Chapter 38: Showdown

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would have shared some of her background with Taisho and Okami by now.

A Circus! That's what the couple discover in Lory's office that afternoon. There were dancing animals, acrobats, clowns, and...trapeze artists swinging from the ceiling? Kyoko swore Lory's office expanded up and out depending on the theme of the day. They held their breath when the petite female released her grip on the bar and did an elaborate series of somersaults in the air before the muscular man swinging on the other side caught her. At the center of it all was Lory, the ringmaster, dressed in a vibrant red coat, top hat, and holding a bullwhip.

He held his arms wide and with a booming voice, "Lady and gentleman, welcome to Lory's Magical Circus." The performers put on a short show filled with dancing, singing, and tricks. When it was finished both Kyoko and Ren found themselves clapping enthusiastically. After bowing, the performers exited Lory's office taking the animals with them.

"Come with me, my children. Let's talk in my small office."

The couple followed the president to a door off to the side that led them to an inner office. Kyoko had no idea the room existed and found it laughable that he called it "small." It was the size of the living space of their apartment, maybe even bigger. The two sat on the leather chairs while Lory took his seat behind the desk. Kyoko saw the opportunity to glance around the room, waiting for the president to speak. One wall was lined with the large windows of LME while the others were lined with books from floor to ceiling. It reminded her of the library in Beast's castle.

Ren chuckled as he watched his girlfriend's eyes turn to stars as she ventured off to La-la land. He leaned in and whispered, "If you ask the President, I'm sure he would lend you some to read. I recall seeing a few books on Fairy Tales."

"Really?" she gasped, eyeing the books to see if she could make out any titles. She scrunched up her nose in distaste as she read title after title that seemed to promise romance and love.

"I have to warn you though, Grimm's fairy tales aren't as happily ever after as Disney makes them out to be. They may not be to your liking."

Kyoko's face drooped. Ren patted her head and kissed her softly. He apologized for inflating and then swiftly popping her happiness bubble.

Lory sat back and watched the latest episode of his favorite drama with a small smile. As if reading his thoughts, Ruto handed him a bowl of popcorn. The crumbling sound as Lory reached in brought Ren back to his senses.

"Oh, by all means, don't mind me. It's just getting to the good part," Lory teased waving his popcorn-filled hand for them to continue.

Ren groaned. Kyoko bolted upright as her face turned a deep crimson. She forgot they had the worst kind of audience watching them. Lory would no doubt tease them mercilessly.

"Why are we here, Boss?" Ren asked in an attempt to distract Lory.

"Why? Because I asked you here? Is there something wrong with a Boss wanting to check in on his employees?"

Kyoko shook her head while Ren stared at Lory defiantly. There was always an ulterior motive. Lory ignored the boy's expression and addressed Kyoko.

"Mogami-kun, how are things going? Everything at home fine? No pressure from you know who? If it becomes too much, we can always find you another place to stay," Lory offered.

Kyoko's face heated to another level of red and shook her head. "Everything is fine, President-san!" She exclaimed bluntly.

Ren glared at Lory. He wanted to slaughter him. As if, Ren would take advantage or pressure his princess. He had to be the voice of reason most of the time. Her boldness in their love play had left him speechless on more than one occasion.

"What about on the Sacred Lotus?" Lory queried.

Kyoko's eyes made contact with Lory's. How much did he know? She glanced nervously at Ren.

Ren had a feeling they were hiding something from him. He stared back and forth between them. "What's going on? Kyoko, what aren't you telling me?"

Kyoko squirmed in her seat, unsure how to begin. Lory took the opportunity to speak instead. "I received a call from Producer Kuresaki informing me that there is a possible saboteur on the set of Sacred Lotus. Yashiro's and Ruto's reports corroborate his story. Kuresaki-san has called all the other stars' agencies as well. I had half a mind to pull you off the production, but Kuresaki-san begged me to let you stay. He assured me that he has increased security and has done a thorough check on all people coming and going on set.

"When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me any of this?" Ren grilled Kyoko.

"I thought there was nothing to tell," Kyoko confessed apologetically. "We all thought there was a vengeful spirit playing pranks among us. I meant to consult Maria-chan about it since she's an expert on spirits and the afterlife. I thought she would have a cleansing spell so the spirit will depart earth and find peace in the afterlife. Unfortunately, I've been too busy to meet her."

