Author's Note: Hey, Everyone. This note is going to be long, and I'm sorry about that, but not as sorry as I am about how long it took me to post this for you. There are a lot of reasons, the first being about a month ago I started a part-time job so I was in "Wow I'm working at a movie theater" mode. Then it got to be drawing in towards the end of the school year for me, finals, ap exams, and since I'm a senior all these end of the year activies (I graduated last night!). In the midst of all this I was struck with writer's block and since I had a lot going on I put this story aside and caught up on my reading. And then on Mother's Day my neighbor lost her battle with cancer. She was only 40 and she had two kids ages 6 and 8. I've been babysitting them for the last five years and we're all really close. All I can say is, children hug your mothers and husbands hug your wives, because there's a family who can't do that anymore. You guys may not have known all that was going on, but the reviews, the requests to update, the favorites and alerts, they helped me so much with all that was going on. I also want to thank my Beta, Runadaemon. She's probably the reason I got you this chapter this quickly and she helped me make sense of what was a rather confused chapter. Hopefully this chapter makes up for the wait and I will be as speedy as possible with the next one. I promise you'll never going to have to wait as long again. Please enjoy and thank you for your understanding.


Chapter Ten: Oh Dear(ly Beloved) Part One

Kyouko's astonishment at the wedding location was not nearly as vocal as Kanae's, but equal in the sheer awe with which she gazed at it. She had a moment to collect herself at least, while Ren handed his car keys to the valet.

A red carpet and swarm of paparazzi there to greet the stars was a sight to see all by itself, but Kyouko had been expecting that. Beyond the reach of the media, however, was a large, beautiful building, constructed in the style of a Japanese feudal era castle. The wedding ceremony was to take place inside.

The reception would be held in the surrounding gardens. Kyouko could see little of these from her vantage point just at the beginning of the red carpet, but she was sure there was more to see of the flowering cherry trees, sparkling streams, and the vast dark forest she could just make out at the edge of rolling lawns.

Ren smiled gently as he put his arm around her waist. "It's time to face the press, isn't it?" she said lightly.

His smile seemed a little more strained than it had a moment ago. "Yes, it is."

They set off down the path of flickering flashbulbs, with Yashiro and Kanae closely behind them. Kyouko smiled and watched the other celebrities and starlets engage the media.

"Ren-kun!"

"Tsuruga-kun!"

"Kyouko-chan!"

"Ren-kun!"

"Mogami-chan!"

She didn't know where to turn first in the torrent of shouts and screams for attention. Ren guided them over a pleasant-looking blonde woman holding on tenaciously to her spiral notepad with a camera or two slung haphazardly about her neck.

"Ren-kun, have you and Kyouko-chan started dating?" she asked, her tone of voice revealing her deep desire for a scandal.

Ren laughed, much to Kyouko's relief. "We're here as friends," he said lightly.

"I'm told the two of you are working on a TV mini-series together," the reporter said slyly.

"Duty Binds Us," Kyouko answered, determined to hold her own and not be a burden to Ren. "A Director Hakimori production. Tsuruga-san and I are two of the lead actors."

"Really?" replied the reporter. "And isn't that one of your other co-stars? Hayate-kun!"

Ren and Kyouko turned to see Hayate with a pretty light-haired girl. He waved and walked over to join them.

"Hayate-kun, who is your date?" the reporter asked.

"This is my twin sister, Hanako," Hayate said smiling. "I promised to take her to whatever the first big showbiz event in my career was."

"I threatened him," Hanako whispered to the reporter conspiratorially.

"How sweet! I was just talking with Ren-kun and Kyouko-chan about your upcoming mini-series. Since the three of you are all lead co-stars, you must be very close."

"Well, we've just started filming this week," Hayate said, "but I'm truly grateful to have such experienced senpais."

"Senpais? Didn't Kyouko-chan only debut a year ago?"

Kyouko laughed. "I don't think I deserve the title, but Hayate-kun insists."

"Considering Mogami-san's career," Ren put in (probably against his better judgment) "it's easy to forget that she has only been at LME for a little over a year. She's a great presence at the agency and I'm sure many of us feel like she's been there for years."

Kyouko blushed slightly under his praise, but controlled it quickly.

"Fascinating," the reporter said. "Would you mind some photos?"


The reporter smiled as she watched Ren, Kyouko, Hayate, and Hanako walk away, confident that she had gotten herself a killer story. She was already writing it in her mind. "Kyouko Mogami—Love Interest On Screen and Off!"


Through the bustle of the red carpet, Ren and Kyouko had been separated from Hayate and his sister before they could even manage a proper greeting. Not to mention that they hadn't seen much of Yashiro or Kanae since first arriving. Kyouko had never been surrounded by quite so many people in all her life and she was grateful that Ren was there to keep her from being trampled in the swarm of bodies.

