Chapter 201: Lunch Support

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Skip Beat, for if I did, Kyoko would always find a way to support Kuon.

Kyoko could only imagine what she looked like in the bodyguard's eyes as she rushed up and down the stairs with the dirty laundry. Kuon had done so much the other day that she only needed to throw in a load for their more recent dirty clothes and another for the sheets. There was absolutely no way in hell she was leaving their soiled sexed-up bedding for the housekeeper to wash. While the machine was going, she commandeered the Hizuri's gourmet kitchen to redirect some of the nervous energy building up in her. They had warned her not to clean so she had to do something productive. She glanced at the clock, noting that only ten minutes had passed since he left. Kyoko had to tear her eyes away from it to keep from watching the minutes tick by, wishing that everything went well.

Kuon seemed in good spirits when he left. Kyoko didn't doubt that her senpai would crush this audition, but just to be on the safe side, she had decided to stay behind to prepare for their "departure." At least that was the excuse she gave him. She didn't want to be a distraction for him. With her out of the way, Kyoko hoped he would focus on preparing himself. He didn't have a lot of time to do so beforehand with their busy schedule and the Cedric incident plaguing him. She knew from experience that last-minute cramming would be futile; however, she still believed that he would be able to use his time wisely.

This was not like any audition he might have done in the past. It had the high possibility of launching his career here in the States. The little misgivings she had for things going south made her pull aside their manager secretly and entrust him with her second most prized possession; Kuon taking first place, of course. Not that she saw her boyfriend as a thing to possess. He was just number one on her list. Yashiro understood her intent and promised to hand it over if he saw the absolute need. Kyoko prayed that he wouldn't need it and would regret not being there to support him in person if he did. Cooking him a meal was the only thing she could think of to make it up to him.

When Kuu and Julie stressed that she had free rein to everything and anything in the house, she wanted to make sure her boyfriend would be nourished and decided to prepare something for him. The problem was having enough time to make meals for everyone with him. It would be rude of her not to prepare enough to share. To her utter delight, the fridge had been restocked. Kyoko found a lot of ingredients to pull off a quick and satisfying meal.

"Can I help with anything?" Nicole, her bodyguard, asked as she sauntered over to the counter to stand by Kyoko's side while glancing at all the ingredients she had spread across the island to maximize her time.

"Oh, no, please," Kyoko protested. "Your job isn't —"

"I know, it's to watch you," Nicole cut her off. "I'll get bored just watching you, so please, I beg of you, let me help. I'll peel veggies or cut them up. I live alone so I'm not completely incompetent when it comes to the happenings inside a kitchen," Nicole offered with a friendly grin.

"Well, if you're sure." Kyoko put the knife down and washed her hands. She walked to the pantry and pulled out another apron that matched the one she had on. "You should take off your blazer so it doesn't get ruined.

"Yeah, sure," Nicole replied, tugging to pull off her jacket then stopped and roughly tugged her jacket back over her shoulders.

Kyoko cocked her head in confusion. "Do you need some help taking it off?" She smiled and moved to position herself behind Nicole.

"Oh, no... it's... just…" Nicole stuttered away from Kyoko.

Kyoko giggled and covered her mouth, shocked that she was laughing at her unease. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to laugh, but it's nice to see you get flustered. You're always so composed unless you're teasing clint," Kyoko complimented

Nicole groaned. "You're so sweet. Please, I'm not offended, no need to apologize. It's probably best for me to leave my jacket on."

"Are you sure? I don't want to force you. I also don't want you to get dirty helping me. I can compensate you for the dry cleaning bill or you can just watch."

"You aren't going to let me help until I take this off, are you?" Nicole grumbled. Kyoko innocently fluttered her golden doe-like eyes at the tough bodyguard.

"I'm so glad you're only a temporary assignment. You'd make my job difficult," Nicole joked. Kyoko batted her eyes innocently.

