Despite Ren's best efforts at derailing her, Kyoko got through her exams. Okay, that wasn't quite fair - he hadn't meant to distract her. But how else was she supposed to interpret the man showing up to the LoveMe room, scenting her, and slipping tickets to Dayjowyland in her pocket? And then he'd given her that grudge-frying smile and said they could make it a pack outing. If there was any way to kill an alpha, it would be this.

But her exams were over, and she'd landed in Guam for the final shoot of Tragic Marker.

She couldn't wait to see her omega again. Sure, they'd done a few calls when they could - mainly so she could make sure he was eating - and they'd scented things for one another before he left. But it wasn't the same as having him near.

Not when she knew how it felt to sink her teeth into his neck.

Not when her subconscious had served her up dreams every night of his pleading, his whimpering, his big, big omega eyes looking up at her, begging her to bite him properly.

So yes, she'd not been sleeping well.

So at first, when she promised Jelly that she'd stay in her hotel room, she tried to sleep. She honest-to-god tried to curl up on the bed with Ren's hoodie and sleep. However, trying to sleep with his scent but without him… she'd gotten so spoiled playing Setsu.

Instead of thinking too hard about that, she'd let herself be tempted out onto the beach. The smell of the sea, the glistening water - it was perfect for a mermaid encounter!

Except she didn't meet a mermaid.

LINE BREAK

Kuon had also not been sleeping well since Kyoko had gone on break from being Setsu. He missed his alpha - missed the way she felt curled up in his arms, or draped against his back. But tomorrow… tomorrow she'd be back in his arms. He was glad. The black sheep plush had almost lost her scent.

So to kill time before he became Cain - and because he couldn't resist the siren song of the water - he went to the beach. There were few things that made him feel as calm as the ocean (and all of them had to do with Kyoko).

When he came up for air for the umpteenth time, he took a deep breath. The wind had shifted, blowing from the shore.

Pine.

He scrubbed the saltwater from his eyes and stared at the figure before him in shock. Wasn't she supposed to arrive tomorrow? He almost smiled, almost moved to greet his alpha - and then remembered he still looked like Kuon.

He tried to walk away from her. He really, really did. He tried to ignore her, tried to scare her away. But when she slumped to the ground, the scent of devastation was so strong even he could discern it.

Fuck.

So he'd gone back to her and waited for her to look up at him. When she finally did, he used a stick to write in the sand: Are you Kyoko?

The way her face lit up made the risk more than worth it. He had to fight himself not to reach out to her when she cried, expressing her relief that Corn had grown up properly. She knows my touch, he had to remind himself.

And then he'd "borrowed" a voice, and she'd asked why it had to be that voice. That stung, so he soothed his own ego. "This voice is most vivid in your memories. He must be someone you met or thought about recently."

He was not expecting her to blush from the roots of her hair down to the collar of her shirt. She swallowed, hard. "Can you try another voice, please?"

"I… can only use my magic once a day in the human world," he said, offering the first excuse he could think of. His mind was far more focused on her reaction. She blushed. She really was thinking of me… and it made her blush!

He'd pretended to read her memory, she'd gotten mad at him, and he'd promised not to do it again. She'd gone to get them a drink, and when she'd come back, she'd stared at him as if realizing something. "What's wrong?"

"Why do you look so much like Ren-san? All your proportions are exactly the same…."

"I borrowed his form. Humans can only see my true self as children."

"That's why you smell like him, then." She nodded. "Okay. That makes sense." Then she'd smiled up at him, freer than she'd even been with him once he'd become part of her pack. He felt a sharp twang of jealousy in his chest. "Let's try this coconut juice then!"

It was horrible.

They sat in silence for a moment, and he could tell she was thinking about something. She poked her straw into the disgusting juice, partway through finishing the stupidly expensive drink, and dared to ask, "Are you… not happy to see me again, Corn?"

"Wh- not at all!"

"But you haven't smiled at all since I saw you on the beach."

