Yashiro rubbed his hands together as he waited outside his apartment building. The morning air was frigid, and he could see his breath, but he wasn't cold. He beamed at nothing as he waited for the familiar silver car to pick him up. His excitement was enough to keep his blood pumping. He knew Kyoko had been over Ren's house for dinner. Yashiro had made sure of that. All Ren had to do was lure the sweet girl, and officially become a couple. It would solve the whole rumour issue, put that Fuwa boy in his place, and everyone would be happy. He tried to imagine Ren smiling at a love struck Kyoko, but failed. His brain couldn't wrap around the idea of a typical, goofy, loving smile from his charge nor a charmed look from the actress.

Being Ren's manager over the years was pretty boring, Yashiro admitted to himself. He would plan everything out, Ren would make all of his appointments, and the days would repeat. It wasn't that he didn't like his job, or Ren for that matter, it was just that there wasn't any variety. He was too busy to conduct his own social life outside work, and the actor didn't seem to have one either. He'd be dropped off, have dinner, catch up on his secret anime collections, and head to bed. Now that Kyoko was in the picture, life had become so much more interesting. He felt like he was living in a manga.

As the car pulled up, he spotted two bento shaped boxes on the passenger seat. His smile widened. Yashiro entered carefully, putting the lunch boxes in his lap. Now all he had to do was weasel some answers. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and grinned.

After the past couple of months, Yashiro worked out an intricate method of getting yes or no answers from Ren.

"Are these from Kyoko-chan?"

The car remained silent. That meant yes.

"Are these for both of us? She's so kind." He looked at his charge with a sly smile. "Is there a heart shape in yours?"

"Yashiro…" Ren said forebodingly.

Ah. That was a no. Any sort of warning, verbal or non-verbal, was a thumbs down.

"Did you make any progress?"

Silence!

"Did she stay the night?"

The driver glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Yashiro winced. That was a big no.

"Is she calling you Ren at least?"

The lack of noise spurred him on. His eyes got wide and his voice grew excited.

"Really? You didn't have to scare her into it?"

No noise. His excited face began to fall.

"You scared her into calling you Ren…didn't you?"

The driver said nothing still. Yashiro sighed and sat back into the chair. He could already imagine what happened. Ren probably asked her to call him Ren, she probably froze and complained that she couldn't do it as his kohai. He insisted. She insisted. He gave her the show smile that scared her so much while insisting again. She gave in.

Well, that was at least small progress he reasoned. She needed to see Ren as more than just a senpai for anything meaningful to happen. This was the third day, and Ren's schedule was so packed he wouldn't be able to see her today.

"President Takarada called me last night. He wants to meet with you after your appointments. I think he wants to discuss the rumor. I couldn't hear him well over the trumpets."

Ren sighed. Yashiro sympathized. President Takarada was a wild card, and he wasn't sure how the meeting would go either.

Aki Shoko had never seen Sho in such good spirits before. She thought she had seen him happy after Valentine's Day, but lately he had been besides himself in glee. The young teenager would nod his head as in confirmation to whatever he was thinking, whistle his favorite tunes, and give huge goofy grins that were terrible for his image. Whatever it was though, it was causing a problem for him, and by association, to her. She was ninety percent sure that it involved a famous actor's recent rumours, as he had no contact with his childhood friend. Those were the only two entities she'd seen in his life that would make him come off his superstar cloud and act human.

The sound managers shook their heads as they listened to the blond boy sing within the booth. Frustrated, she leaned over and pushed a button on the soundboard. The microphone turned on, and she leaned towards it, exasperated.

"Sho, we can hear you laughing through the mic again! You have to keep a serious face. Can you do that?"

The band stopped playing behind him, also annoyed. They hadn't been able to get through one song, and hadn't a lunch break. The young musician voice trailed off, his face cool and his eyes narrowed. He looked down his nose at the two-way mirror.

"What do you mean? I'm…not…"

He dropped his headset and ran to the padded music wall, banging his fist and clinging to his abs.

"He's a freaking fairy! Bwahahaha!"

She sighed and rubbed her temple. She was ninety-nine percent sure now. "Wrap it up guys. We'll run through it again tomorrow."

All the employees shuffled out of the record studio, muttering collectively. They left the star huddled in the corner, still laughing hysterically. His manager entered the sound booth once everyone left. She loomed over him, standing tall in her heels. He looked up at her angry eyes, and her arms crossed over her ample chest. His laughter lessened.

"Sho, you have to get over this. It's very unprofessional. What does Tsuruga Ren's silly rumours have to do with you?"

Usually, the name of the number one Japanese actor would get him straightened up. Whenever a radio program or television show mentioned him, Sho would clam up, and get haughty. If she said he was lagging behind the actor, Sho would get serious to try and prove her wrong. It was almost cute in its own immature way. This time, he broke out in another round of laughter.

"What is so damn funny?" She was really getting annoyed now. It was not her taste to curse.