Ren smacked his forehead with his palm. It was so like her to think a supernatural entity was involved rather than a real-life person. She never fails to see the good in people.

"Have you ever felt threatened by anyone on set? Yashiro-san told me Morimoto-kun has been frequenting the place. Has she done anything suspicious?"

Kyoko shook her head. "She usually sticks to Benett-san. The last time I had real contact with her was during the awards ceremony. I tend to avoid her if possible."

Lory nodded. "Okay, good. Keeping away is a good option as long as it doesn't interfere with your work. If you think you're in any danger, you need to tell someone. I don't want a repeat of Karuizawa." Ren and Kyoko both stared at him in shock. "What? You didn't think that incident would not get back to me. Don't underestimate my reach."

The couple shuddered at his threat. It was scary to think just how much power Lory possibly had over their lives.

"Okay, next item on the agenda. Fuji-san has informed me that you both decided to attend the L.A. fashion week." He looked directly at Ren, "Does this mean what I think it means? Are you ready to go home?"

"I've decided to go as Ren. I'm not quite ready to make myself known here in Japan yet."

"Phooey!" Lory pouted in his seat, disappointed.

Ren ignored him and continued. "I discussed it with Kyoko and she's fine with it. I do, however, want to see my parents as Kuon. If it's at all possible to get there a few days earlier or stay a few days later, I would like to bring Kyoko home to meet my parents." Ren reached for Kyoko's hand and laced their fingers together.

The sparkle returned to Lory's eyes. They misted over as he thought how happy his old friends would be to see their baby boy again in the flesh. Maybe Julie would forgive him and stop referring to him as a kidnapper.

"President, we want his coming home to be a surprise. Please don't give anything away to Otou-san and Juliena-san. I will let them know that I will be coming and would very much like to visit," Kyoko pleaded.

"How boring, but fine. I will help in any way I can. Let me know the details when it's finalized," Lory agreed, reining in his glee. He was excited for his old friends. They had been waiting a long time for this moment. He knew Kyoko would give him the strength he needed. The boy always needed that extra little push to make the step forward. He had surpassed his father a while ago with his Katsuki and still dragged his feet at returning home even for a visit.

Lory shifted subjects. "Are you guys ready for Tragic Marker premiere? More like Ren, are you ready? You are the one that was cast. Mogami-kun did this as a LoveMe assignment so there's no pressure to reveal her, yet. Can you think of anything that would have a backlash on your reputation once you're revealed?"

There were too many to count. Ren glanced at Kyoko. She kept her head down wringing her hands nervously.

Lory's brows raised. Something more happened and he wasn't aware of it. He cleared his throat to get their attention. "What went on behind closed doors of the hotel is nobody's business so if that is what you're worried about you can feel at ease."

Both looked uncomfortable as they recalled the night Setsu left a hickey on Cain. That night was an emotional turning point for Kuon.

Ren finally spoke. "There was a time when Setsu marked Cain as hers."

Lory's eyes widened with shock while Kyoko squirmed in her seat. He didn't need details to understand what Ren meant.

Ren cleared his throat to continue. "Let's just say that Cain proudly bore the mark for all to see. There may be some chatter regarding that incident."

Lory smirked. He couldn't believe such progress was made back then right under his nose. He was worried that the boy was becoming a monk or something, but to find out it was initiated by Kyoko herself was a bonus. He stared at the bowed head of his LoveMe number one and coughed to cover up his chuckles. He underestimated her.

"There was also that first night. Some thugs were harassing Setsu. Kuon kind of seeped out. Setsu stopped me before anyone was seriously hurt. There were a few bystanders so I'm not sure if they would put two and two together of that night. The men were intoxicated so I don't think their testimony would hold up in court especially since they admitted that night to vandalizing a restaurant and leaving without paying," Ren admitted, ashamed of his actions that night. All he saw was red when that thug threw her down.

Lowry's lips pursed. That one may cause us some problems. The mark was nothing since they were in a relationship. They can play it off that they were secretly dating. "Is that all?" Lory asked.

Ren rubbed the back of his neck. It was like admitting all his crimes to a judge. It wasn't like he ever had to stand before one when he was a teen. His parents always took care of the authorities when he got into trouble. Kuu could charm anyone out of pressing charges and when Juliena came into the picture all coherent thought would cease in the men's brains leaving Kuon free to go.

