Hey guys, this chapter is late, but I have excuses!!! Ever heard of a holiday place with no internet? (What sort of holiday is that?!) Well, I went there. Sad, I know. Anyway, I just got back so yeah...

Claimer: Mayui-chan is mine! Daijiro is mine! Saku-san is mine!!! And I'd love to have a grudge Kyoko to throw at people! But that's about it...

CHAPTER NINE!!

Kyoko had taken a deep breath in, then pressed her painted lips together. Another one. She yanked open her desk drawer. The first letter was still there. She pulled it out and sat with both notes in her hands. They had been made the same way, apparently by the same person. Kyoko reread the second one, and it struck her that maybe, the accident she had yesterday morning had something to do with these poison pen letters she'd been getting. It made the childish letters seem much more intimidating. However, it struck her again that she was an actress, and that even Ren must get letters like this. Plus, she had no evidence that the person who pushed her onto the road was even linked to the letters. She wasn't even certain she was pushed anymore.

Back in the present, Kyoko sighed and put the two envelopes back into her top drawer, and locked it. No sense having one of the cleaners find it. They might think it was something serious. She turned back to the wardrobe and took out her dress for the next scene, and waited for the make-up artists. She also began mentally preparing for the conversation she'd have to have with Ren today.

0

Ren stood in the middle of Lory's dining hall and looked around. Kyoko wasn't out yet, so hitherto there was nothing to hold his attention. He wasn't quite sure what to say; she'd run out on him yesterday. Now he felt sort of awkward. He sighed inwardly and looked around the room, admiring the elegant fittings and mahogany tables. In the background, he could see Daijiro aimlessly flirting with female bit-actors. For some reason, it really annoyed him. Ren had to stop himself from glaring at the other actor. Wasn't he trying to get Kyoko just the other week? She was lucky to have escaped. Well actually, he had to admit he'd forcefully intervened; luck played no part in it.

Ren decided to figure out what he'd say to Kyoko, how he'd act. Should he keep at a distance? Should he be casual? Actually, last time they'd fought, on location for Dark Moon, she'd seemed really scared by that. But that had worked out well. They were probably closer than ever from that. Ren could still feel her hands pulling gently through his hair. It was so soothing; sometimes he went to sleep just remembering. Before he had time to decided, she'd swept into the room, and was making her way over to him with a look of one ready to face her death. Again, she was wearing long gloves that covered her forearms. Her dress was the same one she had worn yesterday, as their scene involved them coming back from Lord Grenville's ball, and as such the clothing was unchanged.

"Ren, I apologise for my insolent behaviour yesterday! I have berated myself most thoroughly and will fully accept any criticism or punishment you with to give!" Kyoko bowed, her face red and shaking hands held in front of her knees.

This time, Ren sighed out loud. "Kyoko, I'm sure you've done nothing that badly wrong. I assume you had a reason for your...haste, yesterday. I would, however, like to know the reason."

Kyoko fidgeted, "Umm... I can't really tell you, but it's nothing too bad."

Ren narrowed his eyes. Nothing too bad? That meant it was something bad, and she wouldn't tell him. Was it to do with that stupid Daijiro? Ren knew he was just being jealous and paranoid; Daijiro had been on set most of the time.

"Well, I won't press you again, Kyoko, I'm sure you have thought it through already." Ren said, looking outwardly unperturbed. Playing the gentleman was such a bother, but the advantage with Kyoko was that while other people thought he looked normal, she could feel his annoyance.

Kyoko almost flinched. She looked up at him with big, remorse filled eyes, and Ren immediately felt bad for being so mean. Of course, she probably had some random misguided reason for not telling him what was wrong, and he couldn't be mad at her for that. He couldn't be mad at her for anything. Dropping his large fake smile, he let out a small real smile, and the whole effect looked even better. He lent forward a little to pat Kyoko carefully on the head, so as not to muss up her wig's glossy curls. Her eyes immediately softened, and she let out a little smile of her own. Ren wished he could take a still shot of this moment. All the awkwardness and bad feelings had dissipated as soon as he made physical contact. Some part of his brain told him he should do it more often. He didn't realise that some the cast and crew members were staring interestedly at them. From their point of view, the famous Ren Tsuruga was standing close to his co-star, who was apparently gazing adoringly at him. Most of them put it down to Tsuruga-Ren Syndrome; all the female leads fall in love with his character. Only one person thought differently.

Saku Daichi, Mayui's manager, walked over to them. Her sensible low heels clicked on the tiled floor and she gave them both a thin smile, raising one eyebrow. Ren immediately cleared his throat and removed his hand, a little embarrassed for some reason. He somewhat liked Saku-san, because she didn't throw herself at him, or seem overly awed by him. Kyoko didn't seem to be self-conscious about being observed looking so innocently intimate, but that was probably because she didn't realise his feelings for her. Well, he'd loved her since he was young, he could wait a little longer. Kyoko smiled at Saku-san and greeted her respectfully.

