A/N: Breakfast In America is the second single on the sixth studio album by Supertramp. The 1979 progressive pop song was the only single of the four from the album to not become a US Billboard hit single, though it managed to become a top ten hit in the UK. The song by an English rock band chronicles the desire of a British tourist to visit the states. As the setting for this story shifts to California, I thought this song was only appropriate.

"And we now return to the developing story coming out of California this morning. Director Taishi Gotanda, most well-known for his directing of The 15-Year Lie, continues to experience harassment that has led to the delay of filming for his new project with the leaked name Stranger to Time. Mrs. Tainaka has more."

"Thanks, Mr. Akiyama. Information about Director Gotanda's latest project was kept tightly under wraps for the past year until clandestine details were anonymously leaked online last week. The director's team blamed hacked email addresses that lead to the release of the film's name, cast, and shoot locations of some major scenes onto the internet."

A television screen lights up between the anchors, showing a blurry image of a desert nobody on set had recognized when they first saw it.

"Filming is currently underway on-location in California's Mojave Desert, but that hasn't stopped some of the director's most determined fans from interrupting filming to get a glimpse of their star in action. This is just the latest in a series of incidents that has increased public scrutiny on the practices of paparazzi, which started last month with the death of rising star Risa Takahata and has continued in recent days with the exposure of actress Kana Arima's alleged secret sister. Strawberry Productions did not respond when asked for a statement regarding the nature of how this information allegedly leaked."

The two news anchors exchange a solemn look to affirm their solidarity to the viewers before returning their attention to the cameras. "That's right, Mrs. Tainaka. And we here at Good Morning Tokyo would like to remind all our viewers that we in no way encourage the harassment of any public figure, which includes Director Gotanda and any of the parties involved with this project. Please be respectful to those affected. In the context of recent tragedies, it's all the more important to be aware of the impact we have on our favorite celebrities. Should you choose to observe a filming, do not disturb the cast or crew as they work. Harsh legal penalties will be applied, whether you find yourself at home in Japan, or abroad in America."

The scale of the stories don't measure evenly at all, but the generic label of scandal is indiscriminately slathered onto all of them, smoothing out any potential narrative gaps. Though Risa's name is only mentioned in passing, the implications from the latest Unscripted interview hang heavily over the studio like a soaking wet overcoat. Mrs. Tainaka adjusts herself in the seat she's had four years to wear a groove into while Mr. Akiyama watches his name disappear from the teleprompter.

"Indeed. Several actors involved with Gotanda's project have already been accosted by paparazzi in recent days. Their treatment has some members of the public asking whether the pursuit of knowledge in the entertainment industry has started going too far."

A clip of Kana Arima leaving a grocery store with Aquamarine Hoshino is shown. Several paparazzi members try to stop them to ask questions about Kana's sister, but Aqua shields Kana as she bundles herself and then him into a company car to escape without a word. Other celebrities involved and not involved with Director Gotanda are displayed in similar situations. A discerning eye would detect clips from well over a year ago interspersed with more recent material to make the distinction blurry. Mrs. Tainaka continues to comment over the clip show with fence-sitting ad-libs, taking a break only when the show settles on the most recent snippet collected.

Akane Kurokawa is seen with her hands raised in a defensive gesture away from several microphones being shoved toward her. The path to the black car she was meant to escape in is choked with pugnacious paparazzi.

"Ms. Kurokawa! Are the rumors true? Did you confirm that you're the lead actress in this project?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't answer any questions for you at this time. Please step aside and wait for the movie to be completed."

"Your English is incredible, Ms. Kurokawa! You should do more jobs overseas!"

"What can you tell us about Stranger to Time?"

"Who's your favorite actor?"

"How do you feel about working with Kana Arima and Mr. Hoshino again?"

"Any chance of you getting back together with Aqua?"

The questions trip over themselves, becoming more personal and less relevant to the matter at hand with each breath. By the time Akane opens her mouth to respond to one query, three more take its place. She manages to get a word in as several bodyguards finally start to part the sea of people.

"This is Director Gotanda's first film shot on American soil. It's a western about getting revenge. If I say much more than that, I'm afraid he might sue me, so you'll have to be patient."

Given the level of harassment, her demeanor is infallible. One of the more obstinate cameramen is shoved to the side, allowing the car door to open mercifully. Though some give up immediately at this development, one particular question rings out over the others as Akane is escorted to safety.

"What about the TV drama? Are you coming back for the next season after the season finale tonight?"

