but he had to take Kyoko's word for it.

"So, have you gotten any other LoveMe assignments?"

Sho nodded. "They want me to work with Bridge Rock."

Kyoko lit up. "Oh! The Ishibashis are wonderful!"

Sho remembered his time on Yappa Kimagure Rock. The Ishibashis had been pretty cool, but their ill-tempered hen had been a nightmare. "Yeah, they seemed okay when I met them. They want me to do some background instrumentals on their next album."

Kyoko grinned. "That's awesome news!"

Sho sighed. "It would be more awesome if I were singing on my own album, but for what it is, it's nice." He ate a couple of his fries. Kyoko's hand landed feather-light over his on the table. She smiled at him.

"You'll get there." Only a few weeks ago, there was no way that he could have screamed in the hallway about someone taking a shit in the urinal. He was slowly getting his voice back. Whether he would be able to sing may still be up in the air, but he could at least communicate properly now, though his voice was still somewhat scratchy.

He looked down at his plate, dejected. "I hope you're right."

Later that day, Kyoko showed up for Yappa Kimagure Rock. She went to her dressing room and changed into the Bo costume. She tucked the head under her arm and headed out into the hallway. It was still half an hour until show time, so she wouldn't need the head on yet.

"Kyoko-chan!"

Hikaru Ishibashi was coming down the hallway, waving at her excitedly.

"Ah, Hikaru-san! How's it going?"

He stopped before her and rubbed the side of his neck. "Kinda nervous about tonight, actually. We have a big name on the show."

Kyoko raised her eyebrow. "Who is it?"

"Koga Hiromune."

Kyoko squealed. "Is he here!?" She hadn't seen Koga since the InuYasha wrap party.

Hikaru took a step back. He knew that Kyoko was on a show with Koga, but hadn't expected them to be close. "I didn't realize you were such a fan of Hiromune-san." Damn, he thought. Hiromune will take her for sure.

She laughed. "No, I'm not a fan! He's my friend!"

A friend!? Crap! You gotta be kidding me! "Oh! In that case, yeah, he's in a dressing room down the hall."

"Awesome! Thank you, Hikaru-san!"

Kyoko waddled away in her costume to find Koga's dressing room. Yuusei and Shinichi appeared at Hikaru's side; they had been watching the interaction from around the corner. Shinichi punched Hikaru in the arm. "Tough break, Onii-san."

Yuusei nodded, putting his arm around Hikaru's shoulders and mussing his hair. "Yeah, there's no point chasing that one anymore, not if she's hanging around Hiromune."

Hikaru looked down at his feet. His band mates continued to give him a good-natured ribbing as they steered him back toward their green room for a beer before the show.

Koga was sitting in his dressing room eating some candy. He heard a knock at his door and shook his head. He had been informed that the show's mascot, a giant chicken, would be coming to fetch him and bring him to set. To say that he thought this was the stupidest thing he had ever heard was an understatement, but he put on a winning smile anyway.

When he opened the door to find Kyoko in a chicken suit, he stared at her and then burst into laughter. She narrowed her eyes on him.

"Hi."

"It's YOU? You're the chicken!?"

She pushed past him into his dressing room and sat on the bench by the wall. "This was my first regular job."

Koga shut the door behind him and sat down at his makeup table. He wiped the tears of mirth from his cheeks. "You're a serious actress, what are you still doing in a chicken suit!?"

Kyoko shrugged. "I like it, and I like the Ishibashis."

Koga shook his head. "You're too good to be doing something like this. Don't you have any other offers?"

She looked at her feet. "Not yet, but I'm keeping an eye out."

Koga sighed and pushed his hair back from his forehead. "Kyoko-chan, you're way too talented to be dancing around in a chicken suit. As hilarious as I find this to be, please promise me you'll find something better. You're going to make me and Tsuruga look bad."

Kyoko blushed. "I would make you look bad!?"

He stared at her boredly. "You're our kohai.. My protege should not be running around as Bo the Chicken." He got out of his chair, crossed the room, and flicked her between the eyebrows. "Step up your game!"

She rubbed her forehead and then put her Bo head on. "Come on, Koga. Let's go."

She led him out to wait behind the curtain for the Ishibashis to call him onto the stage. They were currently standing in the middle of the stage, addressing the audience.