This time Kyoko spoke. "There was a time on set that Cain fought with Murasame earnestly. They almost ended up killing each other. I suppose since they completed the film together there were no longer any hard feelings."

"Murasame also had a strange fascination with Setsu. I'm afraid if he knows her as Kyoko he might try something with her." His voice was thick with jealousy.

Lory turned to Kyoko, "What do you think, Mogami-kun? Have you ever felt threatened by Murasame-kun as Setsu?"

Kyoko shook her head. "It's nothing Setsu can't handle. He's insignificant in Setsu's eyes. All she cares about is her Nii-san. She doesn't notice anyone else."

"I will be able to take care of him the same way Cain took care of him. We can handle it, Boss," Ren said with certainty.

"Okay, good. We'll figure it out if it becomes a problem," Lory concluded. "Anything else I should be concerned with before you go public?"

Kyoko and Ren began to shake their heads until a light bulb flashed in both their minds as they remembered the incident with Manaka.

Kyoko nibbled her bottom lip with worry. This time it was her rash actions that caused problems. She played it off as Setsu at the time. Just seeing that girl cling to Cain drove her to the brink of insanity. Before she knew it, she had pried the girl off him and threw her across the floor. Kyoko managed to cover it up Setsu-style but knew she was out of character. She wondered if Ren had known as well.

"Well, sir," Kyoko began timidly. "Setsu kind of got physical with the female lead in a fit of jealousy." Kyoko stood and paced the office as her old feelings welled up recounting the Manaka incident to Lory, and what led to it.

Lory couldn't help but smile at the girl. He snuck a glance in Ren's direction to see how he was holding up.

Ren was besotted. Kyoko's jealous ranting made him deliriously happy. It was this reaction that solidified Ren's decision to never let a woman think there would ever be more to his actions than professional courtesy. He had been stupid for patting Manaka on the head. She reminded him of Kyoko when she used to quiver from what she called his Demon Lord persona. He thought it was just Setsu being possessive, but now he knew it was all Kyoko. Setsu's feelings just happened to resonate with hers.

Ren didn't want his costars getting the wrong idea, especially while playing a role. His feelings as the character did not stem into his real life. He would still be kind and cordial, but if they tried to make romantic advances on him he would immediately put the kibosh on their feelings. If his costar could not overcome his rejection and continue filming, she was not a true professional. He didn't want to make his girlfriend feel anxious or any heartache. All he could do was constantly remind Kyoko how much he loved her, verbally and physically. He hoped his feelings were getting through to her.

Lory nodded in understanding. He knew from what he had witnessed on the set before the Guam trip that Kyoko was behind Setsu's actions. Even if she claimed to want to hide her feelings rather than admit her love for Ren, in the end, she couldn't help it. Her personal feelings leaked into her character anyway. Just then the desk phone buzzed interrupting his musings.

Lory excused himself and picked up the receiver. He was expecting this call and was glad he timed everything perfectly. "Yes, now is fine," he said into the line and then hung up. It seemed they may have a lot to deal with once Cain Heel is revealed.

A minute later, Ruto opened the office door letting in a visitor.

Tadashi stopped in his tracks, surprised, as he took in those present. He had called this morning requesting an audience with Lory, but he did not divulge the nature of the conversation. He saw confusion register in the young couple's eyes. So they weren't expecting him.

Tadashi glared at the head of LME. It was difficult to take him seriously when he was wearing another ridiculous outfit. Tadashi knew that his outfits were probably a ruse to throw off his opponents. Those familiar with Lory's antics would have thought the opposite. If he was wearing normal business attire something was very wrong.

Ren gulped nervously. He swore he heard the song, "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," from an old western movie his parents allowed him to watch, playing in the background as the two men stared each other down ready to duel.

Leave it to his girlfriend, bless her heart, to not read the atmosphere. Kyoko stood quickly and spoke excitedly, "Morimoto-sa err Tadashi...-san, good afternoon." She added the "san" after a pause because it felt so improper to address him so informally. By Japanese standards, he deserved more respect.

Tadashi broke eye contact first to look at his beautiful daughter. It wasn't his imagination. She was excited to see him. Seeing her face washed away all the bitterness he felt towards Lory for blind-sighting him with their presence. He had to admit he had met his match with this president.