"I'm only interested in spreading awareness for the kind of films and shows we make across the ocean from the capital of the entertainment world. We're thrilled at your enthusiasm," Akane replies humbly, one hand on her car door.

"What do you think about the recent Kana Arima scandal?"

Most of the other frivolous questions abate, sensing their moment has passed. Live cameras zoom in on Akane as she stands frozen in the gateway to freedom. The ravenous hyenas encircling her are desperate, snapping at even a hint of a slip in her performance that could indicate her real feelings. There was good money to be made for rumors alone in this part of the world, and those caught unprepared were considered the fools. She could ignore this question and be entirely justified in her cowardice to everyone but herself.

"Kana and I are professional friends. We've been involved in multiple projects together, and I look forward to working with her again soon."

There's a pregnant moment where everyone waits for Akane to continue, but the car door closing greets their hopeful pens. Questions press against the one-way glass until Director Gotanda himself steps into the frame. "Alright, that's enough! If you want to harass my actors, do it outside of my set! I'll have you all sued for trespassing!"

There's some motion blur before the clip ends abruptly. The camera cuts back to the two newscasters for Good Morning Tokyo. "In a statement following the last clip, Director Gotanda clarified that, and I quote, 'The utmost care is being taken to ensure the safety of our actors and crew, and the project will only move forward so long as those things can be assured.'"

"Quite the frustrating situation for Director Gotanda's fans and those supporting more collaboration between the East and West Coast in general. We here in the East are all behind you, Director Gotanda. From Good Morning Tokyo, thank you for pushing through this difficult time to show the rest of the world what Japanese filmmaking is all about. More to come soon. And now, your local weather."

Aqua shut the seat-mounted tv off. Sleep had teased him with fickle bursts of rest since boarding their 12-hour flight to Los Angeles. His eyes would blink open in shortening intervals, grasping desperately to ignore the immutable event horizon of being fully awake. Compromising with television was a wholly ineffective cure for this problem, particularly when it got personal. Kana wouldn't take being disturbed kindly, least of all by her rival.

Most of the actress's features had disappeared behind a sleep mask hours ago. Aqua leaned back in his seat, careful not to rouse the unconscious former idol sitting next to him. With no involvement in planning their premature trip, Kana was free from Miyako and Aqua's planning burdens that now assaulted his circadian rhythms. The light snore drifting from her slightly hung open mouth combined with her head drooped against the headrest told Aqua he was in the clear. Aqua raised a hand to stroke Kana's head before common sense took hold. Just because he couldn't get a head start on the jet lag they were hurtling towards didn't mean he had to subject her to the same fate.

Instead, Aqua cracked the window to peer down at the Atlantic Ocean. A vast layer of aluminum foil sparkled uniformly underneath patches of wispy steam evaporating between the sun and the sea. The broiling mass of stars trapped underneath the surface cut a stark contrast with the ocean that had claimed his father. No starlight had pierced the waves that night, but today there was more than enough room for everyone to have a piece of their dreams baked and packaged for them.

Aqua grimaced. His father was one of those twinkling stars down there. Had he the means, Aqua would have balled up the foil beneath him and tossed it by now to ruin whatever lie the ocean thought it was selling to him. Goro never had a reason to travel abroad, and Aqua was always either in college or seeking revenge rather than taking international jobs. The harsh brightness forced Aqua to shut the window, wincing to himself as he rubbed his eyes.

"Aqua? How long was I out?"

Aqua met Kana's torpid expression. She was suppressing a yawn with one hand as the other struggled to get her sleep mask off her face. "Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you."

"Wasn't you. There's only so much sleep you can do in a day."

"True. I think we're still an hour or so out. They haven't announced that we're descending yet."

"Fuck. At least when I thought we were being robbed I still had the whole day in front of me to complain about it."

"Technically, this is going to be the same day," Aqua pointed out as Kana finally freed herself of her blindfold. "We left at 4 PM and California is 16 hours behind Tokyo, so it'll be about 11:30 AM on the day we left when we land. And it's not my fault you noticed a few outfits missing and assumed someone broke in even though the door was locked."

"That's as fascinating as the first five times Miyako pointed it out before the flight. Why do you think I was trying to sleep?"

Aqua sat up in his seat, unwilling to even attempt to rest at this point. "Something about actors and beauty sleep, I presume."

"Exactly. We'll be on camera soon, and jet lag is no excuse for not being at our peaks."

"We'll have a few days. No need to rush things."

"Hm. I guess so. Lemme see out the window."