"We have a great show for you tonight, including a very special guest, Koga Hiromune!"

All the girls in the audience screamed in unison, and Koga smirked. "Beat that, Ren."

Kyoko poked him in the side. "You have Moko-san, you know."

Koga shrugged. "Doesn't mean I can't appreciate the screaming fangirls."

Kyoko was about to chastise him when Hikaru's voice broke through.

"Please welcome, Koga Hiromune!"

Koga stepped through the curtain and waved to the audience. He bowed to the members of Bridge Rock and then they took their seats on the couch.

"Hiromune-san, how are you tonight!?"

Koga flashed a smile for the cameras. "I feel pretty good after that warm welcome from the audience." The girls screamed again, and he laughed.

Yuusei shook his head. "I don't think we could get half of that enthusiasm."

Shinichi nodded. "So, Hiromune-san, we've all seen Lotus in the Mire, and we've heard that the show is almost done! Are you sad or relieved?"

Koga chuckled. "I suppose a little of both. I'm going to miss the people I'm working with, for sure, but I'm looking forward to my next project."

"By the people you work with," Hikaru started, "Do you mean Kyoko Mogami?"

Kyoko froze in the back. What? Why ask that?

Koga laughed. "I assume we have a couch full of Momiji fans."

Yuusei shoved Hikaru playfully. "Hikaru thinks Kyoko-chan is super cute."

Kyoko turned bright red. WHAT!?

Hikaru blushed, but continued. "She seems like a lovely girl."

Koga couldn't help but laugh. He knew Kyoko was hearing all of this. "She is a lovely girl, yes. She's probably my favorite person to work with."

"Do you think she's cute?" Yuusei asked on behalf of his onii-san.

Koga snorted. "If you're asking if I'm trying to date her, the answer is no, absolutely not, never. Kyoko-chan is like my sister, that would be weird."

Kyoko was torn between feeling warm and fuzzy about Koga and panicked about Hikaru. She looked back on all of their interactions and palmed herself in the forehead. I've been so blind… She didn't know how to resolve this without hurting him. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Hikaru Ishibashi.

Shinichi grinned. "So you're saying there's a chance for Hikaru and Kyoko!?"

Koga smiled sympathetically. "Just because I said I'm not dating her doesn't mean someone else isn't, Ishibashi-san."

The audience made an, "Ooooooh!" noise. Hikaru's face fell. So she is dating someone. Damn.

Yuusei slapped Hikaru on the back. "Maybe next time, Onii-san!"

Suddenly, a big polka dot hanky was being thrust into Hikaru's face. He looked up to see Bo the Chicken and blushed bright red. He took the handkerchief as the crowd roared with laughter.

"Thanks, Bo," he said, very quietly.

Bo walked over to the other end of the couch and smacked Koga with a pillow, causing the audience to laugh.

Shinichi chuckled. "I guess Bo doesn't like it when Hikaru gets bad news."

Koga shook his head. "Maybe Bo wants to date Hikaru-san." That earned him another swat with the pillow, and even more raucous laughter from the audience.

The rest of the show went off normally, they completed their Q&A session, and even got Koga to play volleyball with Bo. When it ended, however, and they went backstage, Kyoko was waiting for Hikaru. His cheeks were bright red with embarrassment. He bowed to her.

"I'm really, really sorry, Kyoko-chan."

Kyoko shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, Hikaru-san. I didn't know."

"So," he said, "You do have a boyfriend, then?"

It was Kyoko's turn to be scarlet. "Y-yes. I do."

He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I'm happy for you. Really."

Kyoko took his hand. "I would still like to be friends. If that's okay?"

He smiled, but Kyoko could see the heartbreak in his eyes. "Of course. I would like that."

She let go of his hand and smiled. "I'll see you on the next show. Hikaru-san." She walked away from him to go and put her costume away. After she got re-dressed in her street clothes, there was a knock at her door. She opened it to find Koga Hiromune standing there. He actually had the grace to be frowning.

"I'm sorry that I embarrassed you."

Kyoko sighed. "It's okay. I know that wasn't your intent."

Koga leaned against the doorway. "With Tsuruga gone, I felt honor-bound to protect his interests."

