A/N: It was a toss up, they both fit pretty well: OK by Mute Math and Let It All Out by Relient K - so I put them together and got:

OK, Let It All Out (Aren't I clever?)

"I need to tell you something." Kyoko's words echoed against my head all day. She called me this morning asking if we could talk, but she wasn't free until dinnertime. She promised to make dinner for us at my place, but that doesn't reassure me at all. She's the type where the dinner is some sort of compensation for some ridiculous reason. The whole idea of me wanting to spend time with her still hasn't sunk in yet.

What does she need to tell me that sounded so serious? Yashiro had spoken with Kyoko's manager a few days ago and it sounds like they had an encounter with Fuwa. Nothing has shown up in any gossip columns like Ishikawa-san was worried about yet, but why would she be worried in the first place? What happened? Did she get back together with him? Or did he hit her again? Or did she realize that everything she's said is an accident and wants to end our relationship?

Those questions haunted me anytime I wasn't in character. Yashiro tried to distract me but since that wasn't helping, he gave me space instead. I appreciate him trying. Nothing could get my mind off of the possibility that these past few months with Kyoko were a accident and destined to be another painful part of my past. The gods must hate me to give what I wanted most and snatch it so cruelly away. Then again, I have done unspeakable things in my past where I never hoped to experience such happiness with another person.

That's why I'm just sitting here in my car. I don't want to go upstairs to my apartment. She'll be up there making dinner like an adorable wife would and tell me that hypothetical future would never be a possibility. Could I just stay here and prevent the inevitable?

A knock on my window startled me out of my thoughts. I snapped my head to see who would approach my car at this hour and saw the object of my affections. She was carrying bags, probably full of groceries for the dinner that would end our relationship. She looked a little sheepish. I guess the fates decided I can't delay the unavoidable. I heaved a sigh and exited my car.

"Gomen, Ren. I didn't mean to startle you. I was surprised you were still down here." Oh, that's why she looked that way. Just because she's just about to break my heart, doesn't mean I can't be polite.

"Can I carry the bags?" She wanted to argue, but a while ago I was able to convince her that it's something men like to do for women, especially for the woman they love. She had a very pretty blush when I told her that. Though she seemed a little sad when she handed the bags over to me today. Why can't she tell me now and end this slow torture?

We went up to my apartment in silence. I snuck a glance at her and she looked nervous, worried and sad. My heart aches seeing her that way. I don't know what to do. I don't want her to be that way, but if I'm the cause, wouldn't me trying to comfort her only make the pain worse?

Kyoko gave me a sad smile when we got inside. I felt so helpless. Even when she quietly asked for some of the pots in the higher shelves in my kitchen, I felt as if there was nothing I could do to put her at ease. After she thanked me, she asked me to go wait in the living room.

Dinner was just as quiet even after I turned the TV on. Kyoko was so caught up in her thoughts that I didn't want to push her. I don't want her to hate me. The silence between us dragged on even as she cleared the plates away. I moved to sit on the couch and pretended to watch TV. But I was caught in my own worries where I didn't really catch anything. The chains that originally bound me from love tightened painfully. I had forgotten about them. I wasn't supposed to love in the first place. Maybe it's supposed to happen this way. She has the courage to correct my wrongful ways in the belief that love was something accessible to me. I couldn't help but forget; My love for her is overwhelming.

When she returned, she turned off the TV and sat beside me on the couch. She felt so far away. She stared at her hands clasped on her lap. I guess this must be it. Cut my heart out, Kyoko, and please do it quickly. I can't bear this anymore.

"Ano, we've known each other for a while now, haven't we, Ren?" Longer than you know, Kyoko. I could only nod. At least she was still using my given name. But I don't want to want to create false hope.

"I should have done this sooner, but I want to… let you know about my past." I shifted my right leg up onto the couch so I could face her better. Is this where she tells me about how she and Sho are destined to be together and I was nothing but a distraction? But this line of conversation to get there is still interesting.

"You've guessed at the truth a few times, but I want you to know the whole story. Yoriko-san was surprised that I hadn't told you already. She had a good point with the last time I met up with Sho, that the press might get a hold of the whole thing and I wanted you to know the truth."

I nodded again. I tried to keep breathing. Kyoko paused, as if she was trying to find the words to say.

"I only had my mother growing up. She wasn't around much, but I strove so hard to make her happy and smile at me. I studied hard so that when she came home, I could show her how well I did on my tests, but nothing was ever good enough" I knew that already. Her mother thought 88% was nothing to be proud of. There was only perfection or failure, nothing else.