Aqua cracked the window again as Kana clambered over him to get a look at the ocean. He'd gone back and forth about the wisdom of bringing them to America early. The few days that had passed since Ruby's performance had been starkly boring sans the occasional flock of reporters confronting them on the street. Aqua had busied himself with doctor's appointments while Kana made up some of her interviews and pointedly dodged all questions about her family tree. Watching her eyes shine against the ocean of light below put Aqua's mind at ease for the moment. It wasn't his place to decide how valuable their trip was.

Kana had woken up this morning thinking that she was meeting with Saitou and Ruby to begin preparations for the Unscripted interview. After confronting Aqua about some of her belongings being possibly stolen, he'd revealed his and Miyako's efforts to see them in America sooner rather than later had borne fruit and he'd packed her suitcase accordingly. The simple task of anticipating all of Kana's potential objections prevented her from denying their passage until they were in the air. "Thanks," Kana muttered as she collapsed back into her seat.

"No problem. Do you want to leave it up?"

"Not that, moron. For setting this up. You were right. We both needed to get away from Japan and the media for a while. I feel better than I have all week."

The gratitude was finished with a quick kiss that Aqua accepted readily. What doubt remained in Aqua was washed away. "Don't forget we still have a date planned today. Maybe save your gratitude until after that."

"Oh, don't be a downer. I trust you." Kana leaned her head on Aqua's shoulder, prompting him to reciprocate.

Rather than growing the warm feeling in his chest, Kana's words brought the present moment 10,000 feet above his father's grave into sharp focus. She wasn't the only person trusting him to perform, but her faith was both more valuable and fragile. Sleep as an alternative to this burden grew less elusive with each rise and fall of their chests. Even if his primary objective was achieved, the mission would be a failure if he couldn't protect what he had right now.

"Thanks. I'll make it all work out." The best way to prevent that from being a lie was to rest.

Stark reality confronted Aqua's scheming as the plane landed them in hours of traffic before they got to their hotel. He'd been expecting a culture shock, but he hadn't been prepared to sit in a backseat between Miyako and Kana for over an hour just after sharing a plane with them for a full day. "Incredible date. I love it," Kana quipped as she collapsed onto her hotel bed. "Let's do this every day from now on."

"Had I the luxury of time, we could have found a better route," Miyako defended as she finished wheeling their suitcases in. "And there's still plenty of daylight left. This sort of thing should be nothing for an actress of your caliber, isn't that right?"

Miyako's poorly veiled intentions brought Kana to her feet almost immediately. Of everyone, Miyako should have been the most exhausted, yet every time Aqua had asked she'd insisted that she'd find the time to unwind later. Though Saitou was usually the primary escort when it came to top talent, Aqua sometimes forgot that Miyako had run the company without him for over a decade. Paying that sort of commitment forward was important. "Let me help with those bags." Kana took some of Miyako's load, wheeling it over to the room adjacent to the one Kana and Aqua were staying in.

For short notice, Aqua was impressed. The room they'd managed to snag had a full living room area with a separate shower and bathtub in the bathroom. Pictures of the 31st state and its vistas were framed around the trio of rooms like they were works of art. There was nothing particularly outstanding about their accommodations, but it was almost as much space as their apartment even without counting Miyako's adjacent smaller room.

As Aqua assisted with unpacking bags, his mind remained elsewhere, as it had since touching down in Los Angeles. This was the place where he was to settle things with Goro once and for all. Foolish as that sounded, the anticipation was giving him a tingling feeling in the back of his mind that he hadn't felt in years. A spotlight had fallen on him that he'd convinced himself would never shine again, and nothing could compare to the electricity of expectation crackling down his spine, unnecessarily spiking his adrenaline as he folded clothes. Still another part of him actively resisted the call to action, preferring he ground himself in the present moment instead. He had to convince someone else it was truly worth coming here early as a vacation first. Said someone's hand falling on his shoulder as he opened the blinds caused him to jump. "Weird, isn't it? Seeing the sun when we should be asleep."

"Nothing for it but to wait for our internal clocks to reset," Aqua agreed, shelving his nerves. "Want to go to the beach?"

Kana raised an eyebrow. "Sure, but won't it be stupid crowded right now? If the highway or that airport from hell was any indication, at least."

"Not where we're going."

"The least I could get is a thank you if you're going to use my hard work to look cool," Miyako pointed out gently as she tossed Aqua a vial of sunscreen. "Remember what we talked about, Aqua. Stay away from cameras and bring Kana back before dark."