"Ohaiyo Gozaimasu, Saku-san!" she bowed.

"Ohaiyo, Mogami-san, Tsuruga-san. " the other woman inclined her head. Well, she was older.

"Ohaiyo. How's your charge today?" Ren asked politely.

Saku smiled ruefully, "Still in front of the mirror, I'm afraid. I'll get her later, when she's needed."

Kyoko and Ren exchanged glances. They were getting better at communicating without speaking. Ren knew Kyoko was wondering how someone could take so long just getting ready. Surely acting well was the most important part? Ren mentally assured her that it was, but that some people like to look like their character to be in character. She believed him. Ren didn't say that Mayui was just vain; he'd hate to taint Kyoko's habit of thinking the best of everyone. He looked over to Saku-san, who looked mildly amused, as if she'd been eavesdropping on their wordless conversation.

Ren decided it was time to leave, as it seemed as if Saku had come over to talk with Kyoko, and he probably wasn't supposed to be included in the discussion. Courteously excusing himself, he walked over to talk to Yashiro, who had just entered the dining hall.

"Hello, Ren. How's things with Kyoko-chan?" Yashiro asked with his usual tease-Renabout-Kyoko-grin.

"Fine, thank you." Ren frowned at him.

Yashiro leaned around him to look at Kyoko, who was engaged in conversation with Saku, her back to them.

"That's a nice dress." Yashiro noted. Ren had to agree. "Hmm... what to you think of Saku-san?"

Ren glanced at him, seeing a way to get his own back.

"Nice, sensible lady who can control her young actress. Why do you want my opinion? Don't tell me..." He looked at a confused Yashiro with mock horror on his face, "Well, I suppose she's actually quite good looking, maybe I should try to set you guys up?"

The look on his manager's face was priceless. Ren changed his expression to one of someone resigned to their fate.

"WHAT?!" Yashiro exploded, "Ren! How could you possibly think..!"

He stopped as Ren started laughing, unable to keep a straight face any longer. He harrumphed, pushing his glasses up his nose as he glared at Ren. The self-pitying, embarrassed look on his face made Ren laugh even harder. Hopefully, Yashiro would stop teasing him from now on.

"Ren, that was meeeean...!" Yashiro whined, realising that Ren was playing a trick on him. "You know I'm dedicated to being your manager; I have no personal interest in Saku-san at all!"

"And besides," his tone changed to sulky, "I wouldn't need your help, I could just start up a conversation about how difficult and childish both our charges are."

That shut Ren up.

0

Meanwhile, Kyoko was busy talking with Saku-san. As it turned out, the woman was sharp and had apparently picked up on the subtle hints that Ren gave Kyoko daily, so she knew that Japan's number one actor was head over heels in love. Ren could at least be grateful that Saku didn't mention this particular point to Kyoko in their subsequent conversation. She did, however, mention another of her observations. As they watched Ren walk away, she turned to Kyoko.

"What do you think of Tsuruga-san?"

Kyoko smiled and gave one of her typically brainless, innocent answers, "Ren is the paramount of acting! I'd love to be able to act like he does!"

"Hmm. Well, you two are obviously very close friends."

"Eh?" Kyoko looked at her, "What do you mean? Ren is my sempai; I would never assume such a lofty position as a close friend!"

Saku sweat dropped "Uhh... I think it might be one of those things that just happens. Trust me, you're friends."

"Wow. That's amazing. I hadn't realised."

"Oh well, that's understandable." Sake said airily, "It's probably because you love him that you can't think of him as a friend."

"WHAT?!" Kyoko exploded, unaware that Yashiro was doing the same thing.

Saku looked shocked. "What?"

Kyoko blushed. "I- I'm not in love with Ren..."

"That was weak. Of course you are." The woman said briskly. Kyoko turned even redder. Her mind skipped over various memories of him over the year they'd known each other. His gentle smile, his assistance when she needed help, him calling her by name, even the Demon Lord face he showed Bo the Rooster. It suddenly hit her that 'love' might not entail the relationship she'd had with Sho. Ren was so much kinder to her than Sho.

"Saku-san. Not saying I'm in love, but how would I know?"

"Well, you'd think about him when you were in a tight spot. If you had to have someone catch you from the second story of a burning house, it would be them. They just need to smile at you to make you feel happy. And you would do anything for them."

Unfortunately, the frank, honest part of Kyoko realised that Ren fit that criteria.

Suddenly Director Shinkai entered the room and announced the beginning of Scene 32, an intimate scene between Marguerite and Sir Percy. Kyoko went pale. She wasn't sure she could do such a scene now. She couldn't possibly look at Ren.

0

Uh oh! Poor Kyoko, the shock's really gonna get her!

Anyway, please review! I'm sorry for being late!!