"So, full disclosure," Nicole warned, "I have my weapon on me and I don't want to freak you out."

"A weapon?" Kyoko squeaked, her heart racing from being close to a dangerous object that wasn't a prop. It never occurred to her that their bodyguards would be armed, but it made sense given their profession.

"The safety is on and everything," Nicole assured her. Kyoko didn't know if she was excited or scared, but the thought of it spiked her adrenaline. "I promise you're safe with me. If it's a problem, I can remove it in private. You've gone through so much, and I don't want to traumatize you further."

Breathing deeply, Kyoko nodded and forced herself to calm down. "I trust you. Can I see it?" Kyoko asked tentatively, unsure if she was overstepping here. Besides the one that was pointed at her the other night, Kyoko had never seen a real gun.

"I'm going to remove it from my holster and place it on the counter," Nicole cautiously informed her. "I promise it's perfectly harmless, but there's no chance in hell that I would let you hold it. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ms. Nicole," Kyoko agreed meekly. Nicole was already humoring her, the least she could do was respect her wishes. "You have my word to behave."

Nicole hesitated a moment longer then removed her jacket, revealing the pistol she had concealed in a shoulder harness.

"Wow, you look very cool," Kyoko gaped, making Nicole laugh. She looked like one of those women in films described as a femme fatale, only this was real life. Those roles were created based on women like Nicole.

"You think so?" Nicole expertly removed the gun from its casing, released the magazine, and emptied the gun's chamber of the round sitting inside it. She laid each item down on the counter, far away from Kyoko's ingredients.

"Wow, that was incredible. You did that super fast," Kyoko clapped, praising Nicole's skills.

Nicole shrugged, "you do it enough times and it becomes second nature to you...like riding a bike."

After several quiet moments of Kyoko staring at the inanimate object, Nicole asked, "How are you feeling? Is it bothering you?"

Kyoko shook her head. Her lingering fear had manifested into excitement. Nicole was right. It was a harmless object, depending upon its wielder. In the wrong hands, it could become a deadly weapon. The harrowing experience left her with mixed emotions. She was no longer scared, at least she didn't think so.

She smiled sweetly at Nicole and bowed slightly, "Thank you for being patient with me."

"You're welcome. It was completely unprofessional of me to show it to you. I should have taken it off in the bathroom without your knowledge."

"No, I'm glad you showed it to me. In a way, it helps. You've reminded me that it could also be used to protect…" Kyoko went quiet for a moment, her gaze shifting back to the gun. This time when she looked at it Kyoko became lost in memories of the dream she had last night.

"Kyoko? Is everything okay?" Nicole called softly, placing a hand on her shoulder to gain her attention.

"Yes, I'm sorry," Kyoko blinked away the burning sensation in her eyes. "Just tired. I didn't get much sleep." It wasn't a total lie.

"Do you want to talk about it? You might be suffering from PTSD," Nicole prodded.

"PTSD," Kyoko repeated.

"Post-traumatic stress disorder," Nicole emphasized, "have you heard of it?"

Kyoko answered with a small nod of her head. She knew what the acronym stood for and what it represented. Could it be? The nightmare she had last night left her raw and hollow inside. When the gun was pointed at them, Kuon was the victim. In her dream, he died protecting her. That sense of loss woke her and left her a sobbing mess until Kuon coaxed her back to a dreamless sleep. Somehow she woke up refreshed.

"I know from experience that it helps to talk about it," her bodyguard said kindly, encouraging her to speak. Kyoko's eyes widened in disbelief.

"I served in the military before picking up this gig. I lost friends— people I considered family. We all knew the risks and took them gladly. We were proud to serve our country, to protect our people and our loved ones."

"I'm so sorry for your loss. I feel so stupid now. Ren is safe and Mr. Bennett is recovering. I didn't lose anyone, not like you, and I'm carrying on like a baby."

