Chapter Four

The next day saw Kyoko agonising over her character as she bounced dejectedly on top of her bulging suitcase. She was attempting to compress its contents using her backside, but it wasn't working very well. Either way, she had more pressing matters to attend to. She'd been awake for most the night either remembering last minute things that she'd forgotten to pack, or stressing over Nanami.

No wonder the President wanted them to live as their characters! She couldn't have foreseen the difficulties in actually becoming Nanami. She was fine with being Nanami when it came to how she behaved everyday – she was cheerful, friendly, and hardworking. She loved her friends and was very generous towards them. She liked to take care of people, even if they didn't need her to take care of them, and everyone seemed to like her. Nothing wrong with that. But, she sighed, she's so completely...I mean, what is this? Why is she so friendly to all these guys? She's always dating different guys and somehow they don't hate her and no one calls her a...a...slut. And besides, I can't even flirt! Natsu can, but I don't think the Director will be very happy if Natsu came out. She's completely different to Nanami anyway! What do I doooooooooooo?

She raised herself dolefully, and dropped back down on her suitcase. The topmost items fell off. She groaned, and slumped over to rest on the rolled up towels that she'd wedged into one end of the suitcase. It was big enough that she could probably curl up there and rest for a bit...it was a tempting idea. Her futon was packed away, because apparently bedding would be provided at the filming location. If she ever managed to zip up her suitcase, then she'd still have to wait around in her now empty room for another twenty minutes or so until the driver came to pick her up. Tucking her legs neatly atop the suitcase, she closed her eyes. Just for a few minutes...

/

Outside the Daruma-ya, Ren sat in his car, waiting. He'd received the call from the President earlier that day, who'd gleefully informed him that he was now responsible for picking up Kyoko and taking her to their new home. She was supposed to come down at 10 AM, and it was now fifteen minutes past. Maybe she was expecting the driver to come in to meet her? Maybe she had a lot of luggage. Making up his mind, he left his car, and made his way towards the restaurant.

Inside, the okami-san greeted him cheerfully, and asked him if he'd had breakfast yet. He replied in the affirmative. Coffee counted as breakfast, right? He'd even indulged in some milk, even though he usually drank it black. And milk was a dairy product. Dairy was...healthy. So he'd not only had breakfast, but he'd also had a healthy and wholesome one too. Kyoko had to be satisfied with that.

"Is Mogami-san ready yet? We were supposed to meet fifteen minutes ago..." The okami-san smiled, and suggested that he go upstairs and knock on her door.

"She's usually very punctual. Maybe she needs some help," she said, still smiling that knowing smile of hers. Great, is there anyone in Japan left who doesn't know my feelings? Oh, that's right. Kyoko. She doesn't know. How convenient.

"Certainly," Ren said, standing. He made his way up the stairs, all the while feeling like an awkward teenage boy being prodded along by an overly helpful mother. Knocking on the first door that he saw, he called out to her. "Mogami-san?"

A cute, questioning whine came from the door behind him, and he knocked again before opening it. Sitting in the middle of the sparse room was an open suitcase, and curled up on top of it was Kyoko, still yawning and rubbing her eyes blearily. Seeing Ren, she jumped, and toppled off the suitcase.

"Tsuruga-san! I'm so sorry, I fell asleep while I was waiting," she gushed, as soon as she'd picked herself up off the floor. Ren had been about to help her, but she seemed unharmed, especially as she sank into a dogeza immediately. "I can't believe I made you come all the way up here to get me. I should've waited outside! I was just so tired, because I kept thinking about Nanami, but anyway...eh? Tsuruga-san? What are you doing here?"

Ren would've felt miffed if she hadn't looked so adorable. Flushed from sleep, with her clothes slightly wrinkled. He wanted to gather her up into his arms and curl up on that goddamned suitcase with her, not that he'd fit. That, and he'd probably destroy it somehow. But still, she didn't have to sound so shocked at the sight of him.

"Takarada-san asked me to pick you up on my way to the location," he explained. "It's no inconvenience, since I was heading in that direction anyway," he added, knowing she'd object. "Anyhow, are you ready? Do you need help with anything?"

Nodding mutely, she stood, and flipped the lid of her suitcase over. This time, her attempts to zip it up succeeded – perhaps lying on top of everything for over half an hour did have its benefits after all.

Without asking for her permission, Ren crossed the small room in a few easy strides, and lifted the suitcase. Kyoko's mouth opened and closed in protest.

"Tsuruga-san, I can carry that! Besides, the last time you tried to carry something for me, I got points taken away! How do I know if you're not just testing me again? You're such a bully, Tsuruga-san," she moaned.

"Won't you let me do anything for you, Setsu? Doing things for you is my only joy apart from acting. Are you going to take that away from me?"

Kyoko blanched. Oh no he wasn't...that evil man was using Cain and Level 2 puppy dog eyes just to get her to let him to carry her suitcase for her? Well fine, two can play that game.

"Baka! Hurry up then, we're going to be late and I'm not having anyone say that I can't take care of my brother." She grabbed his free hand and yanked him towards the door and down the stairs. She didn't say goodbye to the okami-san, since Setsu didn't know who the hell the restaurant owners were, and quite frankly didn't care. At the back of her mind, Kyoko made a note to call them that night to reassure them that she was fine.

"So, are you nervous about this new project?" Ren smiled down at her as he slid her suitcase into the boot. Maybe it was the look of adoration in his eyes, but Kyoko answered as Setsu. Naturally that look of adoration couldn't be for her, just her character. Even so, sometimes, she saw that look directed at her when there was no cause for her to be Setsu, or for him to be Cain. Perhaps it was Setsu seeping into her, but lately, Kyoko found it easier to joke with her senpai, almost as if they were...friends. Shaking her head to dispel the thought, she quickly reverted back to her character.

"I don't care, as long as I get to stay with my nii-san," she said happily, and wrapped herself around his arm. Ren's heart immediately sped up at the contact, and he hoped she wouldn't hear. The pleasure he felt at her proximity was quickly replaced with irritation that she could only touch him when she was in character. Another thing that's the President's fault. He made her my sister. Now I'm stuck with a sister and a kouhai. Still, this should be enough for me, that she's even here.

"Nii-san!"

"Eh?"

"Are we going or what? What are you thinking about anyway?" Her eyes narrowed inscrutably. Should Setsu be jealous that he's thinking about something else rather than concentrating on her? Probably.

"Just thinking how lucky I am to have you, Setsu," he replied honestly, messing up her hair.

"Baka!" She ducked under his arm and loped over to the passenger door. "Of course you're lucky to have me."

When Ren got into the car on his side, they were both themselves again. No suitcase anymore, Kyoko had reasoned. Now she just had to survive the car ride there without being killed by the Demon Lord for calling her senpai an idiot so many times.

/

I was planning to include their arrival at the location in this chapter as well, but clearly things ran away from me. No worries though, they'll definitely get there by Chapter Five! We're slowly trudging along. I wanted some Cain and Setsu in this as well, because I've always found it hilariously ironic how with Setsu, Ren can finally shower her with affection, but only as a brother. I can't imagine how torturous that would be.

Thank you all for sticking with me thus far, and for all your kind words and for putting this story on alert, and the like. I hope I can continue to improve in my writing for you. In the meantime, stay safe, have an excellent week, and I'll see you next time I update.

- Interficere