Tadashi smiled in return. She was already the apple of his eye. His little princess. "Kyoko-chan, I asked you to call me with no honorific until you can call me with the title of Daddy," Tadashi said in a slightly disappointed tone.

"I'm sorry. There's no way I can address my father so casually. You may be used to it because you have lived in America for so long but here in Japan it's considered impolite." She admonished, explaining her decision.

Tadashi's face beamed with delight. She said "my father," he thought with glee. He cleared his throat to get a grip on his emotions. "I understand if it's too difficult for you guys, I guess I can make an exception. I don't want to make you uncomfortable. Thank you for the courtesy."

"May I ask what you're doing here Tadashi-san, if I can be so forward," Kyoko asked suspiciously. What were these two men cooking up now? It couldn't be good if the president was involved.

Tadashi opened and closed his mouth several times trying to figure out how to explain himself before Lory spoke. "Yes, Morimoto-san, please explain to us why you are here?" Lory had an idea of what this was about. His contact at the Public Security Intelligence Agency notified him that someone had tried to access Ren's files. He wondered who it could be until he received Tadashi's call this morning. Lory wasn't even upset by his trespassing. He was proud of him for already acting like a true father.

Tadashi turned shrewd eyes on Lory. The man had to have ESP. How else would he have preempted his moves if not for having some psychic ability?

"Please sit down Princess, and I'll try to explain."

Kyoko sat down reluctantly unsure why the mood turned so serious. She couldn't even enjoy the moment when this man called her a princess just like a real father. She looked at Ren who gave her that annoying shoulder shrug again.

Tadashi startled Kyoko when he knelt in front of her. What was he doing? Ren shifted uneasily beside her while Lory stared on with an amused smile. Kyoko shuddered and felt a little sorry for Tadashi. He surely got snared into one of Lory's traps.

Tadashi didn't pay attention to anyone else but his daughter. His somber gold eyes bore into hers as he took her hands into his. "Princess, I have to explain where I'm coming from. You know I lied to your mother when we were together. I gave her a false name. I'm here because I know that Tsuruga Ren is not his real name and that no information on him exists before his debut. If you tell me he's nothing like the scumbag that I am, then I will believe you. I just don't want you to follow in the footsteps of your mother."

Ren jumped to his feet. He had vouched for this man. How dare this stranger, this hypocrite, this father for a day, accuse him of being false with Kyoko. He paused at the thought. Maybe he was being a hypocrite? He tried to justify his reasons for hiding his true identity from her up until a few months ago. Ren sat back down as his temper simmered. He couldn't fault the man for looking into her older, high profile boyfriend, and digging further when said boyfriend had nothing on record.

The others had turned to Ren expecting an outburst of deniability but no words came as he suddenly sat down. Lory cocked an eyebrow considering his behavior. Ren scowled at him in answer. Somehow, Lory knew what he was thinking.

Kyoko was relieved that Ren sat back down. He seemed to have been warring within himself before he finally felt defeated. She squeezed her father's hands. "I assure you Tadashi-san, I am well aware of Ren's real name and past. We have no secrets between us. I have even met his father. Until he is ready to share that information with you, I implore you not to press the issue." Kyoko paused and waited for her father to agree which he did by nodding.

"Good, otherwise you would upset me. I might just end up hating you!" She pouted, folding her arms for a dramatic effect. A small threat should be a nice reminder. She had watched enough dramas of girls acting spoiled when things didn't go their way. She hoped she did a convincing job to emphasize her point knowing he was becoming one of those idiot fathers just like Kuu. Ren smirked at her theatrics.

"No! Don't hate me Kyoko-chan!" Tadashi pleaded. "My life finally has some meaning. I will do everything I can to repent. I'm truly sorry and understand my mistake. Please forgive me and give me another chance."

"I'm not the one you need to address. You should apologize properly to Ren. You made a poor assumption on his character and invaded his privacy," she explained, nodding toward Ren.

Tadashi bowed deeply before Ren. "I'm sorry for my actions Ren-kun. I thank you for being honest and open with my daughter. Thank you for taking such great care of her."

"I understand where your concern stems from. Thank you for acting as a true father and worrying over her," Ren said with a forgiving smile. Tadashi smiled with relief. He was starting to like this young man.