"Oh, sweetie, that's not what I meant by sharing my story with you. Your trauma is not insignificant to mine. You were in a scary situation. The fear you feel is very real and with just cause. I wanted you to know that you aren't alone and to not be afraid to share your feelings. I'm sure if you talk it out with someone, a professional, or even your boyfriend you'll feel so much better."

"Is that what helped you?" Kyoko questioned.

"Yes, I was angry all the time and felt survivor's guilt. Joining a support group of my peers helped as well as physical exercise…" Nicole's eyes lit up, looking over Kyoko. "Aside from stage combat, do you do any type of martial arts?"

The question was so specific it caught Kyoko off guard. "How did you…?"

"Oh, we were given a dossier on you and Ren when we were assigned to you guys. The firm is very thorough when it comes to high profile clients."

"How thorough?" Kyoko immediately inquired. There were things in their lives that needed to remain private.

Catching on to Kyoko's questions, Nicole answered, "don't worry. We had to sign non-disclosure agreements before we were given your profile and even then we were only given the data provided to the public."

Kyoko sighed with relief. "To answer your question, I don't have any martial arts experience. Ren was teaching me how to defend myself, but our schedules tend to get busy."

"That's something," Nicole nodded with approval. "Training your body will train your mind. You'll feel more in control, more prepared, and the fear would eventually subside the stronger you get. I still highly encourage you to talk to someone and..." Nicole's eyes shifted to the gun. "Never mind."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you, Ms. Nicole. I'm already feeling better after talking with you," Kyoko smiled not wanting to be pushy. Their conversation had put her at ease and made her realize she needed to have another talk with Kuon.

Kyoko watched as Nicole wrestled with something on her mind. She muttered to herself for a few moments before speaking, "something else that could be helpful was learning how to disarm someone with a gun. It's very dangerous and you need to use good judgment. I could teach you later if you want."

"Really!" Kyoko pressed her hands together as if in prayer, grateful for her bodyguard. "I would appreciate the lesson. Thank you."

"Anytime...okay, let's get back to it. I'll just move this out of the way and I can help you." The bodyguard snatched up her things from the counter and relocated them to the formal dining table in the next room.

"Oh," Kyoko exclaimed. She didn't have time to waste. Cursing under her breath at the time, Kyoko returned to prepping the ingredients. Nicole returned with the gun harness removed from her body and quickly washed her hands.

"Where do you want me?" Nicole asked, patiently waiting for her orders. Kyoko directed her to the cutting board with carrots and leafy greens waiting to be chopped for the salad. Demonstrating how she wanted each item to be cut, Kyoko left Nicole to work on completing the task.

Kyoko returned to focus on the protein dishes that would consist of fried karaage and tempura shrimp. She would have preferred to include a grilled fish or eel, but there wasn't anything in the fridge for her to use. Since this idea was so last minute, she had to improvise and work with what she had on hand. Frying the meat would ensure she finished on time. The deep fryer she dug out of the pantry beeped, indicating that the oil had reached the desired temperature. The alarm kicked her into high gear.

Kyoko left the chicken to be cooked last while it marinated. She wanted the flavors to penetrate the meat before she coated it with batter. Kyoko moved on to the shrimp. They were already cleaned. All she needed to do was make small incisions on their underside so the shrimp wouldn't curl during frying. Once she had them cut, battered, and in the fryer, Kyoko sanitized her workspace to start on the spicy tuna that would go in the surprise she had for her boyfriend. He probably thought she hadn't noticed, but he wasn't eating nearly as much as when he was in Tokyo. It was only this morning at breakfast that he ate a good helping of the Omu rice. Kyoko concluded that he might be missing Japanese cuisine which would explain his change in appetite.

"I'm done," Nicole sang out. "What else can I do? Do you want me to watch the fryer?"

"Yes, thank you, Ms. Nicole." Kyoko showed her how to determine when the shrimp was done and returned to the tuna. For the next forty-five minutes, they made huge progress on the meals with Kyoko teaching Nicole some techniques. The message coming through on her phone alerted her that their time was nearly up. It was a good thing the chicken was close to coming out of the fryer.