"I got it, mom."

"Good. Have fun you two."

It was decidedly harder to get enthusiastic for a romantic date when his mother was sharing the same room. The desire to evade this situation allowed Aqua to herd Kana into a company car without having to elaborate further. Miyako saw them off, staying behind to ensure their belongings were taken care of and the media stayed off their backs. Their hotel was renowned among the rich and famous for its discretion, allowing all manner of the upper crust and Aqua to hang their hats there without leaving any sign of their presence. Should Aqua's testing of the waters succeed, that commitment to privacy would quickly become essential.

After too many more minutes of driving, the house Aqua and Kana pulled up to was unassuming for a beachfront property. Beige walls attempted to blend in with the empty sand behind them accessible only though a presumed back door. "Don't tell me you rented a damn house too," Kana grumbled as she adjusted the strap on her sandal. "Have you been sneaking commercials? I know you don't have this much cash lying around."

"You do."

"I'll punch you, and it'll hurt because I love you."

Aqua apologized by holding the front door open like a stoic butler. "This isn't my place, obviously. It belongs to Gotanda's team. They've been using it for clandestine film meetings, but I cajoled him into letting us borrow it for the afternoon. There should be some drinks in the fridge if you want something before we head out."

Affluent as the neighborhood was, hats and sunglasses covered the duo's face until they were safely out of view of the road and any potential prying eyes. It was partially a reflex from the media's blitzkrieg last week and partially a defensive measure against the unknown landscape they found themselves in. Kana's grip on her white beach dress with small dolphins embroidered into it didn't relax until the front door was locked. Aqua ditched the t-shirt he'd been wearing for the past 18 hours almost immediately, slinging it onto a nearby dining room chair. "That desperate to fit in, huh?" Kana asked as she made for the fridge.

"Something like that."

Flip flops smacking against a tile floor echoed throughout the one-story house as Aqua investigated their accommodations. He didn't find anything particularly interesting before reaching the sliding glass back door leading to the beach. Kana joined him after a moment, hesitating when he offered to take her bag for her.

"If you don't want to, we don't have to. But I'd like to make up for lost time."

It was technically the first time Aqua had offered Kana a choice on this date. Part of him felt bad for that, but he didn't have time to play the hours-long game where Kana pretended she didn't want something only to snap when he tried to take it like on their previous date. The bashful way Kana was holding herself was discarded at Aqua's insinuation.

"It's not that. I'm just getting a good look."

"At what? I haven't exercised seriously in years." His doctors had something to do with that, but Aqua knew better than to blame the guys with the needles and scalpels for his lethargy.

"No, moron. I mean, being in shape is important, but not right now. Just, if you're planning something else, do us both a favor and keep it to yourself for this afternoon."

Aqua finally realized that Kana was staring at his abdomen scar. The pale skin bristled at the acknowledgement, but Aqua didn't justify Kana's concerns by touching it. "You have my word."

As the back door slid open, the duo squinted at the sun despite having left it for a mere moment. The pristine sand Aqua had expected from the tinted glass door paled in comparison to the real thing. A vast pearly desert stretched out before them, its end obfuscated by the lights that reminded Aqua of his time doing stage performances. Without a doubt, this was the nicest stage he'd ever been asked to perform on, the lack of props notwithstanding. "Holy shit. How the hell did Gotanda afford this?" Kana asked, raising a free hand to shade her eyes.

"Living with his mom."

"Oh yeah, that'll do it. Set up the towels and umbrella?"

"On it."

Traipsing down the beachfront felt like kicking up pebbles in a zen garden, but it couldn't be helped. After staking their claim in towels and sunscreen, the duo went for a stroll along the shoreline. Kana would occasionally kick at the tide as they walked, with Aqua avoiding it without thinking. Nothing in particular was discussed, to the point that Aqua wished he could continue walking and gabbing about nonsense forever. When their sandals started to grow heavy in their hands, they sat along the shore, water lapping their feet until they felt like standing up again. Though they came across the occasional beachgoer or family, nobody paid the Japanese tourists any mind beyond a polite wave. Aqua couldn't recall the last time he acted so frivolous with his time. It felt nice. Few people ever got to be this close to their idols, after all.

"So you're telling me that you'd rather fight seven rabbit-sized bears than two bear-sized rabbits?"

"Now that there's two bear-sized rabbits, yes. Assuming they're coordinated."

"But they're rabbits."

"You said to assume that they had bloodlust."

