Yashiro sighed in exasperation. "Okay, it has to be around here. Sawara-san told me she's working at DK Studios tonight, and the receptionist said it was right past the corner." Both actor and manager wandered around the large building, determined to find their destination.

"Look, they're entering Studio DK." Yashiro motioned towards a door with a parade of small girls. Security members ushered various groups of squealing young school children into a studio. Ren was surprised. There weren't many live shows especially for kids anymore. He noticed that the girls were carrying spinning light up toys, streamer wands, and wearing headpieces. He wondered what sort of show Kyoko had signed up for.

"We should cut to the front." Yukihito told his charge with confidence. "We'd look strange standing in a line of school girls."

They walked towards the double swinging doors, flanked by two staff members. Tsugura lowered his head, shielding his face with the baseball cap. He definitely didn't want to be spotted. Two burly men stepped in front of them before the two men could enter.

"Sorry sirs. We only allow girls from six to ten for filming."

"Oh, we're not here for filming." Yashiro laughed dismissively. "We're here to see Kyoko."

"I'm sorry. Girls will come out to sign autographs after the show." One of the security men said, shaking his head.

"But, we're with LME!" Yashiro said surprised; he wasn't use to being denied entrance with his charge in tow.

Ren knew name dropping was common in stardom, but it was not something he enjoyed doing without good reason. He had only done it a few times in his career, when he had no other choice. It was for Kyoko though. That was reason enough. He took off his hat with a smile.

"Can't you make an exception just this once?" Ren asked, glowing. The guards' eyes widen. One guy hit the other.

"You're that famous gay actor!" "Yeah yeah! Tsugura Ren!" Ren's smile remained, but his eye twitched. He wasn't about to be ungrateful and rebuke them as they debated in bending the rules.

"Sure sure, come in." They ushered in the two adult men into the acting space.

It was surprisingly large area. It was a (1) revolving stage as well, which was usually only used in professional theatre. He could see the grooves of trap doors in the floor, and staff in the rafters. This was obviously a very big, well funded live show. Ren smiled. She certainly was making progress now.

The announcement system turned on overhead. "Please find your seats. The Future Girls will be starting in a few minutes."

The high pitched giggles and squeals were almost deafening in the crowd. He made way to the very top end row of bleacher seats, where he could stay anonymous shrouded in dark. At least, he would have been, if the only other grown adult male (his manager) wasn't waving his arms squealing with the rest of the young girls around him.

"I can't believe it Ren! It's the Future Girls!" His eyes sparkled as he looked at the unenthused performer in excitement. "I can't believe we were actually able to get in! So many people would be jealous!"

He gave his manager a look. "Like Maria?" Ren quipped sardonically.

"They have a huge following of children and adults." He gave Ren a disappointed look. "Since you're so woefully out of touch with media, I will explain it to you. There are five girls, Strawberry, Grape, Peach, Lemon, and Melon. They've all come here from the future to save it from certain destruction by the Root Brothers. They are (2) Ninjin, Kabu, Negi, Nasu and Goya. They want the girls to become their brides, but because the girls refused, they want to take over the world and hold it for ransom. It's really unfair."

Yashiro dabbed at his eye. Ren, looked at his manager as if seeing him for the first time.

"Also, poor Peach is looking for her Corn!" Ren sputtered. Yashiro nodded, mistaking it as a sound of compassion. "Isn't that so sad?! He's a samurai she once met on her travels back in time, that she fell in love with. She calls him her Japanese boy."

The theme music started. Smoke billowed from the stage and multicolored lights swirled. "Don't worry Tsuruga–san." Yashiro shouted over the melody. "I'll tell you what to say and do." The conversation broke as they turned to the stage.

"We are…"

"THE FUTURE GIRLS!" The audience shouted.

Sparks flashed from the ceiling, and rained down on stage. Ren slightly jumped, but it didn't seem to surprise anyone else.

"Diamonds and castles" A typical long, raven haired beauty emerged from the smoke. She wore a violet ballerina ensemble, and spun a purple ribbon in the air.

"Heroes, kings and battles" A cute short girl with short messy green hair followed. She was wearing an emerald soccer jersey, short shorts, and posed wielded a long sword.

"A world full of shiny stones and pearls." A blond with big bouncy curls came out next. She wore a fluffy, short yellow dress and a glittering headpiece, which she took off and brandished as a boomerang.

"Times are now changing." A red head around Maria's age skipped out, wearing a strawberry print bathing suit and a green swimming cap. She spun two glowing batons expertly, and also posed.

"All of this means nothing." He spotted Kyoko immediately. She had round glasses on, and her hair was braided in long thick pigtails. They hadn't changed much about her facial appearance. The only thing that was different was her attire and her demeanor. She held a peach book to her chest and gazed shyly at the audience.

"In this crazy universe…Cause we're the future girls!" The five girls sang together.

They continued lip-syncing the English theme song as they danced and made attack poses. The audience cried out their perky approval.

Ren understood immediately why the studio limited the audience to only young female girls. The clothing was much too skimpy to really be intended as a children's show. Her pleated skirt was cut much too high, the blouse was thin, and the strappy heels she wore rivaled Setsuka's. He frowned. If this was as popular Yashiro has said, which it was sure to be with those outfits, there were more than enough Kyoko fans out there.

His manager turned to him as the song ended. "Okay, here's where Strawberry asks if we've been growing sweet? You have to say yes or they'll fly off to another time."

"Has everyone been growing extra sweet today?!" Strawberry giggled, as the cheering tapered off. The audience, including Yashiro, screamed yes.

