Author's Note: Hello! I admit that I might have gone a tad overboard last chapter... it seems like everyone hates Sho quite a bit... (eh, onliafaze? haha) Oops. Well, as promised, here is Ren's reaction. (he might surprise some of you)

Information corner: So I mentioned previously that the next location was a theme park. I have never been to Tokyo, but I did a google search and came up with at least six different amusement parks. There might even be more! That crazy capital! XD

Chapter 5: Setting – A Time and Place for everything

The late day sunlight slanted between buildings as Ren drove his silver Porsche over to LME. He'd just dropped off Yashiro and, since he didn't have any more work to do, he was going to return to the set of Tragic Marker a day early. According to his request, Jerry Woods and her mobile make-up RV were waiting in the parking garage of the agency. He didn't like relying on anyone for his transformations, but the truth of the matter was, if Tsuruga Ren's car was seen anywhere near the set of the movie, it might be discovered that he was the mystery actor that played BJ.

When his schedule had been prepared by his manager weeks ago, this time was especially set aside as a chance for Cain Heel to pamper his sister Setsuka. Now… he was just planning on meditating on the role.

After the "excitement" of Kyoko's disappearance, he hadn't been able to focus on much of anything. He'd already figured that she hadn't been answering her phone because she'd set left it on silent mode. It made sense, especially after he'd thrown it across the room during their last bout as the Heel siblings (a memory that never failed to make him shudder). No, what bothered him was the fact that she'd disappeared during filming. That, and her response: "I'm fine now". It felt all too familiar to that stalker incident in Karuizawa.

Was it Reino again?

Or Sho?

His grip on the steering wheel tightened with nervous anger.

As he pulled in beside the Muse's trailer, his iron self-control was rusting around the edges. He sorely wanted to see Mogami-san in person, to assure himself that she was actually safe. Knowing she wouldn't want to trouble him with the details over the phone, at least if he was with her he could coerce the truth out of her. However, without knowing where [Box "R"] was being filmed, the best he could hope for was to call her later tonight when she finished.

Besides, this morning at the meeting with the President, he'd decided to give her some space. She'd been so flustered around him that he figured some time apart would give her a chance to calm down. Maybe then she'd sort out her feelings over the whole "kiss mark" fiasco.

Time and Space… the two things he found nearly impossible to give her. He sighed.

The door to the trailer opened in front of him before he'd even extended his hand. A man's face popped out to greet him.

"Ah, Ren, there you are!" Lory exclaimed. "Finally. Hurry up and get in here!"

"…President?"

It hadn't been implicitly stated that he'd be there, but when it came to the President, Ren found that nothing could truly surprise him anymore.

Lory, who was dressed as a biker again, ushered him in and sat him down on the couch.

"Hi Ren!" greeted Jerry Woods.

"Good evening, Miss Woods."

The woman smashed him over the head with a flat iron. "For the last time, it's Ten-san!"

"Of course," he responded, giving her a wry smile while rubbing the sore spot on his temple.

The President cut in, obviously a bit pouty that he wasn't the center of attention for a few seconds. "I was disappointed that you didn't call me back immediately after you got a hold of Mogami-chan."

"Well, I was busy…" Ren responded nonchalantly, though his hand on his head froze mid-motion. Busy thinking about Mogami-san… he added to himself. He sighed, brushing his bangs over his eyes.

"But that doesn't really matter anymore," continued the President, sweeping Ren's comment aside. "I assume that you've heard?"

Ren gave the President a judging look. It was like Lory was deliberately teasing him, suggesting that he knew more about Kyoko's disappearance. No, it wasn't "like", that was exactly what he was doing. But he wouldn't bite. Supposedly bullies give up when the victims ignore them.

"You mean that Mogami-san was able to return to work? She told me as much on the phone."

"So it didn't bother you that Mogami-chan was with Fuwa Sho?"

Ren's hands became fists. He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, counting to three.

"Really."

It wasn't a question. It was a challenge. In the President's ears, it roughly translated to "Prove it, unless you wish to die."

The President eyes bulged in response, and he hastily handed Ren a small device. Or rather, he shoved a smart phone in his face. Squeezing in beside him on the couch, the President tapped the screen with his finger.

A video news report started to play: The headlines were "Musician Fuwa Sho caught in the act!"

The reporter was standing in a crowd of people that were all shouting. In the middle of the commotion was, as the headline predicted, Fuwa Sho. However, it killed Ren a little to recognize Kyoko in her Natsu make-up being attacked with microphones and questions. She looked frightened and lost and Oh My God did it ever make him want to go to her side and save her!