"If you're free tonight, would you like to join me for dinner? Kyoko will be working at the Darumaya. I was thinking of having a meal there while I wait for her. You can even meet her landlords properly." Ren knew he was being petty, but the man had come close to discovering what he so desperately wanted to keep hidden. His mouth twitched with amusement when Tadashi's body twitched. Great, I'm already bullying him. He was not helping his cause.

Tadashi narrowed his eyes at Ren. He was on to the actor's game and could see through his creepy fake smile. Rather than shy away from the challenge, Tadashi grinned. "I would love to join you."

Ren's smile faltered when he gave in so easily. He didn't even squirm at the thought of facing Kyoko's landlords.

Tadashi concluded that Ren was testing him. He might as well get it over with so they could all move forward from here. He addressed his daughter, "Is that okay with you, Kyoko-chan? I won't be a third wheel or anything?"

"That's a great idea! I'll cook for both of you tonight," she clapped enthusiastically.

Tadashi needed no more convincing. He could endure anything that would befall him tonight if it meant eating a delicious meal prepared by his daughter.

Tadashi paced the sidewalk outside his apartment complex, clutching a shopping bag. He hoped the slacks and buttoned-down shirt was respectful enough to beg forgiveness. He was adjusting his shirt collar when Ren pulled up to the curb. The young man insisted on giving him a ride to the Darumaya. The hopeful expression on his daughter's face made him unable to refuse the offer. She probably thought her boyfriend was very kind and wanted to get to know him better. Tadashi wasn't fooled. He knew Ren would have words for him after the stunt he pulled.

Tadashi plopped down into the passenger seat. "Thank you for the ride, Ren-kun. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"It was my pleasure, Tadashi-san. Your home is convenient, so it was no problem at all," Ren assured him.

After minutes of riding in silence, Tadashi was the first to speak, "Ren-kun, can we please get on with it?"

"On with what, Tadashi-san? We will be at the restaurant in another fifteen minutes depending on the traffic."

"More than enough time to get on with whatever you had planned by offering me this ride," Tadashi replied sarcastically.

"You're very perceptive, Tadashi-san. I did indeed want to speak to you. Mainly about what you have been able to uncover about me. I know you let the matter drop earlier, but I guess I wanted to explain to you how important your daughter is to me." For some reason, Ren felt like he could confide in Tadashi. "I have nothing to hide from her. I love her very much. She is my salvation. She pulled me out of the darkness and into her light on more occasions than I'd like to remember. I speak from personal experience when I tell you that your life will only get better in knowing her. I have a goal to obtain as Tsuruga Ren. It's within my grasp. Soon I will go public with my identity, but until then I hope you can respect my privacy."

Tadashi-san's eyes glistened with unshed tears. This young man just poured his heart out, treating him like a real father-in-law. He felt very lucky. Fate must have had a hand in bringing him back here to Tokyo. This was his second chance to make things right.

"Ren-kun, you surprised me. I was expecting to get grilled and talked to harshly by you. I mentally prepared myself for such a brutal talk too. It means a lot to me that you were able to share your feelings, even though we just met. I hope to earn your trust completely in time. If there is anything you or Kyoko need from me, please don't hesitate to ask. I will do everything in my power to help."

"Thank you for the offer Tadashi-san. I hope we can continue to get along, for her sake."

A nod of Tadashi's head ended the discussion. They rode the remainder of the ride in companionable silence.

Ren and Tadashi walked through the front entrance of the Darumaya and were welcomed by an adorable Kyoko wearing a kimono. Any patron in the establishment could attest to the expression of the men as the young waitress smiled radiantly at them. There was no doubt that they adored her.

Kyoko brought them to the kitchen to greet her ex-landlords. "Taisho, Okami-san," Kyoko called out to get their attention.

Okami peered up from the tray she arranged and smiled. The only acknowledgment the men received from Taisho was a curt nod.

"Good evening, Okami-san, Taisho," Ren greeted with a formal bow. He stepped back to let Tadashi take his turn.

"Good evening, I am Morimoto Tadashi. Please accept this gift as a token of my apology. This in no way makes up for the problems I have caused your establishment. If there is anything I can do to make things right please let me know."

Tadashi caught sight of Kyoko's panic-stricken face behind Taisho. She waved her hand erratically at her throat which only managed to confuse him. He was adamant about apologizing that he ignored his daughter.