"Bloodlust for rabbits. What're they gonna do, have a heart attack in front of you?" Kana mimicked a rabbit gnashing its teeth cutely.

"If there's two of them, they can flank me. Anything of that size is too dangerous to fight with no weapons if you don't have a numbers advantage."

"Hmph. Well, I know who I'm not hiding behind if we get attacked by bears."

"Bears are solitary hunters."

"So you'd fight a bear for me?"

"I'd fight a bear if I was attacked by a bear."

"Aqua, this trip isn't gonna work if I have to employ a bear hunter to follow us around. America is like the top producer of bears in the world."

"Where the hell do you come up with these hypotheticals?"

Kana adjusted her white sun hat with a bratty smirk. "It used to be from magazines and books, but I get a lot of them from Mem now. She emails these things to me as her sort of reminder that we haven't chatted in a while."

"That's nice. We need to remember to get her and Ruby some souvenirs."

"Obviously. Hey, I can see our base again. Let's swim."

Sweat clung stubbornly to both parties, pulling the hastily applied sunscreen down in sticky clumps that no amount of further rubbing seemed to smooth out. The sparkling sea was an infinite oasis that Aqua nevertheless couldn't compel himself to believe was real now that he had a ground view. "I think I'm good. I'll watch you and our stuff."

"What, like a pervert? Come on, you, swimming is one of the best exercises you can do. If you still smell like this crappy sunscreen an hour from now we're taking different cars back." She ineffectually tugged Aqua's arm toward the ocean lapping at their feet.

If this continued, Kana would probably slip on the wet sand before she gave up. The gaping blue chasm couldn't be ignored forever, and it wasn't as if he actually had to swim. "Okay, but just for a bit."

Kana let out a squeal, suppressed it, and nodded stoically. "Good."

By the time they were waist deep, Aqua was ready to turn around. Different shades of blue were all he could see in one direction, the promise of land on the other side no better than the ravings of a lunatic. Kana experienced no such inhibitions, diving into the water to investigate the ocean floor, coming up to splash Aqua, then repeating ad nauseum.

"What are you waiting for, an invitation? I checked, there's no bears!"

What was he worried about? This was supposed to be the place he was settling things with Goro once and for all. A little swim stopping him was just a sign that his resolve was weak. When Kana's feet disappeared under the waves again, Aqua followed suit.

Aqua's body slid away from the surface like a knife through butter. Familiar sensations assaulted him as he pressed downward into the inky blackness. He could feel his hands clasped around the neck of his mother's killer, strangling life-giving bubbles of air from the man who tried to take everything he cared about from him. The salt coagulated around the brand he'd placed on his abdomen, searing itself into the scar and filling his brain with pain signals as if the wound was fresh. His vision turned white, saltwater rushing into his mouth as he opened it to scream. In a blind panic, Aqua clawed his way back to the surface only by the virtue of being able to stand on the ocean floor.

Still, even when he was sure the water had left his mouth, he found himself unable to breathe. Surfacing hadn't removed the pain, the fear in that man's eyes, the weight of the life that Aqua had taken. He doubled over, his face centimeters from the water's surface as he confronted his own wavering reflection. Goro's face looked condescendingly back at him, appalled that such a pathetic specimen could have managed to inherit his legacy.

"Aqua? AQUA!"

Hands were gripping him, pulling him away from his reflection. "Look at me. You're shaking. Breathe in and out. Just breathe for a minute. Count to 3. Breathe in. Count to 3. Breathe out. Good. Now tell me you're good."

"I'm good."

His voice sounded like he was chewing chalk. When he opened his mouth, it felt like nothing but salt water and sand poured out. The superstition some people had against visiting the graves of their relatives made much more sense to Aqua. Still, the primal urge to survive overcame his fear, long enough to meet the fear in his girlfriend's eyes.

"We're getting out. Come on, you need to sit down."

"I'm okay."

"Great. Let's go be okay over here."

The hands that had failed to budge him on land were immovable as they guided him back to their towels. As he dried his hair, Aqua took the time to process his failure. The only way he'd get his answers without involving Kana would be to convince her he was fine. Today's date combined with their sudden trip was supposed to assuage her fears and keep her focused on the filming so he could handle the rest. Instead, Kana was handing him a bottle of water like it was to be his last.

"I'm sorry."

Aqua stopped twisting the cap off of his water. "For what?"

"I wasn't thinking about the past when I said we should go swimming. It was inconsiderate."