"The only sort of friendship and family I had was when I was put in the care of the Fuwas while Mother was away. They own their own ryokan and I would work there so I could please them and not be a burden on them while I was there. I learned everything about being an okami-san and how to run a traditional hotel like that." That explains the posture and the manners. But what does this have to do with anything?

"Their son, Shotaro, was the only friend I had growing up." She clutched at the edge of her skirt. "None of the girls liked me. They were upset I was so close to Sho and that he spent a lot of time with me. I was bullied a lot because of that. But I thought it was fine, simply because I had Sho. He was my rock in that world, but even then, he could never do anything when I cried about my mother. What was he supposed to do? He knew that anything he said would be hollow since he had such loving parents. I understood that. Which is why I went elsewhere to cry. That's where I met Corn." She smiled softly.

"He was the only one that tried to stop the tears. I was so happy I forgot to ask about his problems with his father. I didn't get to listen to him before he returned to his world…" The smile faded slightly. She still thinks I'm a fairy. But I didn't need to tell her my problems; It made me happy just making her smile. Maybe that's when I started to fall in love with her.

"At least he gave me something to remember him by. It helped me a lot through the years. Especially when my mother left permanently when I was twelve. Life seemed to fall apart then, but I wouldn't let others see it. An okami-san always is pleasant in front of the customer." Huh, that explains that time when she sat on her fractured ankle to the point of passing out. That's why she called me the customer.

"Then Sho asked me to go to Tokyo with him. He wanted to follow his dream of becoming a musician against his parents' wishes and wanted me to come. I thought that a fresh start would be good. Besides, I loved him and wanted to be with him, so I was ecstatic." She admitted it. She did love him. Wait, she used past tense, does that mean…? No, don't get your hopes up.

"I worked three jobs to pay for food and rent." Wow. "That meant I had no time for high school. But I thought it was fine, since I had Sho, and I was in love with him." It hurt hearing her say that. How is this related to the other day when she saw him? "That's why I was so excited when the President offered me an opportunity to get into high school. I felt I missed out on an important part of my youth." Kyoko's sadness came back full force.

"Then I overheard him speaking with manager, who he had been sleeping with, that he only brought me to cook and clean. He considered me his possession and when I confronted him about it, he tossed me away. He still thinks he owns me; He was upset there were pictures of us in the tabloids. I tried telling him it wasn't his business since he threw me away in the first place." Her left hand clutched at her other wrist. Her eyes watered. Her breath shook. I felt as if my soul shook watching her.

"I wanted to show him what he threw away by making a name for myself in showbiz and overshadowing his name. Then I fell in love with acting." She tried smiling. "It was the first time I did something for me and stopped thinking about Sho. Even then, I realized all of the skills I used when I was competing against Ruriko-san was because I was being groomed to be Sho's eventual wife, who would run the ryokan. I realized that I was educated as a gift to Sho, not because the Fuwas cared for me. Everything up to that point in my life was just a fantasy. Everyone I strove so hard to care for and loved, only had ulterior motives to care for me. The wanted something in return. I stopped wanting to love and be loved because anyone I loved didn't love me and abandoned me."

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. I sat there in shock. I was so wrong. I was so worried for myself that I didn't consider the pain that she was harboring for so long. To hell with these stupid chains. Someone needs to care for this girl and to love her and keep her from ever feeling this way again. And I want to do that for her.

It all makes sense now. This is why it was so hard to reach her heart. This explains so much. That someone like her mother would abandon her, then Fuwa… I get angry just at the thought of how he treated her. I am glad they never had a romantic relationship. I wouldn't know how to deal with that. Kyoko turned to look at me then.

"Are... you angry at me?" Why on this earth, would I be mad at her? And why would she think that.

"Why would I be angry at you, Kyoko?" Shock painted my face.

"Because I let myself get used over and over again." Her head started to turn away, but my left reached out to keep her looking at me.

"If I'm angry, it's at the people who were too blind to see the amazing and loving woman that's sitting in front of me." I wiped away some of the tears with my thumb and used my right to pull her into my lap. I hugged her tightly while resting my cheek on her head. A relieved sigh escaped from my chest.