"It's…." I hate lying to you. I feel like I can't allow myself to enjoy this time with you.

"Will you tell me?" She reached across the table and placed a hand over his. "You… have helped me so much throughout my life. I want to be able to help you, Corn. In whatever way I can."

He grasped his wrist reflexively with his free hand. I've been so distracted by her that I haven't been thinking about what I took from him… from them. "I'm under a curse."

Her eyes widened.

"I… make anyone around me unhappy, simply by existing in this realm. I ruin people's lives. The biggest misfortune can never be undone, even by the gods." I've been so selfish.

"Is that why you were cursed? Why they took away your smile?"

He shook his head, and wondered what she could smell of his emotions. "I can't smile… because I can't forgive myself. If I didn't exist, I wouldn't have made anyone unhappy."

"That's not true!" She shot to her feet, hands flat on the table. "Corn, I never suffered a misfortune because of meeting you. You - your stone - you helped me so much. There's so much that I never would have been able to get through without your support. I -" She swallowed the tears that were threatening to come. "You don't always make people around you unhappy."

The answering look of devastation on his face rendered her unable to say more than, "I'm sorry, Corn. I - I didn't think about your feelings. I said… what anyone would say."

He looked up at her and wanted to kick himself. I didn't mean to make her cry. I - fuck, how do I fix this?

While Kyoko continued to beat herself up, Kuon thought fast. "Uh…"

She dared to look up at him, unaware of what her teary-eyed expression was doing to his heart. "Yes?"

He averted his gaze, instead staring out at the sea as if he was trying to remember something. Then he started spinning a story that he was sure he'd regret later. "There was something in a book of magic I read as a kid…." He went on, explaining the convoluted history of the kingdom, and she offered a blood sacrifice to him. He steered her away from that as fast as possible, as he could tell she was dead serious. Then she'd offered to make him his own damn omurice - and he'd broken. He'd lost the fight with himself.

"There is one way… I can think of. It's old magic." He tapped his lips, and knew that she would understand.

"Corn, that's - that won't work." Tears sprang to her eyes again. "That has to be a pure kiss of true love, and - I'm able to hate. I'm not pure."

"But don't you love me?"

She blushed again. Of all the faces and voices - "I like you plenty. B-but it's gotta be love to lift a curse. True love."

"That's fine then." When she looked up at him, confused, he dared to say, "I love you."

And was baffled when she collapsed to the ground.

How dare he say that with that face and voice! She sat up, and instructed him to do the same. And then she explained to Corn that it would never last - he was a fairy, and she was just a human. He aged differently. "And I… I can't be left behind again." She cleared her throat. "Besides, I can't - I can't kiss you."

"You have a mate?"

"No!" She blushed deeply, shooting to her feet. "I have a vow to protect my purity. I promised Ren-san."

"He's not your mate, so… why?"

"Wait." She thought hard, and realized: He'd meant not to let Sho kiss me again. "Oh…."

"Plus, he doesn't have to know."

"I can't keep something like this from him!"

"Why not?" He stood up too, looking down at her.

"He's - he's my packmate!"

"So you're going so far for a simple packmate?" He raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you an actress? Just fool him."

"I -" she started, irritated at the very suggestion. Then a thought hit her. I am an actress. There's a way to help Corn but also not break my promise. "I'll do it."

"Really?" He was annoyed, more at himself than anything. Why the hell am I doing this to her?

Then she'd turned and walked away from him. He followed, only for her to turn around, acting as a high priestess, and offer to lift his curse. She spoke about her past, and how she was grateful for every awful step of the way, cloaked in the words of a priestess. About how it was all worth it - because it led her to her pack, and to that man.

It took him a long moment to realize she meant Ren.

So he'd knelt before her, ready to receive the cleansing to lift his curse.

She'd leaned forward and given him the tiniest peck on the lips imaginable.

He collapsed on the ground, his mind swirling with her words - about how it was all necessary to be where he was now.

Here, with his alpha.

Then he'd opened his eyes and smiled at her. Her answering beam was blinding.

