Chapter 49: Underworld Royalty

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, the next time RenKyo became the Heel siblings it would be as a couple. I'm counting on Sensei.

Cain sprawled out on the small hotel bed, knees bent over the edge, and feet planted on the ground with arms spread wide. Setsu peeled off her boots and flopped down next to him. She turned her head in his direction to gaze at him. His eyes were closed so she took her time studying his profile, and committing each feature to memory: his aristocratic nose, the luscious lashes forming perfect crescents on his high cheekbones, and those soft sensual lips that proved to be both sweet and demanding all at once. As she thought before, he had to be a descendent of the favored Adonis. Tonight all would be reveal and she would have to share this part of him with the masses. Loneliness engulfed her.

"You'll get wrinkles if you keep making that face," he commented, opening an eye to peek at her. Setsu's scowl deepened as she propped her head upon her arm.

He turned and smiled, his rare smile, the one she liked to think was reserved only for her.

"What is it?" He asked reaching out a finger to caress her face.

"Nothing, I'm just annoyed that nii-san is so good looking. Soon, everyone would know and they'll all see what I see. I'm afraid you'll leave me behind," she sulked. Now she had done it. She had voiced her true feelings. She wondered why that came out so naturally for Setsu. As herself, she would have never said something so selfish. Ren was way more talented than her, Kyoko couldn't even begin to compare herself to him.

How conceited could she be, thinking she was being left behind when she still had yet to catch up?

"You know you have already achieved so much more in this business than I ever did at your age. Are you trying to rub it in my face that I could only accomplish this much now?" He asked, dejectedly. They were no longer talking like Cain and Setsu but he went along with it.

"That's not true at all! Nii-San is the most talented actor I know."

He groaned at her naivety. "Setsu, your assessment of me is biased. Your view is too narrow. There's a slew of actors out there with more talent."

She snuggled up to him and laid her head on his chest. He was probably thinking of his father in particular. She was just feeling a bit insecure. She knew Corn would finally take flight. Is this what he felt like when he was a child in his father's shadow?

"I only see nii-san. You're still young too. You will only grow in talent and climb higher in the industry. I can only hope to achieve a tenth of your skill by the time I'm your age," she said, rising again to gaze at him.

Cain pinched her cheeks and pulled them apart. "Is this mouth fishing for compliments? How many ways do I need to tell you that you're good? Since when are you so modest. You're my sister, you'll surpass me in no time."

"Ow, ow nii-san that's mean," she pouted, rubbing the pain away from her face when he finally let go. "I'm happy that you think I'm good. It's all thanks to you that I could make it this far. Being in the same league as nii-san is my goal, but is it okay? I still feel like I'm cheating since I'm just learning from you and not improving on my own."

"Ha, this sister of mine is hopeless. What cheating? I just give you a hint here and there from lessons I've learned on the job. You're the one that has to take what I give you and apply it. You have to make each role your own. Don't sell yourself short, you've taught me some important lessons as well."

Setsu kissed his cheek in understanding, rolled away from him, and began tidying up the room. She grabbed the shopping bags full of the workout gear they bought today and threw them in the closet.

She protested earlier when Cain dragged her into an athletic store to pick up some workout clothes.

"Setsu doesn't do exercise," she whined.

"If you want to improve your skills, you need the proper attire to train."

Kyoko was worried about shopping as Setsu. She didn't want to end up with a plethora of black, skin tight outfits that she would never wear as herself. Somehow, with his help, they managed to find clothes she could wear no matter who she portrayed. She was grateful to him for the distraction as it took her mind off her parents' meeting, and helped her to focus on acting as the Heels.

She grabbed the hotel issued robe and headed for the bathroom to wash the sweat off her body. She wouldn't advise anyone to walk around Tokyo in the summer months wearing black leather.

Cain turned on the TV while Setsu was in the shower as a distraction. He stopped on a rerun of Dark Moon just as the car chase began. The sounds of squealing tires of the past echoed through his mind. He closed his eyes in anticipation of the darkness sweeping over him. He blinked them open when he felt nothing more than a dull ache in his heart.

The sounds from the show faded and were replaced with her sweet voice as it consumed his mind.

"...Everybody just wanna fall in love. Everybody just wanna play the lead...Watch out Cupid, stuck me with a sickness; Pull your little arrows out and let me live my life..."