Aqua's world narrowed, encompassing only Kana. His other objectives were far away and unreachable until he placated his favorite idol. "I'm the one who brought us here, who chose to get in the water. I didn't think it would remind me so strongly of that night. It was my mistake."

"Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of. We should have gone to a restaurant or something. Shit, we should have done anything else. I was too wrapped up in myself again."

"You're talking down on yourself for not realizing that you'd be on a different continent today," Aqua pointed out gently. "Why don't we go somewhere else? I'm sure there's a decent restaurant around here somewhere."

"Hold on," Kana insisted as Aqua stood up with minor vertigo. "I'm not done swimming yet."

That was a bold claim from someone who had just apologized for going swimming. "Okay. You should go swim some more then."

"I will. And I'm taking my boyfriend with me."

"That is a terrible idea."

"Not if he trusts me."

A hand was held out invitingly. Aqua stood under the shade of their lone beach umbrella as Kana threatened to drag him back into the light, back to the grave he'd just finished desecrating. The nature of a corpse was irrelevant to how testy it would get if he pushed his luck. Still, Kana's expression was firm. She reminded Aqua of her many performances; confident yet relaxed, as if Aqua's next action would be a matter of course. He had agreed to let her help, and here was an opportunity to test that offer without having to prod the more sensitive problems at hand. Without a word, Aqua took Kana's hand.

When they got ankle deep in the water again, Aqua stopped short. He couldn't feel his feet under the water; the ocean had frozen them solid. Kana maintained her grip on his hand, her resolve unwavering. "How do you feel?"

"Cold. Just like three years ago. The water was cold."

It was over 100 degrees last time Aqua checked, but that didn't matter to his senses. "Don't worry about that. I promise you it's fine."

"Ah, that clears everything up for me, thanks."

Kana's smile disappeared. "I didn't bring you out here to torture you. It's fine to be afraid of something."

"Yes, you got me. Aqua doesn't like the ocean, hilarity ensues. I'm sorry I called you my third favorite idol. You're my favorite actress by a marathon. May I leave now?"

The opportunity to riff against Kana's boyfriend was passed up. "You knew that, and you came here because you didn't think it would be a big deal. This is as new to you as it is to me, so drop the act. The best way to deal with a situation like this is to face it head on. Then you can run all you want if that doesn't work out."

"That sounds like a great way to experience natural selection."

Kana huffed, turning away from her boyfriend while still holding his hand. "You remember why I quit being an idol, don't you?"

"Because you wanted to be a full-time actress." As he said the words Aqua knew he was wrong. Kana had quit because of the scandal that had almost come out. Only Aqua's revelation of his mother's identity to the media had quashed that story, but Kana didn't like being reminded of that.

"Yeah. I was scared. Scared because I knew I wouldn't be better than Ruby no matter what I did. She and Mem always wanted to be idols. For me, it was just meant to be another step forward in my career. I was scared because I didn't want my personality to prevent them from achieving their dreams. If they turned their back on me too, I think it would have broken me."

"I'm still here."

"You'd get sick of the schtick eventually, just like how I would get sick of you brooding all the time. I'm not a saint, and you definitely aren't. That almost scandal opened my eyes to the fact that I'd stopped pursuing what I really wanted. That included you too, to some extent. Sometime between signing the idol contract and that moment, I'd stopped moving. So I picked a different battle to fight."

"Acting."

"Yeah. I didn't need to be an idol to get anyone's attention. I needed to find a way to do that with my acting. My raison d'être, if you will. I needed a path I felt like I could walk. And… sometimes that meant having a fear to run from."

Kana's words were finally starting to click in Aqua's mind. The feeling in his feet began to return to him as the warmth from his girlfriend's hand spread throughout his body. This wasn't the battle he was meant to be fighting right now. He'd known that and allowed his other parent to distract him for too long. No, he'd chosen his path, and it was up to him to stick to it.

"I love you."

He'd said it hundreds of times, yet Kana still flushed crimson as she kicked water against his shin. "Were you listening to a word I said?"

"I'm not afraid of dying, or paying the price for my father's death. But I am afraid of what effect that would have on the people I love. I was close, too close to making a choice that could have ruined Ruby's life, or at least her career." Aqua paused. The confession he'd been toying with since speaking to Ruby at Ai's grave was on the tip of his tongue.

"But I got lucky. Stupid lucky. So now I owe it to those people to run away from the consequences of my actions as long as I can. Without that fear, I… I don't know what I would do." He could wait until Goro was gone for Kana to know the full truth.