Checking her phone, she found a message from Yashiro complete with a picture of her boyfriend dressed in what she assumed was his character's outfit. It was amazing how a change of clothing and hairstyle could transform him. Kyoko thought about sending a message to her boyfriend to wish him luck but chose not to. If he was already in character, she didn't want to disrupt his flow. Before he left, she made sure to give her words of encouragement in person.

We are on our way to the audition.

They had maybe another fifteen minutes to spare before they had to get on the road. While Nicole left to put on her jacket, Kyoko finished boxing everything to bring with them and placed the extra they made in the refrigerator for the Hizuris. She did a final wipe-down of the kitchen then rushed downstairs to get her jacket and bag.

Kyoko had researched beforehand the time it would take to drive to the location and bounced it against the time it would take Ren to commute to the location from the salon. If traffic was light, it would take about thirty-five minutes to get to the spot. She estimated the audition would take about half an hour at most unless they wanted him to do additional scenes. In that case, Kyoko would have plenty of time to surprise him. She hoped there wasn't any traffic and she caught him in time.

Ren's gentlemanly smile brightened as he agreed to the director's challenge. His hand slipped into his pocket for a brief moment, seeking some of Kyoko's comfort. He would show this man how versatile his acting could be. If he wanted Trevor, he would give him Trevor. Kuu had helped him prepare for every eventuality based on his experience so Ren wasn't the least bit perturbed by the request. His father was at a point in his career where producers and directors approached him with offers. Instead of auditioning, Kuu had the privilege of being part of the panel and did not hesitate to share that knowledge with his son. Ren felt a smidge guilty for having such inside help; however, in this industry, it really was about who you knew. Ren planned to take advantage of knowing the best. It would take him a while to reach Kuu's level, but he was determined to succeed.

For the scene, the assistant set up a table and gave them cigarettes and glasses of ice water to aid their roles. When the director called action, Ren assumed the confused strung-out countenance of Trevor and gulped down his drink asking the bartender for another and setting the tone of the scene. The surprise in his partner's eyes let him know he had entered the zone. It was his performance as Trevor that brought out the full potential of the acting coach. With every line delivered, Ren pushed a little more, receiving the desired reaction from the man.

At the end of the scene, no one spoke. Their contemplating stares bore into him, making him want to fidget in his seat now that he released Trevor's spirit. He refused to give them the satisfaction of squirming. Ren waited for what seemed like hours before anyone made a move.

Their lack of reaction didn't seem good. Perhaps he had gotten too cocky and missed the mark completely. It was probably stupid of him for assuming an audition here would be anything like Japan. He couldn't depend on his pretty face to skirt by on this role. Trevor and Ivan were supposed to be portraying the everyday average American men, good looks were not high on the list. For once, Ren believed that his blessed good looks would be his downfall.

"Okay, " Sam whooped, standing from his seat. "You have made my day, Ren…" Date also stood up which caught Sam's attention. "Hirotaka, you better stay away from him. I don't care if you come from the same mother country and you both can speak a foreign language. I saw him first!"

"I believe I saw him first," Date argued. "We met just the other day, plus he was my son's Katsuki, by blood I am entitled to him."

"What?! That's the most preposterous thing I've ever heard! You just made that up!"

"You know what happens if you deny it. Your production will be destined to flop."

"Don't you dare put that bad juju on me? Take it back," Sam snapped.

"No can do," Date taunted."You should think before you speak."

Ren followed the conversation as they bickered back and forth. It didn't seem like either director was ready to back down, so he cleared his throat hoping to get their attention. They ignored him, making him sigh. The idea to just leave popped into his brain

"If that's the game you want to play then may the best man win."

"Yes, it is," Date replied haughtily.

No longer engaging Date, Sam focused on Ren. "If you had your choice between Trevor or Ivan...which role would you choose?"