The chaotic noise inside the castle was of a different variety than that outside in front of the reporters. While the flashbulbs and heckling were most certainly absent, there was a crush of people running this way and that, some of them celebrities, and others clearly part of the wedding staff. Kyouko was frankly amazed that the waiters weaving their way through the crowd managed not to spill anything. She knew that even her own culinary intuition would not prevent her from causing a scene in such a circumstance.

"There's Ogata-kun, I think," Ren whispered in her ear. His soft breath on her cheek reminded Kyouko just how close he was. She shivered. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"It's just the air conditioning," she lied. "Where did you say Ogata-kun was?"

"Over there," Ren replied, pointing to a location where many of the guests seemed to converge upon. There was a brief shift in the crowd and Kyouko just caught a glimpse of the famous director's pale, blonde head.

As they drew closer, Ogata broke into a wide, nervous grin. "Tsuruga-kun! Mogami-chan!" He clasped hands with Ren and Kyouko placed a small kiss on his cheek. "I'm very glad you are here," the director said.

Kyouko smiled. "Congratulations in advance, Ogata-kun," she said. They talked for a few minutes, until Kanae crept up and tapped Kyouko on the shoulder.

"Mogami, we should go visit the bride before the wedding," Kanae said and before anything else could be said, she turned to Ren. "We'll meet you and Yashiro-san before it starts."

And so Kyouko was dragged off by her best friend through a crowd of wedding staff and celebrities to find Ogata's bride. She found herself smiling at Kanae's blunt determination.

"I think, Moko-san, that if you didn't want to be an actress, you would be an excellent lawyer," Kyouko said.

"Ne, why is that?" Kanae asked, perplexed.

"Because you never let anyone get a word in edgewise," Kyouko replied, laughing a little. Kanae stared at her for a moment and then laughed too.

"Come on, it's right here," Kanae said. Kyouko found herself standing with Kanae outside a wondrously carved wooden door.

"Does she really want visitors right now?" Kyouko asked, having second thoughts. "Isn't Sakura-san supposed to be getting ready?"

Kanae scoffed. "Sakura-san, in all likelihood, has been ready for hours," she replied.

"If we get in trouble, I'm blaming you," Kyouko hissed as Kanae knocked and the door opened before them.

"We're Kotonami Kanae and Mogami Kyouko here to visit Sakura-san," Kanae told the sensible-looking woman who opened the door.

"Did I just hear Kotonami-san?" shouted a female voice from inside.

In one swift motion, the girls were ushered inside and Kanae was swept up in a whirlwind of white silk and taffeta as Sakura embraced her like they were old friends. "Kotonami-san! I remember you from when I guest-starred on your drama! Oh, you were so wonderful!" After a few moments more, Sakura finally released Kanae and stepped back.

"Don't tell me," the snappy blonde bride said, gazing at Kyouko with concentrated intensity. "You're… Mogami Kyouko!"

Kyouko smiled and turned pink with embarrassment. "Yes, it's nice to meet you, Sakura-san."

Sakura grinned broadly with a smile that rivaled Ren's. "Hiroaki has told me so much about you," she said. "It was hard to get him to stop talking about Dark Moon, and his Mio with Tsuruga-kun wrapped around her finger."

Kyouko turned a shade darker. "I'm… I'm sorry? I don't understand—"

The bride laughed with a large measure of cheer and good nature. "No, no, it's nothing. Well, it's an honor to meet you, Mogami-san. And good to see you again, Kotonami-san."

"Yes," Kanae agreed. "But we should get back to our dates before they break something," she added ruefully.

Sakura smiled. "Yes, men are like that, aren't they? You watch out for your Tsuruga Ren, Mogami-san." She winked conspiratorially and sent them on their way.

As they walked down the hallway, Kyouko looked at Kanae and said, "Moko-san, I'm so confused." Kanae turned toward her. Kyouko certainly had the most baffled expression she had ever seen. "What did Sakura-san mean by 'my Tsuruga Ren'?"

It had never come up in conversation and frankly Kanae had always thought that Kyouko was aware of what effect she had on the famous actor. Clearly she was mistaken. "Ne, Mogami… he's in love with you…."

Kyouko was silent for a long time and Kanae was beginning to wonder if perhaps she hadn't spoken loudly enough. She was about to repeat herself when Kyouko said, "No… no, that can't be right…"

"Mogami," Kanae began. She paused. There was absolutely no way she could convince Kyouko that Tsuruga Ren was in love with her, and even if Kanae could, what good would that do? There was a reason they were in the LoveMe section after all. "Never mind," she finished.

They were approaching the hall where Yashiro and Ren were waiting for them so their conversation died. "Look, they're over there," Kanae said, pointing to where the two men were leaning casually against a wall and trying to look cool. Personally she felt that Yashiro was failing quite a bit.

Kyouko looked up from the floor she had been studying. Her gaze caught in Ren's like his eyes were an entanglement of barbed wire. Her heart thudded. Your Tsuruga Ren. "He's not my Tsuruga Ren. He doesn't belong to me," she muttered softly. She didn't think anyone heard her, but Kanae's lips twitched in a smirk.