Cain chuckled at the lyrics she belted. What in the world is she singing? Katsuki's voice suddenly caught his attention on the screen ending the car scene. He got off the bed, grabbed a beer, and headed to the balcony for a smoke. That scene would always remind him of the day that little boy ran out into the street as the cars came barreling down. It had triggered his memories from Rick's accident and froze him in place. Just thinking about that part of his past used to result in a panic attack yet today was different. He didn't know when it happened, but he no longer felt the overwhelming guilt that threatened to suffocate him. It was all thanks to her.

Setsu came out of the bath and noticed Cain on the balcony. "Nii-san, is everything alright?" She asked, noting the two beer cans on the floor and the third in his hand.

He gulped down the rest of his beer and turned towards her. "I'm just fine," he smiled. "You need to hurry and get dressed. The car will be here soon to take you to see the witch."

"You aren't coming?" She asked her bottom lip protruding in a cute pout.

"Setsu, it takes hours for you to get ready for these events. There's no way I'm sitting through that. I'll pick you up when you're done and I promise to bring dinner."

"But?" she began to protest then caught herself. "Why dinner? Won't there be food afterward?" She had never been to one of these events so she could be wrong.

"Yes, but that would be too late for you. Your stomach would be growling loudly during the suspenseful scenes of the movie. Everyone would just laugh during the crucial moments," he teased. "Then again it does make an eerie sound. Maybe your stomach would add some great sound effects and frighten them instead."

Setsu smacked him in the arm for making fun of her.

"Well, don't drink anymore, nii-san. I don't want you falling asleep during your movie. I'll call you ahead of time in case you decide to take a nap. I don't want you missing your premiere," Setsu warned.

Cain sat in one of the luxurious white leather seats of the lounge waiting for Setsu to come out. Ten had let him inside with barely a glance and gestured to the sitting area. He felt out of his element waiting in such a glamorous setting. The furniture was made of leather, chrome, and mirrored glass with zebra stripes and a splash of hot pink to add color to the area.

This was his first time coming to this location and was glad that it was closed to the public since she only took clients by appointment. This arrangement worked best, allowing for a more flexible business. The majority of her time was spent on runway models, overseas shoots, and drama sets. Ten was in high demand throughout the industry. He knew that Lory had gifted her this place as a reward for the hard work she did with LME and him. Lory wanted her to have her own space whenever she was back in Tokyo. Her relationship with Lory was still unknown to him. It seemed like Ten was in love with the man, but he couldn't tell how Lory felt. After knowing him his whole life, his boss was still such a mystery.

He had brought enough dinner for the three of them from a five-star restaurant. They even provided him with porcelain plates and utensils with the assurance that he could keep it or throw it away. Kyoko would skin him alive if he threw perfectly good China away. He busied himself by setting the food and plates on the coffee table in front of him.

Cain recalled what had transpired in the restaurant. The Maître D was speechless when he walked into the restaurant looking every bit like a rogue English lord and demanded 'take out' in his heavy British accent. The man attempted to argue with Cain stating they didn't offer such a service to preserve the authenticity of their food. He looked down on the man shrewdly with an air of aristocracy and boldly explained that his lady was in dispose and couldn't dine in person. Like an arrogant foreigner, he refused to leave until his request was fulfilled.

The Maître D eventually obliged as guests became uncomfortable by the glaring man occupying the entrance. He had sent one of the waiters on an errand to procure bento boxes to use as containers to transport the food. Cain thanked the man as he was given two large bags of food. Although tipping was unnecessary in Japan, since he was a foreigner, he ignored the custom. He had prepared beforehand knowing he would be unreasonable and handed the Maître D an envelope with a generous tip. "For the trouble," he stated and left with his bags. On cue, Ruto pulled up in a black limousine just as he left the restaurant.

Setsu had been at Ten's salon for the past few hours getting ready for the night. He knew from personal experience that the result would be worth the wait. He tried to imagine Setsu in a red carpet type affair. A movie premiere was nowhere near the caliber of an Awards Ceremony, but there would still be a good deal of media coverage at the entrance, especially for a highly anticipated film like this one. Everyone in attendance would be dressed to impress.

He slowly became aggravated after imagining what Ten would make her wear. Judging by Setsu's everyday outfits, the images in his mind were either too sexy, too short, or too tight. He prayed to Kami-sama that Ten put her in exactly the opposite of his perverted thoughts. He tried to imagine her in something conservative, a drab-colored, high collared, long-skirted dress. He was satisfied until he saw her gorgeous face in said dress. Her beauty would be amplified in something so modest. She would need a hat preferably one that came with a veil.