She'd surged forward, hugging him. "Corn!"

He'd wrapped his arms around her, wishing the moment could last forever.

But he knew it couldn't.

So they'd stood up and he'd told her - Corn had to leave, to go back to fairyland. She'd begged him to know when she'd be able to see him again. His silence made her look down, pine emotions he couldn't read swirling around her.

He couldn't help but lean down and scent her, offering his alpha comfort. And when he pulled back, she looked up at him. Again, he didn't stop himself.

He kissed her.

Then he'd pulled back, leaving her beet red and shocked, and thanked her. Thanked her for lifting his curse, for making him glad he'd been born as himself. Thanked her for everything, and promised he'd meet her again.

Then he'd jumped off the balcony, grabbed a flag post, and swung out of view. He'd gotten reamed out by Jelly for being late, but it was so worth it.

LINE BREAK

Kyoko bounced on the balls of her feet, trying to hold in her excitement. She got to see her omega again, and she could tell him all about seeing Corn! She followed Jelly into the parking garage, and was debating whether or not she was allowed to scent Ren with her there. She might report back to the president, after all, but scenting was normal for packmates.

But then she got into scent range of Ren, currently in his Cain Heel disguise, and the bottom dropped out of her stomach. He smelled like cornflowers, yes, and Cain's disgusting cigarettes. But he also smelled like her.

She hadn't seen Ren since she'd been Setsu last.

So why did he smell like her?

LINE BREAK

Dinner was very, very quiet. Jelly shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Darling had said these two got along well, so what was this tension? Eventually, after eating the main course, she excused herself, unable to handle it anymore. She told them she'd handle the bill on her way out and left.

Ren had been equally confused throughout dinner. Kyoko hadn't so much as smiled since she'd laid eyes on him. Did I upset her that much by kissing her as Corn? His shoulders drooped and he dared to glance up at her, only to find her staring directly at him, eerily calm.

"Ren-san."

"Yes?" He cringed at how fragile his voice sounded.

"I am going to ask you something." She held eye contact with him, expression unreadable. "And you are going to tell me the truth."

"I - yes, alpha."

"Why, if I have not scented you since we were in Japan, do you smell like me?"

He froze and broke her gaze. Crap.

"Ren-san, look at me." When he dragged his gaze up to her again, she spoke, still eerily calm. "Or should I call you Corn?"

When had he started sweating?

"How long have you known?" He thought the emotionless stare was bad. Her lower lip quivering was worse. "How long?"

"Kyoko-chan, I-"

"Don't you dare 'Kyoko-chan' me!" She stood up, furious pine exploding into the private room, tears starting to stream down her face. "You fucking lied to me! You knew, this whole time, and I bet you were laughing when I told you about you."

"No, I-"

"And this afternoon - I trusted you." She swiped at her eyes. "But you got what you wanted, didn't you?" her voice was horribly bitter. "I'm going to go get transformed. Setsu will meet Cain in the hotel room." She left.

He dropped his head into his hands.

LINE BREAK

He dragged himself up to the hotel room, hoping she wouldn't be there yet so he could get his head on straight. She would still expect him to be Cain, no excuses.

He was not so lucky.

"Nii-san!" She stood from the bed and slinked over to him, Setsu to the hilt. "I missed you so much. I keep telling you I should drop out so I don't have to leave you for exams." She leaned up and scented him.

He couldn't do this. "Kyoko-san -"

She froze mid-scent, then drew back, a fury in her eyes unlike any he'd ever seen. "You want to do this now?"

"I have to." Please, please, please let me explain myself.

"No."

"But -"

"I said no!" She pushed out of his embrace, furious pine swirling. "I am too damn mad at you to listen, Ren-san! So if you want to talk, we are not doing it now. And if you really want to - you can go sit on the fucking balcony." She glared up at him. "I will call you back in when I don't want to rip out your scent glands. And don't you dare jump off again!"