"Do you want to live?" Kana asked. "Doesn't matter why."

"Yes."

"Don't tell me. Tell them." Kana's free hand gestured toward the ocean.

Beneath the two was an dark void Aqua could see but not process. Above them, the pale blue sky seemed to stretch on forever. They were the last two people on the planet being confronted with the penultimate question one would invariably ask themselves in such a situation. "I want to live," Aqua told the ocean firmly.

"And I want to be free," Kana added, seeing someone else's face reflected in the ocean waves.

After a reticent moment, Kana released a deep sigh. "There. We said our piece, and now we're free to act how we please until we get home."

"Is that how it works?"

"Just tell me it feels good to run away from your problems for once."

"Pretty sure that's the opposite of good advice."

Kana smirked as she started to lead Aqua out of the water. "Nah. If there's something you don't want to deal with and you don't need to deal with it, there's nothing wrong with leaving it behind. Getting hung up on stuff that already happened isn't going to help either of us."

"Hm. It's easier said than done."

"Don't I know it. But we have a lot of vacationing and training to do before filming starts. So why don't we just promise to leave Japan's problems in Japan until we get back?"

Somehow, Kana had led Aqua back onto the path he'd been trying to shepherd her on. The soft sand under his feet as he followed her footsteps reminded him why he'd fallen for her in the first place. "Okay. It's a promise then."

Aqua raised a pinky to seal the deal. Kana stared at it like he'd used the finger two places over instead before reciprocating with her own. The two held each other's eyes for a moment before breaking down into a brief giggling fit that told Aqua just how relieved he actually was to get out of the water. "It's a deal," Kana corrected when they both calmed down.

"Thanks for helping me out. It really means a lot," Aqua thanked as they packed up their beach equipment.

"O-of course! It's what I said I would do, so I did it, plain and simple. Just don't go brooding again without getting permission from me first, got it?"

"And you don't worry about Mrs. Arima while we're here. We can deal with that together when we return."

"If you ever speak to her without me, I'll kill both of you."

"Understood. Dinner?"

"Dinner."

The good mood from their salvaged date lasted exactly until the duo woke up the next morning to a knock on the door from Miyako. Kana stared slack jawed at the news article her boss had pulled up describing Aqua and Kana's arrival in America. "Alright, fess up, Miyako. How much did they pay you to turn heel on us?"

"Obviously I didn't bend over backwards to send you two off on your own only to be immediately discovered by the media. If I knew they were going to find us this soon, I wouldn't have wasted so much money on a private cab."

The article boldly claimed that Director Gotanda's movie was moving forward despite pressure building from encroaching paparazzi and complaints of harassment from the actors. Its proof was a candid shot of Aqua and Kana on the beach together, taken mere hours ago. "This is insane. Even the most zealous fan wouldn't have been able to do this. American paparazzi are on a different level"

"It wasn't exactly the most private location," Aqua pointed out as he sat by the hotel window. "I told you Gotanda was using it for film meetings. If they discovered that fact, it's reasonable that they'd stake the building out occasionally."

"Maybe, but even if you're right, why? What the hell is he filming out in the desert that's so important? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he's popular, but this is more interest for a foreign film that hasn't even been officially announced than I've ever heard of."

"Ask the public," Aqua responded impassively. "They're the ones who eat this stuff up."

The apology Kana probably expected wasn't coming. Aqua's eyes remained trained on the cars and living things whizzing by stories below, each a potential camera trained on the hotel for a lucky shot at the stars. None of the birds beneath them were crows. "This isn't the end of the world, you two. We knew this would happen eventually, and I'll do my best to keep our movements more clandestine."

"No need for that," Aqua denied.

"No, we need that," Kana disagreed, stalking over to her boyfriend. "Stop people watching like this doesn't affect you. It'll bring the project down if these morons affect our performance."

"Is it going to affect your performance?"

The challenge caught Kana on her back foot. She bit her thumb, glancing back and forth between Aqua and the article. "What do you expect me to say? Of course not. I'm more pissed that they spoiled our vacation days."

"It won't affect mine either. Now we have time to do what we please and we don't have to worry about being seen. I doubt either of us have many American fans."

"I'd really prefer if you took this seriously, Aqua." Miyako interjected. "This is how things like-"

"Like what happened to mom? That's what you want to say, right?" Aqua rose to his feet, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, you're right. And we'll take it seriously, so they don't figure out where we're staying. But if we do that, there's no issue, correct?"

