'What did I do to deserve this?' That was Ren's first thought when Kyoko had broken the news to him, two months ago.

"I have never seen that smile on your face Ren-san" Kyoko had said with a grin on her face too. It was true, he had never felt this flavor of happy ever in his life. He felt foolishly happy. And when he looked at Kyoko, he wanted nothing more than to ensconce her in a shell of happiness and keep her safe from anything that could every worry her. And then all of a sudden a small nagging worry tugged at the corner of his thoughts and grew bigger and bigger till it threatened to drown out everything, It must have shown on his face because Kyoko asked, "What's wrong?"

"The movie - 'Heart of the sun', you have to travel next month to America." he said.

"Yes. The tickets are all booked. Why?" Kyoko had asked. "Do you think I have to inform the airlines or something?" Sometimes this girl was too dense.

"No." Ren replied. "I am just afraid if you go all alone - what if something happened to you?"

"Like what? Oh! You mean like in the stories if an evil fairy put a curse on me for not inviting her to the christening? But that is only after the baby is born - I should be ok now." Kyoko rambled on lost in her fairy fantasies.

"Kyoko!" Ren cut her off. "You need to be extra extra careful and take care of your health. I am not sure you will be able to do that all alone in America."

"Ren-san. It is a small role, I am only going to be there a week" she had said.

"I am not sure." Ren had replied. He had switched on his phone and started dialing.

"Who are you calling?" Kyoko asked.

"Yashiro, I am asking him to book tickets for me as well."

Kyoko had taken a step closer to him and cut the call. "Ren-san." she had said her voice changing. "You are shooting all of this month and the next for 'Killing you softly -season 2'. You cannot afford to take off - what reason will you give?"

"I'll think of something. This is more important."

"I see. And what if people realize that Tsuruga Ren has disappeared in the middle of shooting the exact same week that Kyoko had to shoot for a movie in America?"

When Ren didn't respond she continued, "So easy to forget is it not? A while back when you made your debut in America - you kept your family a secret so people will credit you and you alone for your acting. But when it comes to me, it is ok for people to say 'Oh! She must have got that role only because of her connection to Tsuruga Ren.' Isn't it? When we got married, I thought you said you never wanted to be an impediment to my career. I suppose that was all just talk."

"No Kyoko." Ren had replied. He was angry - very angry. She wanted him to be angry so she could get what she wanted. She was that good an actress after all. He wanted to lash back at her but he couldn't say a word that could even remotely hurt her. Not now.

"At least let Yashiro travel with you." he had said at the end of his internal struggle.

"I couldn't possibly trouble him-" Kyoko had started but Ren had said, "I insist" in such a scary tone that Kyoko had agreed.

The best laid plans are no match for a sweeping brush from the hand of god. An unseasonable storm had hit San Francisco and shooting had to be suspended for more than two weeks in the middle. Kyoko had a visa to stay but Yashiro-san's last minute visa was not valid longer and he had to return a week before Kyoko. All of that had left Kyoko to return to Tokyo on that fateful day with a bad case of what doctors later identified as food poisoning.

Rushing Kyoko to the hospital after she had fainted in his arms, Ren had no thoughts in his head except trying to get there as soon as possible. He had weaved in and out of traffic like a maniac leading many people to honk and yell in his wake. Every time he saw Kyoko slumped in the seat next to him, he felt like his heart would pound out of his chest at the rate it was beating. Yashiro later asked him why he hadn't called him or someone. But it had not occurred to Ren. Nothing had occurred to him except getting Kyoko to the hospital.

At the hospital, he physically carried the half-conscious Kyoko to the emergency room and yelled for someone to help him. He was still in disguise and no one recognized either him or Kyoko then. Someone had brought a stretcher and Kyoko was placed on it.

"She is pregnant" Ren said to the doctor who was taking her pulse.

"We need to act fast. Are you the husband?"

"Yes" he replied.

"Do we have your permission to save the life of the mother over the life of the child?"

"What?" Ren asked not understanding.

"Buck up my man. Your wife needs you. If the fetus is not viable at this stage, we have to do emergency D & C. At this rate it is touch and go for the mother given the state she is in."

"We have to abort and remove the baby" she said when Ren seemed uncomprehending. "It's the only way to save her." Those words got through to Ren and he nodded.

"Sign here" the doctor said shoving a paper and pen at him. Ren did as he was told.

Kyoko opened her eyes. It took a while to focus in the dark. She could vaguely make out a figure sitting hunched in a chair.

"Ren?" she had tried to call but she felt hoarse and no sound came out. There was a glass of water on the bedside table. She took a sip of water and then sleep once again overpowered her.

The next time she had woken or thought she had woken, she saw Ren standing over her and on his face, she had seen...hate and rage and murder. She had been so surprised that she convinced herself that it was a dream. She drifted back into a deep seep.

She could hear voices before she opened her eyes the next time.

"There will be emotional scarring for sure, apart from the physical trauma. Some rest and some peace and quiet will do you both good." A voice said.

"I understand." said another voice - Ren's voice.

"Ren" she called in a small voice.

"Kyoko. How are you feeling?" he came over to her.

She was happy to see his face. But it seemed a bit too sad. Suddenly she remembered. She put a hand on her tummy and asked," the baby."

"Gone" he said simply.

Panic set in and Kyoko could feel the world going out of focus.No. No. No. Go back. Go back to when things were ok. We were happy.

Before she could slump from the grief that was overwhelming her, Ren caught her and held her tenderly while she sobbed her heart out.

A/N: Felt that last chapter was a bit abrupt in transition - so I added a bit of flashback at the beginning of this chapter. Hope you enjoy.