I own nothing!

"So I'm thinking we need to scent more heavily than usual," Kyoko said, putting in her earrings. Her lip ring's chain jingled, feeling odd. "So they think that your scent is mine, and vice versa. Since Cain's supposed to be the alpha." She blushed, then forced herself to say, "So I think you'll need to scent me as well."

Ren, despite all the emotional struggles being Cain was dredging up from the depths of his psyche, couldn't help but perk up at this. Really? I get to scent her? "Sounds like a plan. We should hurry, though, the director should be coming by soon."

She nodded, adjusted her wig, and then turned and walked towards where he was sitting on the edge of their nest. "Ready?"

He tilted his head in response, allowing her access to his neck. "Ready."

She stepped between his legs and placed her hands on his shoulders, then began to scent him. At first, it was normal - pine wrapping around him, soothing him, making him feel safe - and then it grew deeper. His hands came up to sit on her waist without his permission. Their scents began to meld, making it hard to tell where she ended and he began. If he let out a whine, she was too preoccupied to hear it.

Finally, panting a little, she drew back. She had to swallow hard before she could speak. "Okay, my turn."

He leaned forward as she tilted her neck for him. He took a deep breath and then began. He felt her shiver; her grip on his shoulders tightened. Gods above, he thought. This close to her, he could hear her heartbeat. Could feel her pulse pounding in her neck as he rubbed her scent glands. How was she so normal about this all those times? He hadn't felt this connected to someone since… well, since before he left California.

Then Kyoko let out a soft sigh, and he stopped thinking anything at all. He simply felt, scenting and scenting until there was a knock on the door. He forced himself to pull back; Kyoko followed him, eyes unfocused, before he managed to bite out, "Door."

"Door?" she echoed, as if it was a new word. Then she shook her head, restarting her brain. "Door!" She scurried to answer.

If Director Konoe had any thoughts about how heavily scented they were, he kept them to himself.

LINE BREAK

Murasame let out a low growl. Who did that Cain Heel think he was? Showing up late, glaring at everyone… that was no way to build camaraderie with fellow actors! That girl with him, though… she was cute. He couldn't quite pinpoint her scent - there'd been too many people around when she was translating for Cain. He went to get his drink and was surprised to see her there, bending over in tight leather shorts to get her drink out of the machine.

"So what street corner does Cain Heel perform on?"

Not his best opening line, but it got her attention. He kept talking, riling her up, hoping to get a response out of her. She'd talk soon; he could smell the anger coming off of her. One more line. "Is he some background actor, one who never gets a good role?"

Thwap. She'd hit him with her water bottle. "Nii-san isn't a second-rate actor."

He stared at her. He still couldn't pinpoint her scent, but he could tell it was something nature-y. "So you're siblings."

"You can tell by looking at us."

"You look more like lovers than siblings. Smell like it, too."

She turned away, blushing slightly, and started to walk off.

"Hey!" What the fuck? Why's she blushing? "So what type of roles has he played -" Burnt flowers - or trees? Either way, something was burning - met his nose. He looked up and was met by the cold fury of Cain Heel.

They exchanged some words in English, and then - "You piece of crap," Cain Heel spoke in perfectly fluent Japanese, "I'll kill ya if you get too close to her." He wrapped an arm around Setsu and led her away.

LINE BREAK

They finished their lunch, Cain having scared off Murasame again. "Setsu." He held out a hand to her at face height.

Misunderstanding, she reached up and linked their fingers together.

Why is she so damn cute? "Glove, Setsu."

She pouted cutely at him (making him die inside a little more) and did as she was bid, removing his glove. He then started petting her with his ungloved hand, heart doing a little dance when she purred and tilted her head, giving him access to her scent glands. He gladly accepted the invitation, leaning down to scent her.

Then he forced himself to pull back. "Okay, glove."

Setsu rolled her eyes and put it back on for him. "Fine, fine."