Damn! He knew it was coming, but he still didn't want to answer it. Ren already had an answer for this loaded question. He had a feeling it would come to this when he was asked to execute Trevor's role.

"I would choose Ivan," he replied confidently.

"Why?" Sam asked confused. He was probably so used to actors coveting the lead role that he couldn't fathom someone would choose otherwise.

Because I'm not sure my mind can handle Trevor. Ren wasn't fooling himself, like Kyoko, he was a method actor. Assuming Trevor would require a lifestyle change leading up to filming. He would need to lose a significant amount of weight so he could replicate Trevor's gaunt appearance. Kyoko would probably murder him for undoing all her hard work and jeopardizing his health. Then there was Trevor's main reason for his mental state. He wasn't sure he could handle something like that for a second time. The fear of regressing and reliving that emotional trauma was the driving force to his denial.

Ren settled for the practical answer he had planned. "My manager could explain it better to you...I have commitments in Japan that would hinder me from completely embracing Trevor as he truly deserves; therefore, I would be doing you a disservice as the lead since I won't be able to portray him in your mind's eye.

"That's a reasonable answer," the casting director replied. She glanced at her colleagues. Sam blew out a defeated breath and nodded. "Well, we won't hold you up any longer. Thank you for your time, we'll be in touch," she smiled graciously. Ren bowed one final time and left with his head held high, happy to get away from that man.

"Date, you backstabber," Ren heard the director shout as the door behind him banged open. He turned on his heels to find Director Date, strolling after him.

"What is going on?" Ren asked, amused by the mischievous glint in the director's eyes.

"I just love getting him riled up. The man is too intense and always seems to have a stick up his butt," Date explained with a laugh.

"I see," Ren's lips curled up in the corners.

"You did well in there," Date complimented as they continued to walk and chat about his audition.

"Sam wasn't lying. I did come to poach you for a role and after that performance, I want you more than ever. It's still in its early stages. It would probably be another two years if I'm lucky before I have everything lying flat."

"I'm flattered by your consideration, but I have to know, Date-san, did Hizuri-san tell you I would be here today?" Ren wanted to know if his father had asked Date for a favor. Perhaps Kuu thought having another director vying for his skills would increase his worth.

"Kuu?" Date asked with a confused frown.

Damn! This man is good! Ren couldn't get a good read on him.

"Sam reached out to me because of Dark Moon. He figured since Hiroaki was my son, he might have shared some insider information about you with me. I will have to say no to answer your question. The last time I spoke to Kuu was at the charity gala and several months before that."

Their conversation was interrupted by the assistant coming down the hall with the next candidate in tow.

Once they were out of earshot, Date resumed speaking. "I'm going this way," the director pointed to a side exit.

"Thank you, Date-san, it was nice meeting you," Ren bowed.

"For what it's worth, Hollywood would be lucky to have you back again. Don't keep us waiting too long," Date winked and retreated out of the exit before Ren could recover from his shock. That confirmed it, he knew Ren's true identity.

He found Yashiro in the lobby, talking animatedly in Japanese. By the distress on the manager's face, Ren doubted it was good news.

Ren picked up a bit of the exchange as he drew closer slowly, not wanting to eavesdrop.

"What a mess, I can't believe he did that...Yes, that's true...I suppose you're right."

Yashiro spotted Ren approaching and smiled, holding up a finger to give him a minute.

"Ren's audition is over so I have to go. I should be back in the office the day after tomorrow. We can talk more later." From the pause in the conversation, the person on the other end had to be speaking. Yashiro wrapped up the call and turned to Ren.

"Hey, you look like everything went well," Yashiro said, searching Ren's face while putting away his phone and gloves.

"Yeah, I'm glad it's over," Ren replied, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at his friend. He didn't forget what he overheard before Yashiro noticed him.

"Everything alright?" Ren asked, nodding to the spot where Yashiro tucked his phone away.