Your Tsuruga Ren!


Kyouko was seated quietly in a wooden pew to the right of Ren. Kanae was to her immediate right with Yashiro on her other side. The intoxicating smell of flowers wafted through the chapel from the garlands and bouquets arranged liberally in all directions. It was sweet, it was beautiful, and it was all lost on Mogami Kyouko.

"Dearly beloved…"

The words to the wedding ceremony floated in and out of Kyouko's ears, not registering in her brain in any way, shape, or form. Three words kept echoing through her mind over and over again. Your Tsuruga Ren. Your Tsuruga Ren! YOUR TSURUGA REN!

She was gazing up at the altar with the attention of a daydreaming student or a catatonic patient. Kyouko was highly sensitive to the presence of her own body and its proximity to another being, commonly known as Tsuruga Ren. She could hear him breathing softly and feel his eyes flicking casually over towards her every few minutes.

Had he noticed that she wasn't paying attention to the wedding? Or perhaps her weird shift in mood? Somehow everything seemed so glaringly obvious, like the pointed glances that Kanae and Yashiro kept throwing their way. Clearly, they were aware that something was up and if they were aware, how could Ren not be?

It was a wonder really that Kyouko didn't break down then and there with the nerves that were raking her body. She hadn't felt like this since the first time she had met Shoutaro. She shivered. Now was not the time to bring up Shou.

Apparently Ren had noticed her shiver. He leaned close. "Are you cold, Mogami-san?"

Kyouko struggled to breath for a moment. "I'm f-fine." Her voice cracked and she wanted to die in shame, but at least Ren returned to his normal position. She breathed deeply and held it for a moment. Why was she noticing things that had never mattered to her before?

For example, she seemed to discover that Ren was surrounded by an all-encompassing aroma. It assaulted her nostrils, seized her mind, and left her feeling lost and dizzy. She let her breath go and took another one to steady herself. All it did was bring Ren's scent to her with renewed strength since he had been much closer only seconds ago.

'It's official,' she thought. 'I have gone completely, certifiably insane. He is not my Tsuruga Ren.'

Kyouko tore her gaze away from Ogata and Sakura up at the altar, hoping that perhaps she might find something that did a better job of distracting her among the guests. She and the others were seated on the groom's side of the church so she turned her gaze to the pews that contained the bride's guests.

Among them she spotted Hayate and the pretty girl who was his twin sister. The young actor caught her eye and smiled. She managed a faint one in response, but she couldn't bring herself to do much more than that. Hayate's sister nudged him and whispered something in his ear. He grinned back and nudged Hanako with his elbow. Hanako lifted her eyebrows suggestively then turned her attention back to wedding ceremony.

Kyouko could see that Hayate was about to turn and attempt to catch her eye again. Before that could happen, she quickly looked away. She shifted slightly and her arm brushed against Ren's accidentally.

He smiled gently. Her eyes were wide like saucers and something—was it her heart?—was flopping about in her chest like a fish out of water. Kyouko felt so possessed by his gaze, she wasn't even sure if she was making any sort of expression back or if she was simply gaping at him.

Unbeknownst to her, Ren was caught in a spell of his own. He had been struggling through the entire ceremony to keep his attention on the altar, but the simple contact between their elbows had shattered his careful concentration into thousands of tiny little shards. He could not tear his eyes away from Kyouko even for a moment and studied her expression carefully. Ren could not understand it. Something had changed.

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Even amidst the sudden crescendo of music and cheering the spell held them in a stranglehold. Slowly their fingers edged closer. Closer. There was a brief moment when they touched and then—

"Mogami!"

Kyouko's head snapped around in response to Kanae's call. "Moko-san?"

"You're missing everything," Kanae told her with annoyance, gesturing at the happy couple now making their way quickly down the aisle. She stood up with the other guests and applauded.

"Oh," Kyouko said lamely. Briefly she glanced once more at Ren, but he had already turned his back to her. A pang of disappointment shook through her chest and she quickly pushed it down out of the way. There was no use thinking about those sorts of things. It was Ogata's wedding. Whatever issues she had with Ren were of little importance.

Still, she couldn't help but recall Ren's face when the priest had announced, "You may kiss the bride." There was a brief second when their fingers touched when his eyes seemed to shine with all the brilliance of the stars.

Or perhaps that was all in her head. Perhaps she was projecting her own silly notions onto him. It wasn't like she hadn't done something along those lines before.

Yes, that had to be it. She was horribly confused and mistaken. She would apologize to Ren the first moment she could and beg his forgiveness.

And just as she decided her course of action, Ren slipped his arm back about her waist. "We'll cause a traffic accident if we don't start moving soon."

The guests were starting to file slowly out of the chapel and out onto the lawn, but Kyouko barely registered that fact. Ren had put an arm around her waist before. Only now it seemed like the first time and something fluttered persistently in her chest.

"Of course," she replied, and allowed him to steer her along. She wouldn't have been able to move if he wasn't leading.