LINE BREAK

Kyoko came back from the grocery that night (well, that morning, since it was 2 AM), worried about her pack member. He'd looked so disturbed when she'd told him that he was smiling during BJ's fight with Murasame's character - when she'd said that their souls were linked. That wouldn't do. Even if Cain was the alpha in his relationship with Setsu, she was still Ren's alpha, and she needed to take care of him. If it was Sho, she would've picked him up some pudding at the grocery, but Ren didn't really… eat that much.

Fortunately, she'd found just the thing: a little black sheep plush with a grumpy expression. She hurried up to their room, only to find him standing in the hall, wrapped in sheets. "Cain?"

"Where were you?" She could smell his frustration and - was that fear?

She held up the bag she was carrying. "I got groceries."

"Don't go out without me."

"I -" she started to argue, but stopped when she saw his expression. "I'm sorry."

"Come…" He opened the sheets he was wrapped in, holding his arms wide for her.

She walked into them without hesitation, stretching to wrap her arms around his neck. He made a pleased noise, taking the bag from her and picking her up. He carried her back into the room. He didn't put her down, holding her as she put the groceries away. Nor did he let her go when she presented him with the little black sheep, but his scent did lighten a little. He didn't even release her when he crawled into their nest. Only when sleep took him did his arms loosen.

She stroked his hair as he slept, worried. Something was going on under the surface with her omega. She needed to protect him.

LINE BREAK

Right when Cain was wrapping up his makeup, she'd gotten a text from Moko. Ren, recognizing that chime, had told her to "go say hi to Dad" and gone off to get into costume.

Moko: i fucking hate the medical system

Kyoko: what's wrong?

Moko: they fucking asked me what my mate thought AGAIN

Kyoko: ugh

Moko: and when i was like idc i don't have one they were like "but think about your future"

Moko: BITCH WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING

Kyoko: do u want me to kill them

Moko: I'm this close. To saying yes

Moko: can u make it look like an accident

She texted back and forth with Kanae for a good twenty minutes, offering more and more elaborate murder schemes.

Moko: okay im feeling less stabby now

Kyoko: that's good (heart emoji) nest soon?

Moko: yeah. Might even let u cuddle a bit. As a treat.

Kyoko: (flurry of hearts and happy emojis)

Kyoko: ilysm Moko! Keep fighting! I gtg now but I'll text u later

She shut her phone (making sure to turn the sound lower), then speed-walked towards set, making sure to appear unbothered (she was Setsu again, after all).

Only to come upon a scene from her wildest nightmares.

Cain was holding Murasame by the neck at the top of a tall platform, choking him. She reflexively covered her nose to block out the stench of fear radiating off the cast and crew. Then she saw Murasame push off, sending them both falling.

"CAIN!"

He pushed off of Murasame, twisting and twirling until he was able to land in a crouch. While the crew rushed to Murasame, Setsu sauntered over to Cain. She squatted down in front of him and smiled.

"You look so cool." She leaned forward, pushing his hood out of the way, and scented him, being very careful not to smudge his makeup. "I'm gonna take so many pictures."

He relaxed into her hands as she traced his fake scars, their mixed scent becoming the only thing he could smell. His anger and fear ebbed away, replaced by thoughts of her. He needed to do this. He needed to overcome himself - and he would, with her.

LINE BREAK

"Kyoko-chan, you forgot your breakfast!" Jelly called the next morning, as Kyoko was tearing out of the trailer to go to school. When the toast had been retrieved and she'd torn off again, Jelly sighed. "I'm surprised she didn't want to shower."

"Speaking of," Lory stared directly at Ren, "you need to bathe."

He glanced down at himself, then looked at his reflection in the window. "Why?"

The president chuckled. "Your choice. Come over soon for tea… I got some good marjoram tea."

Ren agreed, and left with Yashiro. Once they were in the car, his manager raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't want to shower?"

"Okay, what's with you two? I know my hair isn't greasy, it's a wig." His Cain hair was also clean, but he didn't argue the point. He started to pull out of his parking spot.

"Ren, you smell like you were mated."

SKREECH went the tires. He maintained a very blank face. "I beg your pardon?"

"Did you take advantage of Kyoko-chan?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why do you smell like you did?"