His thoughts were interrupted when Ten returned acting all giddy. "Ren-chan, I knew that outfit would suit Cain," she praised, now that she had time to appreciate his appearance. "I have outdone myself tonight. I can even gloat over Fuji-san's awards outfits. Even though no one would ever know, I think I did a better job. The two of you complement each other perfectly. I have to make sure to take pictures for Darling."

Cain stood up from his seat eagerly ready to finally see her.

"Kyoko-chan, we aren't doing this again, are we? You have to show all of Japan what a masterpiece you are, my Mona Lisa. Don't you want to see Ren-chan? He looks like the Dark Prince himself," Ten insisted, trying to appeal to the fantasy-loving side of Kyoko.

Setsu strutted out confidently in red studded stilettos and struck a pose. Ren's eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. He screamed internally as he took in his girlfriend's appearance from head to toe. She's wearing 'come fuck me' heels! In his mind, Kuon licked his lips perversely and imagined those heels thrown over his shoulders.

"What do you think, O-nii-chan? Doesn't she look gorgeous?" Ten asked, teasing him. She was proud that Setsu was going to cause quite the stir at the premiere.

Setsu looked at her brother daring him to say something. The question was written all over his face, where the fuck is the rest of your dress? Ten was unaware but Setsu could tell that he was controlling himself. It made her feel good that he was so possessive. The dress made her feel sexy and mature. The fact that no one knew her identity boosted her confidence. It was decided earlier that they wouldn't reveal her tonight along with him which Kyoko was more than happy to agree with. This night was about him. She was already satisfied that the important people, Director Konoe, and the Tragic Marker producers knew the truth and were pleased with her work.

Cain was at a loss for words. It was as if the Gods were laughing in his face. He had asked for a long high collared dress and they had given him one with a twist. It looked like she was wearing two dresses in one. On the one hand, it was a very short body-hugging dress with a choker-like collar and a low cut-out neckline that pushed up the tops of her breasts.

What kind of bra is she wearing? Wait? Is she even wearing one?

His eyes drifted down to her long shapely legs exposed high on her thighs. She was less than two inches of material away from showing everyone what belonged to him. He rolled his eyes heavenward praying she was wearing underwear. The other half of the dress was lace that extended down the length of her back to the floor. Her 360-degree twirl confirmed, no bra! He should be grateful that her butt was at least covered with the layer of material of the short skirt.

Ten had put her in a platinum blonde wig that came straight down her back with blunt bangs and pink streaks. She gave her a dark smoky eye making the blue pop with heavy liner and a red lip.

Reverting to Ren momentarily, his lips split into an ultra-gentleman smile. "Ten-san, you did an amazing job. She looks gorgeous and the dress suits her."

"Right? I call her Gothic Princess. My designer friend helped me draw up the dress and then we had a skilled seamstress make it. It was something inspired by Setsu, a real one of a kind, but very inexpensive without the fashion labels. It's considered a high-low dress since the skirt is short in front and long in back."

Setsu raked her eyes over Cain while Ten spoke. He looked like the Demon King himself in his suit. His black brocade jacket with dark red trim came down to his knees with silver medallions adorning the lapels. He wore a black collared shirt with a red tie. His vest was of the same material as the jacket. His knee-high black leather boots with his pants tucked in was a nod to his heritage as an English gentleman. As usual, his hair was mussed up, amplifying his dark sexy vibe.

Cain walked up to her, even with his blue contacts, she could see him transforming from the Demon Lord into the Emperor of the night with each step. She trembled and felt the familiar ache between her thighs. He leaned down and inhaled her scent which drove her wild. He placed a soft kiss on her neck beneath her earlobe then whispered so only she could hear, "you seduce me."

He had the satisfaction of turning her face beet red. "Shall we have dinner, my Princess?" He bowed with a flourish, making her laugh with relief. Cain had to keep things light before he ditched the whole affair and took her back to their hotel room. He was dreading the reaction of everyone in attendance to this gorgeous specimen.

"Director Konoe, can you please tell us a little about what we can expect in the film?" The hostess from Fuji TV news asked. They were reporting live on the event tonight.

"Ah, you know I can't give anything away. If you're curious, you will just have to flock to theaters and see the movie. You don't want to be the only one unable to talk about it. I will give you this one spoiler, it is not for the faint of heart," he warned, addressing the camera.