"I was so worried that you were telling me that you made up with Fuwa when you saw him the other day. I thought you were going to leave me." She pushed away slightly to peer into my eyes. "I thought that the wonderful time I've spent with you over the past few months was going to become a part of my past and not a warm memory for the future. I thought I was going to lose you." I don't care if her face is tear-stained, she still is cute, but I prefer her blushing instead. Maybe I'll fix that by kissing away those tears…

I lowered my lips to her left cheek and pressed softly against the tear making its way down. I slowly moved to the next tear and kissed it away. I nuzzled my nose against hers as I moved to her right cheek. When the tears were gone I kissed her forehead lightly. I drew back to gaze on her face. Her eyes were closed and the lines of pain had faded from before. Kyoko wet her lips, probably unconsciously. I couldn't resist. I kissed her lips too. My right arm rested around her shoulders. My left lay along her right leg where my hand rested on her waist. I caressed her lips lightly. I want to make her happy, I always have. I want to make her feel loved, so long as she'll let me. I pulled away only to rest my forehead against hers.

"Why? Why do you love me?" Her breathy voice teased my lips. She still doesn't understand?

"The better question would be 'why wouldn't I?' Besides being one the best professionals I've met, you're cute and intelligent, determined and hardworking. But no matter what I do, just seeing you makes my heart lighter. Just having you in my life is a blessing. I've been trying so hard to keep you from running from me and cutting me out of your life... If you want more reasons, I could go on." It felt nice getting that off my chest. I was rewarded by a full smile from Kyoko as she pulled away to focus on my eyes.

"I always thought I was a burden to you… I was happy that you took time out of your busy schedule for me. I hate asking you for any of your time." I grinned.

"Well my time and heart are yours for the taking and anything else of mine for that manner." I saw her melt at the force of my smile. I lifted my left hand to brush her cheek with the back of my fingers. She vaguely nodded.

"Thank you for telling me all of this. Thank you for trusting me." Finally, she opened her heart enough to come to me with this heavy burden she's been carrying.

"Mnnn…" She's the human version of a contented cat ready for a nap right now.

"Let me take you home, love." She nodded again. She must be exhausted from all the emotion. I picked her up like a princess. Joy warmed my soul when her arms snaked up around my neck to keep her balance. I love carrying her like this. I kneeled to pick up her shoes and purse while still holding her. I shoved on my shoes and grabbed my keys off the entryway table. Thankfully, no one saw us; Otherwise I would have some strange looks and questions to deal with. I buckled her into the car and drove over to the Daruma-ya.

That was a lot of trust she placed in me tonight. She basically asked me not to abandon her like everyone else has. That's the last thing I ever want to do. I should trust her with my own past. She put her heart and her past on a platter for me. I need to reciprocate soon. Otherwise, she'll think I kept this from her because I don't trust her, not because it's something I've kept from everyone. I rolled up to the restaurant and came to a gentle stop. I took her from the car as gently as I could without waking her.

I knocked on the door to be greeted by the Okami-san. She smiled at the teenage bungle in my arms.

"She fell asleep after she made us dinner. She's had a long day. Can I bring her up?" She looked down into Kyoko's face, as did I, and saw a sleepy ghost of a smile on her lips. I was carrying an angel that led a tragic past. I hope I can give her a future she deserves. I looked back up to the Okami-san and she nodded happily.

"Through the kitchen, up the stairs and on the left." I walked through the kitchen by the Taisho-san. He watched me very carefully as I made my way to her room. I could tell he was assessing my intentions and level of threat to the precious bundle in my arms. When I entered, I noticed some dolls on her table and a large poster of myself on the wall. My pride swelled up; I didn't see a poster of Fuwa on the wall. I'll try not to tease her about me being in her room both as a poster and in person later.

Her futon was already rolled out, so I could just tuck her in. I went to the table to find paper and a pen to leave her a note. Many of those dolls were in the likeness of me. Should I be flattered or creeped out? In the case of Kyoko, flattered is probably the appropriate choice. Ah, pen and paper. I made a quick note on it and placed it in her hand so she'd have it when she woke up.

I smiled as I bid goodnight to the landlords and made my way back home. Someday, I hope I get to tell her what that note says first thing every morning.

"I love you."

A/N: Lies, I told you lies. There was some fluff there. I hope you don't mind. :-P

Ugh, the last chapter needed all sorts of editing. It should make more sense now. As for this chapter, there were a few things - I wasn't sure if Ren actually knows if Sho hit Kyoko, he heard the words right before it, but nothing was concrete. Which is why this took as long as it did to post. I tried reading through the manga to find out. I assumed he did, obviously. He was angry Kyoko wouldn't tell him. Probably better because he would have snapped. The other is I forgot all about Ren's self imposed chains against love - something I read in my refresher read. So I had to throw that in too.