He wiped his eyes in mirth. He sat on the floor, chuckling."It's not…it's not going to be a rumor soon."

"Huh?"

"He's going to admit it. I made it so that he'd admit?"

"How did you get that to happen?" She went from annoyed to confused in a few short seconds.

"Well, I made him bet…" he chuckled, "…that he could…" he chuckled again, "win over the no sex-appeal, plain Kyoko!"

He broke out in laughter and waited for her to start laughing too. She didn't. He continued on, spurring her.

"I said I'd apologize publically for whatever I did to her, but if he didn't win her over in a week, he'd admit he was gay! Isn't that funny?"

His manager bent her head down. He could feel the anger radiating off of her. Her feminine fists shook.

"Did you ever think Fuwa-kun…that if the media got hold of what you did to that girl…that you could kiss your fan base, and all of our hard work, goodbye?"

Sho laughed nervously. She could tell that the idea of losing the bet never crossed his mind. "No..but it's not like it matters…he can't win her over. No one can."

"And why not?" She asked flatly. She had a feeling she already knew his answer. There no end to his arrogance. Strangely, it calmed her down a bit.

"Because she's mine."

"Because she's yours…" Aki repeated, lightly scornful. "Tell me Fuwa-kun, why is she yours?"

"Because…I kissed her first." He sounded like a little boy, staking claim to a toy because he had grabbed it first.

"And what…do you think she has to come back to you? Do you think she'll throw herself at your feet now because you kissed her a few months ago? Tell me, has she done that yet?"

"Well no, but I'm sure I'm the only one on her mind…"

"What? Because you were her first love and her first kiss? Ha! I can't even remember the face of my first kiss!" She leaned down and poked him hard in the chest. "Let me tell you something Fuwa-kun. She's in show business now. I know show business. She's going to be kissing men all the time now! I thought you still had feelings for her but apparently you think you own her."

His face looked shocked. Kyoko kissing anyone other than himself was apparently too far removed from his perception of reality. She went on, infuriated by his immaturity.

"You sent Tsuruga Ren after her. T-s-u-r-u-g-a Ren! The number one bachelor on the island of Japan! You threatened him even, handing her on a silver platter. He's beaten you in popularity at every public poll the media has taken! You think he hasn't charmed women before just because he's a gentleman? You took her first love and first kiss. Do you want to know what first he'll take if he wins Kyoko over?"

Sho's face paled.

"Exactly. Now, come on. I have to make a few calls to try and scratch over this stupidity of yours. I could care less what happens to your pride right now, but your fame is my duty." She grabbed him by the scruff of his collar, pushed the door open and dragged him out. His cute act was really grating on her nerves. He let himself be dragged, lost in thought.

"Company, halt! Attention!"

The three men (or, more descriptively, two men and one dressed soldier) fell into a horizontal line at the president's opening doors. The usual stylish president's office was "decorated" in camouflage colours, tents, camp grounds and false trees. Standing on top of a sandbag hill was Lory Takarada. His military suit was well pressed, his boots shined, and his hat was as rigid as his stance. He had his back to the door, looking out over the landscape of Tokyo. He addressed them without turning.

"Yashiro-san. I'd like to speak with Tsuruga-san alone, if you don't mind. This will be quick."

Yashiro bowed. "I understand. I promised to meet with Sawara-san anyway. Please excuse me." He gave his partner a look, and left the room. The soldier/butler followed, and closed the door after Yashiro departed. Ren watched the President's back, waiting.

"Ren, I'm so proud of you!" Lory spun around, grasped his hands, and wiggled his hips. "This explains so much!"

Ren looked at the president as if he had gone insane. The president shrugged like an American.

"What? You're not gay?" His voice dropped, serious. "You're certainly not fighting it off."

"I have." Ren's voice was composed. "I have denounced the rumour numerous times. Today, Yashiro booked me on several…"

"Ren!" Lory barked. His words were of pure business. "Words mean nothing in this industry! You must show them to convince them. You may not have had to deal with a scandal before personally, but you should know this as a veteran of the acting world." He turned his back again. "Go. We will handle this. I will book you on dates with…"

"Wait!" Ren's voice cracked.

"Wait?" His voice paused, curious. He had never heard Ren's voice crack before. The president's eye looked back at the tall man still standing at the doorway. "Why? Do you already have someone in mind?"

Ren stayed silent. The president smiled a cautionary smile.

"Alright Ren. I will give you a bit more time to sort this out yourself. However, if you don't, I will send someone in myself. If you fall, I will not help you back up again. You are dismissed."

****

Amicus Curiae: "a legal Latin phrase, literally translated as "friend of the court", that refers to someone, not a party to a case, who volunteers to offer information on a point of law or some other aspect of the case to assist the court in deciding a matter before it."

I've several papers and work due this week, so don't be surprised if I don't update this as fast as I usual do.

*cry* And this chapter I made a big mistake. I woke up and looked at my reviews with bleated eyes, wondering what everyone meant. Then I spotted it. So Sorry! That's what I get for posting past midnight,