"Because Cain and Setsu scent each other heavily." He glanced sideways at his manager, whose eyebrows had hit his hairline. "It helps mix up our scents so no one guesses that she's the alpha."

He let out a relieved sigh. "Okay. But you still need to shower."

"But -" I want to smell like Kyoko.

"No buts. Think of what this could do to Kyoko-chan's reputation." Not to mention yours. "If someone figures out that it's her scent on you, they're going to assume exactly what I did. If not worse."

He pouted, but drove off to do as he was bid.

LINE BREAK

Kyoko was having a very weird day at school. First, Nanokura Mimori had yelled at her for showing up at school. She couldn't begin to fathom why, as the girl hadn't so much as acknowledged her in school until now. Second, her classmates were giving her a very wide berth. She glanced down at her indoor shoes, wondering if she'd somehow managed to step in something. Nope. Third, there were the whispers. Her classmates hadn't stopped whispering since she'd arrived this morning, save for when the teachers were talking. Even her teachers had raised their eyebrows at her. But the most worrisome part was that she could tell the whispers were about her. They were even pointing behind their hands. She rolled her eyes. How childish.

She had more important things to worry about, like school - and how to help her pack's new omega. At lunch, she pondered over the latter. He seemed to like the sheep she'd gotten him (he'd had one arm around her and one around it when she woke up this morning), and the cuddles seemed to be helping. Scenting in particular seemed to ground him.

Scenting.

I didn't shower after being Setsu.

No wonder her classmates were acting so strange! She smelled like - like some sort of loose woman! Maybe if I sneak down to the gym before the bell -

BRIIING.

It took everything in her not to swear. This day can't get any worse.

LINE BREAK

The day could, in fact, get worse, and it did immediately after school.

She smelled his tell-tale scent of gasoline before she even saw him. Why is Sho here? He's not even wearing a disguise! She almost growled out of instinct, but caught herself. Back gate it is.

But when she'd hopped the locked back gate, her ankle was handcuffed to it. Mimori stood up and glared at her as if this was her fault somehow, scorched sugar marking her anger.

The conversation the girl had with Sho - he'd bribed her to do this with a kiss - filled Kyoko with equal parts pity and anger. And then Sho dismissed Mimori and all but forced her into the car with him.

"What?" she bit out as soon as the door closed. Sho ignored her, telling the driver to take them to TBM.

It was then that her scent seemed to hit him. He stared at her for a long moment, his own scent betraying his shock.

She stared back at him, daring him to say it.

He did. "Wow. I didn't think you'd sink that low." The reek of furious gasoline started to fill the car. "I never thought you'd try whoring yourself out to try to catch up to me."

Her jaw dropped. "I've not been whoring myself!"

"Then why the fuck do you smell like it?" He surged forward, jabbing her shoulder with his finger. "I know what you smell like, Kyoko, and this isn't it!"

"Maybe I'm trying a new perfume, asshat, ever think about that?" She swatted his hand away.

"Yeah, right!" He poked her again. "That would've worn off by now, and there's no way in hell you would've put on that much, anyway! You always sneezed when Mom used a shampoo that smelled too strong!"

She growled at him. "Why the fuck do you care what I smell like?"

He bared his teeth right back. "Because you said you were gonna beat me, damn it, and how are you going to do that if you're chasing after boys?"

"I am not chasing after boys -"

"You let that pin-headed asshole dress you up like a doll!" He sneered at her. "Next thing you know, he's going to be ripping your damn clothes off!"

"Ren-san wouldn't do that!"

A pin dropped. "Since when do you call him by his given name?" Sho asked, deathly quiet.

She glared back at him. "Since he joined my pack."

"HE WHAT?" he exploded, with a gasoline reek to match.

It was all Kyoko could do not to cover her nose. How I ever thought that smelled good…. "Who I let in my pack is none of your business, Shotaro."

"He's going to take advantage of you, you stupid idiot!" A horrible thought struck him. "You - you don't smell like him, do you?"

"He will do no such thing! He's a good pack member!" She crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue, not deigning to respond to his question.