"Yeah, work stuff. We've been gone a while and people are getting antsy. There's a poll trending right now. Fans believe you both aren't returning to Japan. The agency is getting a lot of flack because of it. I was talking to Kyoko-chan's manager, Linh-san, to remind her of our arrival."

"Linh-san?" Ren glanced at his watch. It was late in Tokyo. Was the discussion so important that it couldn't wait for a reasonable hour?

"I was surprised she called me too. I sent an email with our itinerary while I waited for you and she called me right away. She must be a late sleeper. Anyway, are we good to go?"

"Yeah, I'm done here." Yashiro's answer gave Ren no reason to suspect anything else was amiss. With the time difference between the two cities, finding a convenient time when both parties are free could become difficult.

"Good, Ten-san, is already waiting for us," Yashiro informed him.

They said a brief goodbye to the lady at the front desk and headed toward the exit. Outside, Ren squinted until his eyes adjusted to the bright California sun.

"Ren, look," Yashiro nudged him with his elbow.

Ren followed the manager's gaze and caught sight of a familiar figure standing with Nicole, Clint, and an oddly dressed couple. Her back was to him so she hadn't noticed him yet until Nicole tapped her shoulder.

"Ren!" Kyoko shouted, after whirling around to face him. The way her eyes lit up at the sight of him made all his worries fade away. Using his so-called teleportation jutsu technique, he was in front of her in a flash, pulling her up in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, and breathing in the delicious scent of home that he swore she carried with her.

"God, I missed you," he managed to say before devouring her lips. Ren didn't care that they were out in public or had an audience. With the way she was kissing him back, it seemed Kyoko didn't mind either. They had only been apart for a few hours and this was the result. How was he going to survive going through most of his day without seeing her or touching her? They had grown so much as a couple these last two weeks that he wasn't sure he could go back. Maybe he could persuade the president to have them only work on projects together and the rest of their free time could be spent together. Could he be diva enough to pull something like that off? Kyoko would most likely box his ears if she heard his selfish thoughts right now.

"Wow, I've only ever seen that happen only in movies. I suppose it makes sense that you're both actors," Nicole snickered, making Kyoko pull away from his lips abruptly and burrowing her face in the crook of his neck.

Kyoko squirming in his arms kept him from shooting laser beams at Nicole for the interruption. He reluctantly placed her back on her feet and kept hold of her to his side, not ready to let her go. It was only then that he recognized the odd couple with the group.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hizuri," he exclaimed as his pulse rose. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We wanted to see you," Julie smiled, her green eyes swimming with emotion behind the fake glasses she wore.

"Thank you for your support," he replied, stepping away from Kyoko and pulling his mother in for her hug. "I love you, mom," he whispered in Russian for her ears only. For a brief moment, she squeezed all the air out of his lungs before letting him go.

"Great work," Kuu declared, shaking his hand and pulling him in for a quick hug. Ren took advantage of their closeness and said, "thanks, Dad," in Japanese.

Kuu cleared his throat after they pulled away and stepped back. "I take it everything went well in there. No one caused any trouble?"

"Nope, standard stuff," Ren answered. It wasn't a total lie. He did want to talk to his father about the director before he left. It sounded like there was some animosity between them.

"Good, good…that's really good to hear." Kuu nodded and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts. It was funny that his parents were once again dressed as a couple of tourists.

"I'm sorry, but we have to get going. Ms. Ten is already waiting for us," Yashiro reminded everyone.

"Does this mean you can't join us for lunch?" Julie pleaded, her puppy eyes on full blast.

"I can't make lunch, but I'll be home in time for dinner."

"Wait! Nicole and I made you lunch," Kyoko exclaimed, rushing to the vehicle Nicole drove and returning with two large bags. Clint immediately moved to relieve her of the heavy burden. "There's plates, utensils, and more than enough food for you guys and Ms. Muse. I expect you to eat mister," Kyoko wagged her finger at Ren. "I'll know if you don't."