Questions piled up, each one shouted louder than the last. It was a paparazzi feeding frenzy.

"How long have you two been going out?" demanded one reporter.

"How was the Princess Suite?"

"Is this your first time in a Love Hotel?!"

The video continued on a while longer, but Ren's brain had latched on to a few words.

Love Hotel? Princess Suite?

Suddenly, Sho grabbed a mic and shouted "No comment!" When the press of the press did not regress, he forced his way through the crowd, ushering Kyoko away with an arm around her waist.

The video feed cut out.

The last few scenes of [Box "R"] went surprisingly well.

Kyoko had been worried that her acting would be affected by her emotional state, especially after that kiss and the reporters and all the rest. But, the ride to the theme park put a literal and figurative distance between her and what happened. When filming started up again she was able to fully commit to her role as Natsu and did not receive a single "NG".

In fact, the director was probably the biggest emotional mess. He screamed during the last brutal bullying scene, and bawled loudly at the end when Natsu was finally caught. In the end, he'd praised Kyoko in front of everyone for her excellent performance. She'd blushingly received a round of applause.

Though there was still a lot of editing to be done and voice-overs to be recorded, everyone from [Box "R"] was treating this moment like the finish line of a marathon. When the final "cut" of the day was called, people seemed to conveniently "disappear" onto the log ride or into the haunted house, or to any other attraction in the park. Director Kazutoyo let it go, telling everyone to enjoy themselves.

"C'mon, Mogami-senpai!" shouted Chiori who was waving from the line of some ride. The other actresses were with her, their arms linked in giddy excitement.

"Just a minute…" Kyoko said half-heartedly.

She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. Kyoko's phone. She stared at it a moment, holding it tightly in her fist, as if it could rid her of these feelings of regret and fear. But it wasn't her Corn stone, so it didn't work.

Was it selfish to want to explain herself to Tsuruga-san? He'd already taken time out of his day to call her on the request of the President, so there was the guilt of taking up more of his time. But, when he'd spoken to her, it was like he knew something was wrong. If he found out from someone else, it would seem like she'd keeping secrets from him again.

But she was keeping a secret, she reminded herself, one that she would never, ever tell Tsuruga-san for as long as she lived.

"So, what are you thinking now?" needled the President as he tucked away his phone into one of the many zippered pockets that lined his leather jacket.

"That I'd like to be alone."

"Now come, Ren, that's not the attitude I was hoping for!"

"Sorry to disappoint you. Now, get out."

Ren pulled off his Tsuruga-san wig with a controlled anger. Cain's attitude was as black as his hair, and Ren fully embraced the character.

It was one thing to be captured by that Fuwa Sho once, but to be discovered in a love hotel together when she was supposed to be working… What was Kyoko thinking?

And that Sho! Wrapping his slimy arms around her… Surely he'd tell Kyoko he was "protecting" her from the press. That bastard!

A sudden hand on his shoulder broke Ren out of his vengeful thoughts.

"Ren, I think you're being a bit too hasty," said Jerry Woods. She smiled reassuringly. "I mean, you haven't heard Mogami-san's side of the story yet."

Mogami's side? thought Ren. Surely she'd say that it was all Sho's fault for dragging her to a terrible place… and then the reporters would have been following Fuwa, not her - because she wasn't recognizable as the actress who played Mio when she's dressed as Natsu. And it's not like she would have asked him to put an arm around her. She probably didn't even notice it at all…

In fact, she probably feels worse about causing her co-workers trouble!

The warmth of understanding caused his bad mood to evaporate. Mogami-san was a good, pure girl and hadn't asked for any of this. There was no reason to be mad. If anything, being angry at her would only make her even more frightened. The last thing he wanted was for her to lose her trust in him.

Right now she was probably worrying about how abruptly she'd ended their conversation. If it had been any other incident, he wouldn't have hesitated to call her back right away. Normally wouldn't he be doing everything in his power to get to her? To go see her in person and make sure everything was okay?

This was his chance. Sho hadn't saved her at all. That was Tsuruga Ren's job.

"You're right, Miss Woods," Ren said, purposefully using her detested name and ducking in anticipation of her famous backhand. "I have to go see her."

The President smiled widely, like a satisfied cat.

"Well, it just so happens that I know where [Box "R"] is being filmed."

"Where?" asked Ren excitedly.

Lory waved a finger.

"Oh no, I'm not going to tell you." His smile was very satisfied, indeed. "But I will take you there."