The driver pulled into TBM, and in that moment, she saw the exact last person she wanted to see her in a car with Sho.

Her eyes met Ren's.

She scrambled to shove Sho down when he looked out the back window.

LINE BREAK

Kyoko: Ren-san istg it's not what it looked like

Ren: (read 7:15 PM)

LINE BREAK

Kyoko: I'm dead. Start planning my funeral.

Chiorin: wait what happened?

Moko: first, chill. second, what happened

Kyoko: Ren-san saw me in a car with shotaro and now he's not answering my texts and im so dead

Moko: why the hell were you in a car with the asshole

Kyoko: he handcuffed my ankle to force me to talk to him

Moko: WHAT THE FUCK

Moko: he WHAT

Kyoko: he had nanokura-san ambush me after school and she handcuffed me, and then he dragged me into the car bc otherwise we would've made a scene in front of people and i didn't want to be associated with HIM

Chiori: wtf

Chiori: also who's nanokura

Kyoko: other angel in the PV

Kyoko: and then in the car he yelled at me for smelling like a slut

Moko: he's one to talk

Kyoko: it's cuz i still had ren-san's scent on me

Moko: ahhh

Moko: he was jealous

Kyoko: moko i don't think he wants to smell like ren-san

Kyoko: but that's NOT THE PROBLEM

Kyoko: Ren-san SAW ME IN THE CAR WITH SHO

Kyoko: and now he's PISSED because he HATES SHO and he LEFT ME ON READ when i texted to explain

Kyoko: so i would like a traditional funeral please

Kyoko: unless they let u spread my ashes at dayjoweyland. I've always wanted to go (sobbing emoji) and now i never will bc ren-san's gonna kill me

Chiorin: wait i know why we hate sho. Why does he hate sho?

Kyoko: IDK he just gets super pissed anytime sho's involved. He goes all demon lord

Chiorin: all what now

Kyoko: demon lord. Where he's so angry that he stops doing his fake gentleman smile

Chiorin: I have many questions but they can wait

Chiorin: im not done with the asshat kidnapping you. Can u like, get a restraining order or smth?

Moko: not a bad idea, but entertainment's a tiny world. Might make it hard. Maybe we should talk to sawara-san about what to do?

Moko: or we kill him

Chiorin: oooh i like the second plan

Kyoko: we are not focused enough on the fact that im so dead

Chiorin: chill i don't think he can really stay mad at you

Chiorin: and if he does then he loses pack privileges

Moko: plus it was super rude of him to leave you on read

Moko: to not even let you explain what happened

Chiorin: yeah that's a dick move.

Kyoko: (series of increasingly sad emojis)

She hadn't even told them about Sho pinning her to the fall and forcing her to say she'd never fall for Ren. That she'd return to Kyoko and work as a maid at the ryokan forever if she did.

She had enough to worry about.

LINE BREAK

"I'm home, Cain." Setsu strode into the apartment. She was glad Ren's nose wasn't sharp; otherwise he would've called her out on poor acting. Between her fear about his reaction and her irritation about him leaving his pack's alpha on read - well, she was a vortex of pine.

"Ah." He stared at her, dazed, from his chair.

"Were you asleep?" I don't smell anger.

"I guess…."

"You should sleep in your bed, instead of falling asleep in a chair." She bent to start picking up the empty cans he'd left on the floor. Cain was messy.

"I don't like sleeping in an empty nest…."

She smiled at him. "Poor nii-san. Can't even sleep cuz you've got a cute little sister like me."

"You're right…" He stared at her for a moment. "Why don't I keep you chained up in here so I'm the only one you ever need?"

A smirk crawled onto her face. "I'd love it. Why don't we go buy some chains on our next day off?"

RING A LING

She jolted. What? No! I forgot to turn it off! I had it on loud so I wouldn't miss it if he texted back. Who's calling me? It's almost 2 AM!

No caller ID, the phone read.

Fuck. She declined the call, only for it to ring again immediately. What is he doing?