"Yes, alpha," he whimpered, and slunk out to the balcony. If he'd had a tail, it would've been tucked between his legs. He'd fucked up, and fucked up badly.

"Take your sheep." She threw it at him before he could get all the way out of the room.

He caught it, and felt a flicker of hope. She'd scented it for him.

LINE BREAK

Kyoko glared at the slumped form of her omega, sitting pathetically out on the balcony. He was curled around his sheep plush, holding it as if it was his last lifeline. Not fair. He's not supposed to be cute when I'm pissed at him!

She turned her back to him and pulled off her wig so she could think better. What the fuck, Ren-san. Or Corn. I don't fucking know. She set the wig on the wig form and grabbed a comb, starting to undo the knots.

He'd lied to her - that was clear. Lied and used her affection for Corn against her devotion to Ren. The question was why.

The other question was who. Was he Ren-san, her beloved senpai and omega? Or was he Corn, her saving grace and childhood friend?

Or was he both and neither?

She stood there, mulling this over until the wig was completely detangled. By then, she had calmed enough to actually listen to the answers he had to give her. She walked over to the sliding glass door and opened it.

"I am ready to hear your explanation."

He scrambled to his feet, looking hopeful and utterly pathetic all at once. She hated how good it looked on him.

And to his credit, when they'd sat down across from her, he did apologize and explain. He explained everything, from California to Japan to Guam. His explanation brought tears to her eyes and soothed the fury and hurt in her heart. But it left her with one question.

"So why kiss me?"

He looked down at his hands, then back up at her, eyes unfairly large. "Because I love you?"

She let out a groan and flopped back on the bed, hands covering her face. "I don't know what to call you right now. But that's not fair."

"What? Why?" She could smell his confusion and fear, mixed up in contrition.

"I hate how easy you are to forgive for all this." She ran her hand through her hair, half-laughing at the ceiling. "I should be cursing you for this betrayal. I should tell you to take your so-called love and shove it up your ass, if that's how it makes you act. I should kick you out of the pack."

Something in her tone let him hope. "But…?"

She sat up, an exasperated smile on her face. "But I love you, too, so I'm gonna forgive you."

The next thing he knew, he was coughing and blinking water out of his eyes. "What happened?"

"You passed out." Kyoko set the cup that had held water back on the nightstand. "So, not sure what to call you -"

Yours. "When we're alone, whatever you want."

She nodded. "So, Kuon -"

His heart stuttered. Real name. No honorifics.

She'd chosen that name because it had the least confusion attached to it for her, because it combined Ren and Corn to who he really was. It also made her little promise to Sho about not falling for Tsuruga Ren completely invalid because, well, she hadn't. "We need to re-establish some dynamics here."

He swallowed. "Am I out of the pack?"

"I literally just said I'm forgiving you."

"Sorry." He looked down at his hands again.

She took a deep breath, calming herself. "No, I just - I'm still kind of mad at you. I will be for a while, I think. But that doesn't change you being in the pack, and it doesn't - doesn't change how I feel." She blushed at this.

Holy fuck I didn't imagine that.

"Normally, I should've been the one to present a courting gift, but you, um, kind of beat me to that." She gave him an awkward, lopsided smile that had his heart doing loop-de-loops. "I'm… not ready to mark you. I won't be for a while. I'm just not in a good headspace for that. Something that serious needs to wait."

He nodded eagerly. That means she wants to someday, right?

"But I would… um… if you still want to… we can court." She blushed harder. "I don't fully know what that looks like."

"I don't either," he admitted. He'd had casual girlfriends in California, but had never properly courted someone. They'd never even scented him. "Maybe… we can figure it out together?"

She nodded, still blushing, but forced herself to be serious. "I need you to promise me something, Kuon."

"Anything."

"You can't lie to me anymore. I - my heart can't take it."

"I promise." He held up his pinky, and she smiled when she linked her little finger with his.

Then she stood up, using their linked fingers to tug him forward, and scented him. He melted against her, purring.

It was going to be a bumpy road, but they would figure it out together.