"We have yet to see Cain Heel arrive, will he be appearing tonight?" She asked excitedly.

"Indeed, I received confirmation that Cain will be in attendance." The Director dabbed at his sweat with his handkerchief. He promised he wouldn't be late, but the doors were closing in about 15 minutes. Where were they?

"Thank you, Director. I hope we have a chance to speak with him tonight." The reporter turned to the camera, "for you viewers at home tune in later for our exclusive interviews with the main cast during the after-party."

There was an announcement for everyone still loitering in the area to start making their way into the venue.

"Right on time," Cain muttered as the limo pulled up to the curb. Kyoko had been internally squirming in her seat while Setsu just looked bored out the window. They were cutting it close. Cain told her that it was so he could spend more time with her. He wanted to limit his, no her, exposure with people before the show. Besides, the Heels never arrived on time so they couldn't expect them to come any earlier than this.

Cain was instantly swarmed by photographers and reporters when he exited the limo. He sent them a menacing look as he crossed to the other side of the car, making them back off. The vultures descended upon them hoping to capture a photo of his date once Ruto opened the door. He used his body to shield her as she stepped out. When she placed one leg out of the car, he caught a glimpse of red under her dress. He noticed a mischievous glint in her eye, making him think she had flashed him on purpose.

When she was by his side, they posed for a few pictures wrapped up in each other and proceeded to walk the carpet. They ignored everyone with Cain refusing to answer any questions. The paparazzi tried to move in closer, but once again, their dangerous aura erected an invisible forcefield around the couple. No one could get close, so they resorted to shouting questions at them.

"Heel-san, how do you like filming in Japan? Could we see you in future productions here?" A reporter bellowed out.

"Is she your girlfriend, Heel-san? What's her name?" Hollered another. The arm around his sister's waist tightened. He noticed every male in the vicinity practically broke their necks trying to catch a glimpse of his sexy yet elegant partner. He fought the urge to remove his jacket and cover her up.

"What other films have you done? Why have we never heard of you?" A male reporter exclaimed. Cain returned that reporter's question with an expression that clearly said, "piss off wanker!" The reporter took the hint and backed down.

"Heel-san, can you tell us if you used any life experiences to prepare for this role?" Setsu felt her brother's body tense beside her. His grip on her waist became slightly uncomfortable, but she didn't complain. She flashed the reporter her cruelest smile making him cower with fear.

Director Konoe halted his entrance into the cinema when he heard the uproar at the other end of the red carpet. He was relieved to see the couple, true to their character, leisurely walking wrapped up in each other. The King of the Underworld and his loyal Queen had finally arrived.

The director shook with excitement. Tonight was going to be a mind-blowing experience for all in attendance as his trump card made his way towards him. He had taken extreme precautions for the after-party announcement to be successful. Konoe bowed to the couple when they finally reached him then shook their hands. Photographers circled them, catching their interaction on camera.

"Thank you for coming, Heel-san!" Konoe said addressing Cain. "It's a pleasure to see you again as well Setsuka-chan, you look lovely. I admire the loyalty you have for your brother."

A murmur went through the crowd of reporters. "Did you hear that? Her name is Setsuka," a man reported.

"She has to be an international model," another declared.

"They're brother and sister?!" A reporter blurted out unsure of the gossip spreading.

"Is that how they treat their sisters in England?" A female reporter asked the male colleague beside her.

The man responded jokingly, earning chuckles from those that heard him. "I have a sister and she doesn't have legs like that."

That statement earned him a deadly glare from Cain. The reporter swore he saw his brutal and agonizing death when he locked eyes with the actor. He dropped to his knees begging forgiveness for his rude outburst.

Cain and Setsu ignored the man and continued into the venue with the director. A hush fell over the crowd as the couple entered with every eye now upon them. This was the only downside to making a late entrance. They followed Director Konoe to their reserved seats at the front. This particular cinema was where most highly anticipated films premiered. The seating was designed such that the front rows were not close to the screen compared to conventional movie theaters.

The director stopped and chatted with a few acquaintances introducing the couple. The siblings returned their greetings with silence and bored expression. Konoe nervously laughed off their behavior. Konoe continued walking realizing that it was pointless to introduce the pair in their current state. On their trek down the aisle, they noticed many other celebrities and directors in attendance. She recognized Ogata and Morizumi right away. Since Setsu didn't know them, she glanced away, uninterested.