And then the acrid scent of cornflower fury reached her nose. She froze as Ren approached, plucked the phone from her, and looked at it. His scent thickened, becoming almost smothering, when he saw the lack of caller ID. He turned her phone off and threw it across the room. Fortunately, Lory issued strong cases with all company phones, so it didn't break.

"What's the matter?" His words were calm, but she could smell the truth. "Can't you answer me?"

She was stunned into silence. Why are we talking about this now?

Cornflower fury wrapped around her. "Or was that call not from Fuwa?" He took a step towards her, and she backed away. "Except that the only calls you got without caller ID were the agency," he took a step, "Fuwa," another step, "and me."

She matched each of his steps with one of her own. We're the Heels. Why is he talking about Sho now?

"Except both the agency and I now use caller ID. Meaning that the only one left is Fuwa. Why," he snarled, letting his anger show itself, "was he calling you at this hour?"

She stumbled backwards and fell onto the bed. He's himself right now, but he's supposed to be Cain!

"Why are you still in contact with Fuwa? You showed up at the station yesterday with him, sitting side by side. You looked awfully friendly." He pinned her down, trapping her with his body.

No, this isn't Ren-san, either. This is the 'other him.' The one he's fighting.

"You say you hate him. But what do you actually want to do with Fuwa?" he snarled.

She stared up at him. I can't let him lose.

"If you don't deny it, you're admitting it." He bared his teeth and a low growl emanated from his throat. "Though I'm not going to accept that nonsense, either."

I won't allow my omega to lose.

And then she flipped them.

She licked her lips, looking down at the shock on his face. "What is it? Are you jealous, nii-san?"

The cornflower fury was beginning to dissipate.

"No way am I interested in someone other than you." She traced his lip with her thumb, then leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

And he smiled at her. A true smile.

"Ah…" She tried not to let her scent betray her happiness, tracing the mark on his forehead. "I left a lipstick mark."

Cornflower sadness hit her nose. "It'll go away soon, since it's just lipstick."

Setsu smiled down at him. "Do you want one that'll last longer?"

"Yeah," he replied, unconsciously baring his neck to her. "One that'll fill me, body and soul… because it'll be proof that I'm yours."

She traced the curve of his neck with her fingers. "Then I'll leave my marks where everyone can see them… and where only you can see them."

She couldn't pinpoint the scent that hit her nose when she started to undo his shirt. "Make sure they last forever."

"Sure," she said, flicking one of her canines with her tongue.

And then she leaned down and sank her teeth into his neck, just above where a mating bite would go.

Ren - no, Kuon - thought he might die. He let out a whine, eyes rolling back as the pleasurable pain filled him. He'd been expecting a hickey, but this -

"Setsu. You're supposed to suck," he choked out. "Like - like you're establishing possession. The bruise - bruise will last longer."

She hummed against his neck, pulling back just far enough to say, "Remember, nii-san… you're mine." And then she began to suck, pausing now and then to lick the bite mark.

"I won't forget." He took deep, shuddering breaths. This - this was not how he'd expected this night to go. How'd he wind up with her teeth in his neck? Oh god. He wasn't complaining.

And then she ran the flat of her tongue against the bruise, and he stopped thinking entirely. He just whimpered and looked up at her, begging. He wasn't quite sure what he was begging for, but he knew she could give it to him.

"I'm with you," she hushed against his skin. "I'm always with you."

And then she bit him again, in the same place.

He moaned as her teeth sank into his neck.

Then she pulled back just enough to scent the sore skin. "Go to sleep," she said. "I'll be back before you wake."

"No," he whimpered. "Stay." He draped an arm around her waist.

"We don't have anything for breakfast," she argued, but his arm was so heavy on her back, and she'd had such an exhausting week.

"We'll get room service," he mumbled, half-asleep already.

"But I can cook…" She let out a large yawn.

He yawned as well. "Don't have to."

"Mmm…." She rested her head in the crook of his neck, too tired to argue further. Her hips would be sore in the morning from straddling him all night, but frankly, she wouldn't care. She was just glad that her omega was talking to her again - and that he seemed to have overcome something within himself.