"Did you make some for us?" Kuu asked, moseying over to the bags. Everyone laughed knowing Kuu was a foodie with a black hole for a stomach.

"I didn't have enough time or ingredients to cover your eating habits," Kyoko teased. "But there is some for you in the refrigerator at home."

"Oh, dear sweet angel. How will I live once you return to Japan? Would you have pity on this old man and stay?"

"Kuu," Julie reprimanded. "Don't start guilt-tripping these kids into staying just because you'll be lonely."

"Is it working though?" Kuu joked, sending another chorus of laughter through the group. "The house will be so quiet without you both there," he pouted.

"Okay, let's send them off. We will see you, boys, at dinner. Meanwhile, let's enjoy lunch with the ladies. I made a reservation at our favorite Indian restaurant."

"I've never had it before. I'm excited to try," Kyoko replied excitedly.

"Me too," Nicole asked, pointing at herself.

"Of course, you too. You need a lunch break too," Julie argued.

While they talked about lunch, Ren pulled Kyoko into his arms and laid his forehead against hers. "Thank you for coming. Corn was a big help too."

Kyoko raised her small hands to cup his face. "When we have time later, could you tell me why you needed Corn?"

"I promise." He took her hands in his and kissed her fingertips, then pecked the tip of her nose. "I'll see you later."

"Do you want me to come by the salon after lunch?"

"As tempting as that sounds, I don't want to wish that boredom on you," Ren chuckled. "Go and enjoy yourself. I'll be fine." He kissed her on the lips one more time and waved goodbye to his parents.

…

Back at the salon, Ren waited while Ten and Yashiro explained the NDA document to Elijah. It legally stated that he couldn't reveal anything that would hear or see today; otherwise, he could be sued. Ren had agreed to have him help Ten restore his hair to its "natural" color. According to his stylist, having the extra hands would significantly reduce his time in the chair. He knew taking such liberties could be risky, but the idea of spending more time with Kyoko and his parents before they left had him on board with the suggestion. His identity would still be hidden from Elijah, but the reveal of his natural hair color would be a dead giveaway to anyone that Ren Tsuruga was not a full-blooded Japanese as stated on paper. A few clicks on Yashiro's laptop confirmed that Clint and his associates already had signed forms on file. It made sense to have them since they worked so closely together.

"Now that it's settled, let's eat," Yashiro announced, eagerly. His girlfriend was incredible. She had thought of everything when she packed the lunch. There was more than enough food, plates, and utensils to go around even with the additional person. It was when Yashiro held up the container of onigiri that Ren felt the full force of her love.

"What is he doing?" Ten whispered to Yashiro. Ren felt all eyes on him as he propped his phone against the sparkling bottle of fancy water courtesy of the salon's fridge.

"Ren, what are you doing?" Yashiro asked curiously.

"I'm going to eat the delicious lunch my girlfriend worked so hard to make," he replied without missing a beat.

"I get that, but what are you doing with your phone," Yashiro clarified.

"Recording myself eating the delicious lunch my girlfriend worked so hard to make," he answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

His response had Yashiro and Clint bursting with laughter.

"Smart guy," Clint praised. "Video evidence is undeniable. I may have to use that tactic on my wife."

"I don't get it," Elijah whispered to Ten. "What's so funny?"

"Ren is a picky eater. She probably threatened him or something," Ten explained. Yashiro and Clint retold what happened in the parking lot.

"I'm recording in 3, 2, 1," Ren warned, pressing the button on his phone after the countdown. He ignored his audience and proceeded to record himself eating the same way he did when Cain was stuck on Guam without his Setsu.

AN: Thank you for continuing to stick with me! I ended up cutting this chapter off since these scenes took way longer than I expected. There was so much dialogue, I hope I didn't bore you with all the talk.

Thanks for always reading and the lovely reviews you left on the last chapter. I HEART you all!

Until next time, ja ne! ^_^