As she swept her eyes over the splendid decor, she caught sight of Koga staring at them. Although she dismissed him, it wasn't before she caught the look of interest on his face. She turned her attention back to Cain and gazed at him adoringly, praying that no one agitated her brother tonight until Ren was ready to take the helm.

Her thought was short-lived as they arrived at their seats where Murasame Taira stood with Manaka.

"It's so good of you to grace us with your presence!" Taira spat with a voice full of contempt.

Cain responded with a sarcastic chuckle.

"You have an obligation to this movie as one of the leading cast members to put in your time. Doing interviews and promoting the movie is part of the job! Would it have killed you to get here a little earlier?" Taira continued his tirade in a low voice.

Ignoring the actor, Cain flopped down in his chair. Setsu followed wrapping her arms around his. She exaggeratedly crossed her right leg over her left as she cuddled into her brother. The movement distracted Taira immensely. He couldn't tear his eyes off her toned silky legs. She's smoking hot tonight! All his blood rushed to his groin as his eyes worked its way up her legs, lingered at the cutout above her bosom, then finally reached her face. She stared at him with a knowing smirk. I'm so dead, he gulped.

Staring at her longer than appropriate garnered a low warning growl from the man she called brother. Taira's eyes darted to Cain quickly. His body went cold as dread filled him. He could feel the droplets of sweat forming at his hairline as Cain stood up and glared down at him. The Brit clenched his hands into tight fists, sizing Taira up. He was only a few inches shorter than Cain, but Taira couldn't stop the shudder that coursed through his body. It had been months since he felt this kind of fear.

Cain was so close that Taira could feel his hot minty breath on his face. The random and insane thought that this dangerous man had fresh breath took him by surprise. His fear diminished significantly. Taira stepped closer and straightened to his full height so they were almost nose to nose. The distraction was enough for him to pull some courage from his days as a gang member. He clenched his fists anticipating a brawl. This time he wasn't backing down.

He didn't even have a chance to say a word when he was suddenly shoved away from Cain. Did he just assault me? He stared at Cain and found Setsu with her arms around his neck possessively with a hint of death in her eyes.

"Stay away from him, Murasame-san. The only one that gets to be close to nii-san is me!" Setsu threatened, her black aura rivaling Cain's. "Since there's a crowd I'll let you off this time. If I ever catch you touching him again, I'll carve out every piece of flesh from you that touches him. Tonight it would have been the tip of your nose. Consider yourself warned."

Setsu's deadly voice sent a chill down Taira's spine. He glanced back at Cain and swore he caught the madman trying not to laugh at him.

"Murasame-san, I think you turned on my sister's switch. I would be careful now. She's quite skillful with a knife."

Cain sat back down and Setsu joined him in the same position that started this whole mess. They ignored Taira and gazed lovingly into each other's eyes. He looked at them suspiciously. Something had drastically changed. They seemed to be more in tune with one another and didn't care who watched. Once again, he asked himself, disgusted by their affectionate display, are these two really siblings?

The nearby audience returned to their seats when the hostility between the co-stars fizzled, amounting to nothing.

Taira trudged over to his seat and sat on the other side of Manaka. The air-head actress whispered to him, "It's a good thing Setsuka-san intervened when she did. It would have ruined the night if you two had come to blows. This real fight might have eclipsed those in the movie if the tabloids got wind of it."

Taira looked at Manaka. Sometimes the dimwitted actress surprised him with her logic. He took one final glance towards the idiotic couple. They were whispering to each other intimately as if conspiring against the world. He saw the gorgeous woman in a whole new light. His heart thumped as she smiled at something her brother had said. Taira frowned as he continued to watch them. Her expression screamed that of a woman deeply in love. He almost felt sorry for her. Their relationship could never be accepted by society. She needed someone else to help her forget about those unnatural feelings she had for her brother. No matter how beautiful he thought she was, he refused to volunteer for that task. He would leave it to some other poor sap to take on her brother. Hopefully, they would return to their country and he wouldn't have to see them ever again.

AN: Thank you for continuing to read. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Big thanks to those that left me a review of the previous chapter. I truly enjoy reading your thoughts on the story. I was looking through the list of bullet points (habit of my trade) I had jotted down when I first started all this. I realized I barely made it to bullet three (I have eight total) and already almost fifty chapters in...crazy. I wasn't expecting this to be so long yet here we are. Thank you all for pushing me to continue.

The song Setsu sang in the shower was "Sick Muse" by Metric.

I hope this proves to be a cleaner version as I slowly post to Ao3.

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^