Taisho slammed his knife onto the chopping block and glared at Tadashi. "What problems have you caused?" Taisho asked now that this man had his full attention. He didn't miss the fact that he had the same colored eyes as his Kyoko.

"Who are you?" Taisho demanded, holding his knife up in a threatening manner. He had about enough of mysterious men bothering Kyoko.

Kyoko bowed in apology. She didn't have time when she came in tonight to give the couple, who were practically parents to her, the low down of the recent developments.

Tadashi gulped and bowed deeply to the couple. "I apologize for the incident regarding the robbery that occurred in your establishment. I assure you that there was never any danger and it will never happen again. I intended to obtain a DNA sample from Kyoko."

Tadashi swallowed thickly. His throat was getting dry but he continued. "I needed to know if I was her biological father. I'm sorry for causing trouble. I understand if you wish to call the authorities and have me arrested. I'll go willingly."

Kyoko gasped. It never occurred to her that Taisho would contemplate reporting him to the police. Technically, the case from that night was still open.

For a fleeting second, Taisho's normally impassive face contorted with surprise. Okami fanned herself at this new revelation. It was just like one of the dramas she always watched.

"Father, you say? What kind of father lets a young girl like Kyoko-chan run off to the city with some punk boy that takes advantage of her, makes her work herself to the bone to pay his living expenses, and then tosses her off to the side without a care."

Tadashi stared at the man confused. As Taisho continued, Tadashi's face grew dark with anger. By the time Taisho was finished, Tadashi was ready to kill someone. He looked to Ren and Kyoko for an explanation. Did this happen to her? Sota's information contained some significant vital holes in her personal life. He knew of the jobs she worked before joining LME, but not the reasons behind it. He wanted to hunt this boy down and teach him a lesson.

Being at a disadvantage, all Tadashi could do was bow lower to Taisho and give him his sincere apologies. He had no excuse for not protecting Kyoko from the harsh reality of the world.

Tadashi turned to Kyoko and bowed low to her. "I'm sorry, Kyoko-chan. If I had known of your existence you would have never suffered so harshly. It is truly all my fault that I was never there to give you the love and protection you needed as a child."

"Eh? It's okay, Tadashi-san. You didn't know. We have plenty of time to get acquainted with one another," Kyoko said, hoping to get away from the subject of her time with Shotaro. The way Taisho reiterated her failure in life made her feel pitiful.

Taisho returned to his cooking indicating that the conversation was over. Okami-san ushered them to the private room to chat and eat without the prying eyes of the public.

Ren sat at the low table across Tadashi while Kyoko and Okami excused themselves to bring refreshments and take care of the other tables. He felt a tinge of guilt for the man for having put him through that unknowingly. He, too, had to rein in his anger toward Fuwa during Taisho's rant. Tonight was the first time Ren had ever heard Taisho speak so much. His tongue was as sharp as his santoku. He reminded himself never to get on the bad side of Taisho.

Taisho entered the room and placed a mackerel fish set in front of Tadashi. Ren knew that Taisho was testing him since he had to undergo the same treatment months before.

Tadashi's eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled gratefully for the meal. He enjoyed the food here. Although he wanted to try his daughter's cooking, he couldn't refuse the food placed in front of him. His love of food probably stemmed from living off the streets when he was younger. His next meal was never guaranteed during those dark days. He clapped his hands together and said, "Itadakimasu." Taisho left him with a satisfied grunt.

AN: Phew, I had a busy weekend throwing two birthday parties and a holiday dinner party. December is my busiest month but I tried to write this chapter little by little these past few nights. I don't like to drag out misunderstandings, we get enough of that in the manga, and I like everything to be fluffy...LOL. I hope all this talk wasn't so boring. Now I have to think of where to go with the next chapter. I might just be drawing a blank on how to start it X0.

Thank you everyone for continuing to read. I get excited when I see new followers or favors. I also appreciate all reviews so a big thanks to all the reviewers of the last chapter.

To the reviewer that thought Tadashi was a hypocrite for only now thinking like a father: Since it was just a recent discovery for him, he technically is new to the experience. It is his fault for leaving Saena high and dry. I hope I've portrayed in this and last chapters that he knows it's his fault too.

I'm off to watch the latest episode of One Piece.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^