Her phone was ringing. But, it wasn't the phone in her hand. Kyoko rummaged through her bag while peals of thunder echoed against the metal of the booths that surrounded her. People were covering their ears and giving her angry glares as they walked away from the food court where she'd been sitting.

Setsuka's phone again? she puzzled as she flipped open the phone.

"Hello?" she answered, a little forcefully because the loud ringing had made her panic.

"Setsu…" muttered a deep raspy voice.

Her heart stopped for a second.

"Nii-san?" she responded hesitantly. What was Tsuruga-san doing? Hadn't they agreed that the Heel siblings would be on hold until she was done exams?

"…"

"Y'know, Niisan," Kyoko said in an exasperated tone, immediately falling into Setsuka Heel's character. "When you phone someone, you are actually expected to talk to them."

"…"

"Well? If you don't want to say anything, I'll just hang up," she challenged, muttering to herself, "no sense in wasting my minutes."

"Setsu, I have a present for you."

What?!

"What?"

"Today is some backwards holiday for the Japanese. They call it "White Day"."

Kyoko's eyes bugged out. AGAIN? No matter where she went, no matter who she was talking to, it always came back to White Day, White Day, WHITE DAY!

"Alright, so what is a "White Day" for?" she asked in Setsu's purring inflection. "Giving presents to those who have white teeth?"

"It's something like Valentine's Day," he answered, trying to stifle a laugh. "I'm pretty sure it's required to give presents to cute little sisters."

Kyoko blushed. The possibility of seeing Tsuruga-san, of receiving a gift from him, made her heart throb uncomfortably. The President's words came rushing back to her: "Surely you'd be hoping to get a something from the man you're in love with."

How was she supposed to respond?

"Setsu?" Cain's voice called her back to the present. "Where are you right now?"

Should she tell the truth? But she wasn't in Setsuka's clothes! It wouldn't make any sense if Cain Heel showed up and gave a present to Natsu, or even the actress who plays Natsu.

"I - uh," she faltered. "Well..."

Tell him? Don't tell him? ...Lie?

"Oh, let's make it a guessing game!" she improvised, still unsure of the proper course of action. "I'm in a place where there are lots of people."

"Shopping mall," Cain responded immediately.

Leaving the food court area, Kyoko wandered through the amusement park, cradling the phone against her ear.

"Wrong. Next clue: where I am, some people get paid to wear silly costumes." Mascots waved at her as she jogged down the main street, looking for inspiration to her impromptu game.

"Cosplay Café?"

"Wrong."

Shops lined the street, selling all sorts of merchandise and memorabilia. Maybe if she just found a wig that looked like Setsu's hair, she could pull it off. As long as she looked a bit like Setsu, she'd be able to interact with Cain without it feeling horribly awkward. She entered one of the shops with hope.

"Next clue, Setsu?"

"Oh, ah," Kyoko was momentarily distracted by the tiaras and fairy princess wands. This shop was not helping. However, she flipped over a price tag out of curiosity. "People spend a lot of money in this place!"

"Setsu, I already guessed a shopping mall. Are you cheating?"

Stumbling out of the over-crowded store, she continued down the main street. "Next clue: this place is full of mice."

"Mice?!" Tsuruga-san shot a glance at Lory, who sat in the front seat of the RV. Where on Earth were they filming?

"Do you give up?" asked Kyoko, who was approaching the gates, having not found a single shop that sold a wig that would be suitable for Setsuka Heel.

"Not yet," Cain replied.

Hmm… Lots of people, silly costumes, spending money, and mice?

"A bar?"

"Nope."

"Casino?"

"Nuh-uh."

"Another clue?" he ventured hopefully.

Kyoko turned around, putting the gates behind her. The entire theme park was laid out in front of her. The sun was falling just below the horizon and the rides were illuminated with bright neon lights. But the thing that captivated her attention was the giant fairy tale castle that was slowly falling into shadows as the sun dipped lower.

Suddenly, a tiny ball of yellow light flew out from behind the castle. Kyoko was captivated by the possibility of seeing a real-live fairy. It flitted all around the building, into windows and out again, in a lilting flight path that looked almost like dancing. Finally, the ball of light stopped at the highest point of the tallest tower. Just as the sky turned black with night, as if it had touched by a magic wand, the palace lit up gorgeously with blue light.

"I think," Kyoko said breathlessly, "I think I'm in the happiest place on Earth."

The President twisted against his seat belt to face Ren. "We're here!"

Ren looked out the window to find the same castle that had stolen Kyoko's attention.

"Tokyo Disneyland?"