"Good!" Melon gave the crowd thumbs up.

His manager leaned towards him and whispered. "Okay, here's where Lemon will doubt us. You have to say 'We have' extra enthusiastically."

Lemon crossed her arms, pouting. "I don't know that I believe you yet."

"We have! We have!" They yelled. Yashiro jumped up and waved his hands wildly enough that Ren had pull him back to his seat. The group of girls below him gazed back at the crazed man, and at his companion.

His manager turned again. "Okay, here's where poor Peach asks anyone if they've seen Corn. You have to stay silent or you'll give her false hope."

"Has anyone… seen Corn?" Peach asked, her voice soft, bashful, and genuine. Ren's heart pinched.

The audience went dead silent. The actresses pretended to look around as search lights roamed over the audience. He put his head down in hopes the light didn't capture the male shape in the corner.

"He's here! I found him! I found Corn!"

He looked up in alarm. A small girl was jumping up and down in front of him. And yelling in front of him. And pointing. At him.

The Future Girls was a mixture of live action and animation. The stage would rotate so the audience could see the anime. When the commercials showed, the girls would usually come up to the audience to talk and sign autographs. Most shows in front of live audiences operated the same way, so he had sat in the back in order not to distract her.

It was too late for that.

The spotlight caught him as he jumped over the stairwell handrail. He had tried to make a quick escape, but the doors were blocked off by security. The director, Mrs. Almqvist, had been very angry to find a male had been in her audience. Even one as famous as him. He wasn't sure it was either because she really cared about the image of her show, or that she was simply a fiery married Swedish woman that was impervious to Japanese charm, that she threatened him with everything from violence to a lawsuit.

It wasn't until Kyoko had retuned backstage and apologized for him as his kohai, had the foreign woman tapered off.

"I guess it is alright." The director sighed dramatically. "The cameras did not catch him after all, and we mute the audience when we need silence on the broadcast. You should not apologize for his actions. " The director smiled and patted her actress on the head.

She turned to him. "You speak English, am I wrong? You do not look like a full-blooded Japanese man."

Ren's jaw dropped but he recovered quickly. Kyoko looked at them in confusion. "I do." He responded.

"You should not need a girl to have to defend you. Are you not a man?" She snapped. "You will make up for the mess you have caused."

"I will. I apologize again."

"Kyoko," Mrs. Almqvist said to her, switching fluently back to Japanese, "you must go back before the segment ends. I will find something for him." She said him as if he were a ragged stray dog. The actress bowed her apologies to both of them and ran back.

While Kyoko had went back on stage to finish the show, the director spent the time berating him in English, and going through the costume closet. She had found him a pair of dark hakama samurai pants, and styled his hair as a short tied ponytail. She left his chest bare, and gave him a sword to wear.

"You will play Corn. You will say as little as possible. Remember you are a samurai, in love with Peach. Do not mess it up."

Kyoko bowed repeated backstage after the show, her eyes brimming with excessive tears.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! You shouldn't have wasted your time to come and see me. I don't have the right to call you by your first name. I'm sorry you have to do this!"

"It's my fault Kyoko." Ren sighed, as he fiddled with the prop sword at his belt. "It's lucky the director found this to work with. We just have to answer questions. I've done it before. It's not too hard."

She continued to apologize as they walked to the set together. He stopped at the edge of the curtain, thinking of something. Before he stepped on stage, he turned around, and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you, Peach-chan." He smiled. She froze. The colour in her in face rose like pot of water coming to boil.

"Re-re-re-re-re" She stuttered. He put a finger to her lips to shush her.

"I'm Corn." He said simply, and stepped out into view.

When he went on stage, he had expected most of the audience to have gone. It had gotten late, and the actual show was over. Instead, everyone was still at their seats. The girls cheered and squealed as the couple entered the stage.

They were all young girls, and luckily for him they were more interested in their Peach than in some no line character. They asked him things like "Are you a real samurai?" and "Can you cut through anything?" It had been pretty easy, until the last questions had winded down the evening.

"Peach-chan? Aren't you happy your Corn is here?" A small girl called out in the back. Peach nodded, blushing.

"Are you going to marry him?" Another voice called. Peach shook her head, as innocent as a bride. "I'm afraid I have to go back to my own time. I cannot bring him."

The audience awed.

"Don't you love him?" Another voice perked up.

Her gold eyes widened, as she looked to her senpai. He smiled and caught her hand under the table, squeezing it lightly. Kyoko blushed, and re-entered her character.

"I do."

"Do you love her Corn?"

"I do." Ren said smoothly, looking at Kyoko.

"Will you two have babies?"

He almost lost face. Kyoko turned bright red.

Strawberry stood up, smiling at the crowd. "I'm afraid we have return to our own time now."

The crowd awed their disappointment. They started to make their way to the door, saying goodbye as all the actresses waved.

He noticed her blush, as she used her other hand to wave.

****

(1) "A revolving stage is a mechanically controlled platform within a theatre that can be rotated in order to speed up the changing of a scene within a show"

(2) Ninjin: Carrot

Shoga: Ginger

Negi: Leek

Nasu: Eggplant

Goya: Bitter Melon

Future Girls is a real song. Very peppy. Feel free to look it up. The director is also a real person, in that group. Smile dot dk, if anyone is interested.

Ugh. I spent all day writing this, and about one hour on my law paper due tomorrow. This chapter is as lengthy as my paper needs to be. *hangs head* It's going to be a long night. It was so much fun though.