Kyoko raised her eyebrow at him. "Do you miss him or something?"

He rolled his eyes. "Hell no. But he was worried about you at the wrap party. How are you holding up?"

Kyoko smiled sadly. "It's only been a day. I miss him, but I imagine it's only going to get worse before it gets better." She shouldered her bag. "I have to get home so I can talk to him when he gets up." She hugged Koga, and he looked down at her, flabbergasted.

"What's this for?"

She backed off and smiled. "In case I don't see you again before you leave."

He narrowed his eyes on her. "You really think I'd leave without saying a proper goodbye?"

"Maybe. You seem like the kinda guy who isn't good with goodbyes."

He knew she was talking about the disappearing act he had pulled in Kyoto. He blushed. "Ugh, you're so annoying."

She laughed. "Only when I'm right. Goodnight, Koga!"

They parted, and Kyoko met Ruto outside and he drove her home. When she got inside the apartment, she closed the door behind her and sighed. It was oppressively lonely. No wonder Kuon liked having me over all the time, she thought.

She set her bag down, had a quick dinner, and then went to the bathroom to shower. She wrapped up in a towel and was blow-drying her hair when her phone rang.

"Good morning, Corn. You're up early."

His voice was a little groggy. "I had to make sure I could talk to you, Princess. Yashiro told me I might not be able to call you later, so I had to do it now." His voice was coming out of the phone louder than usual. Kyoko took her phone away from her ear to look at it.

"I think you video called me, Kuon."

"Huh?" He pulled the phone away from his ear to look at it, and Kyoko's breath caught when his face came into frame. She smiled. "Good morning, Handsome."

His smile lit up the screen. "Good evening, Beautiful." He blinked. "Are you in a towel?"

Kyoko turned bright pink. "I just got out of the shower."

"I need to accidentally video call you more often," The Emperor growled.

Kyoko smiled. "Or you could do it intentionally. I like seeing your face."

He sat up in bed and propped his phone up so she could see the muscles of his chest. "Might there be anything else you'd like to see, Princess?"

She covered her eyes. "Kuon!"

He laughed. "I'm only joking, Kyoko-chan. I promise. You can look."

She dared to peek at the screen through her fingers and found just his face again.

"I'm sorry," she said, in a quiet, timid voice.

He shook his head. "You don't have anything to apologize for."

"But… wouldn't you like that?"

Kuon sighed. "Of course I would like that, Kyoko, but I would never try to force you to do something like that. Everything has to move at your pace, Princess. I can wait." He carried his phone into the kitchenette and propped it up on the counter while he made a sandwich. "How was work?"

Kyoko palmed herself in the forehead. "Way more exciting than I bargained for. Koga was the guest."

Kuon laughed. "Oh hell. Did he pick on you for being the chicken?"

"That, and exposed Hikaru Ishibashi's crush on me."

Kuon stopped in the middle of making his sandwich. "Excuse me?"

Kyoko waved her hands in front of the screen. "It's not like that! He was really sweet about it. I told him I have a boyfriend, he understands." She heard him sigh, and she whined, "Kuon, please don't be upset."

After a moment, he smiled. "I'm not upset, Kyoko-chan. Just surprised." He finished making his sandwich and sat down to eat it. When he finished eating, he smiled at the camera. "I have to go and get dressed. Yashiro will be here soon."

Kyoko yawned. "I need to go to bed."

"Sweet dreams, Princess. I love you."

"I love you, too."

After they hung up, Kuon pounded his fist on the table. Stupid fucking Ishibashi.

HI FRIENDS! :D Thank you all so much for your well-wishes and nice comments last week. Bo needed them. Still needs them, honestly, but we're getting to a point where things are... somewhat better? Buddy the cat is going back to the vet for a full body x-ray on Monday so hopefully we can figure out what's going on with him. The job search is still... dismal, but I will live. Husband is being very supportive, bless him. I do want to clarify something: I am not a young author. I'm 30. x'D My joke about prom last week was just a joke. I'm sorry for the confusion that caused. I'm old as hell. :D ANYWAY, I hope you all enjoy this little offering. The interaction between Sho and Kanae was my favorite. x'D ALL OF MY LURVE - BO