The glow of the laptop screen Miyako brought in was no longer the brightest thing in the room. Now that Aqua had made a promise to Kana, he could act with impunity.

"I'm on vacation with my girlfriend right now. If they're interested in seeing a couple exploring Los Angeles, then I'm not going to deny myself that just to spite them."

His words drew a blush from Kana and a pensive look from Miyako. She could tell there was more to Aqua's words but couldn't find her own to call him out. "You're right," Kana agreed before Miyako could respond. "This is our trip. Who gives a damn what other people see?"

Aqua almost broke a smile at how quickly Kana's opinions had changed. A little encouragement would put her through a triathlon. He'd have tried to work on that quirk with her if it wasn't so attractive to him.

"Alright, if that's what you two want. But let's try and at least exercise basic caution, alright? I'm not just asking as your manager."

Two nods kicked off Kana and Aqua's stay in Los Angeles. They'd been gifted a long weekend by Aqua's planning to see the sights and prepare for their roles before travelling out to Barstow, the current base of operations for Gotanda's filming. The weekend was filled with visits to museums, trying what passed for American cuisine, and hours of studying their respective roles.

Ai disappeared as soon as Aqua challenged Goro. Whether the two were connected or not was inconsequential. He'd promised Kana that the two of them would leave her behind for now, so it was only natural that she keep to herself. Idols had no right to complain about the lies others told.

On the morning of the fourth day, reality set in. The couple was dressed and cleaned up less than an hour after the sun rose, with Kana sitting on a video call as Aqua adjusted the collar of his navy-blue polo. "I'm telling you, it's the worst! There's people everywhere and they're all rude as hell! I had to fight off four cameras and a rabid dog just to order lunch yesterday!"

"Sounds like you fit right in, senpai."

"RUBY! Mem, smack Ruby for me!"

"That's mean, Ruby. You know how the media is."

"I also know how white beaches and hamburgers for breakfast are," Ruby pouted with folded arms.

"We're gonna be late," Aqua announced for Miyako as she stood waiting by the door.

"Oh yeah, don't break my brother while you're in the desert! He doesn't like the heat!" Ruby warned Kana as the latter tsked in irritation at her misbehaving hair.

"Yeah, yeah. Talk later."

The air conditioning in the room wasn't nearly as chilly as Kana's look when she passed him. The white and red dress with a tropical flower pattern with a matching beret didn't match her disposition at all. "I should have told you before this morning," Aqua conceded as the trio made their way to the elevator.

"For a guy who likes complicated plans, you tend to miss important details."

"It's not entirely his fault. I only found out yesterday." Miyako's attempt at falling on Aqua's sword was rebuffed with the silent treatment.

It was completely Aqua's fault that the morning's agenda called for breakfast with Taishi Gotanda and a certain bluenette lead actress. They needed to meet with Gotanda to discuss filming site particulars, but Akane was only on the ground floor of this hotel at Aqua's personal request. He needed to confirm whether she was ready to accept his unusual ask, and it had to be in person. Kana mumbled curses on their expected company all the way up until the elevator dinged to let them out.

"You're acting like you two don't work on roles together all the time."

"Just because I brush my teeth every morning doesn't mean I think it's fun," Kana snapped. "Don't bother me. I'm focusing."

When Kana was fixated on acting, her rival, or both, it was better to leave her alone. All attempts to encourage more social behavior, benign in intention or otherwise, were mercilessly rebuked. Aqua himself was more concerned about what sort of person would be waiting for him. Akane's replies over the phone had been curt and professional. If he wanted to make use of his ex-girlfriend's help, he'd need to prove he could be useful himself without pissing Kana off too much.

Their guests were already waiting in the private breakfast room reserved for those with enough wealth or notoriety to warrant privacy. Director Gotanda wouldn't have looked out of place in the states long before he'd skipped over the pond. His worn flip flops, sweat pants, and faded t-shirt completed a fit Aqua more times in the last 24 hours than the previous year altogether. The director rose, smoothing out his disheveled hair and burgeoning beard as he crossed the room meant for much larger meetings to shake Miyako's hand. "Sorry for the early call time. We're hoping to make it back to Barstow before lunch."

"It's no trouble. These two have been eager to get moving since we got here."

Gotanda acknowledged Kana with a handshake before taking things a step further with Aqua, pulling his former student in for a hug in one smooth motion. "I swear you get taller every time I see you. Is that a doctor thing?"

"It's been too long, Gotanda," Aqua greeted warmly. "I'm glad you're still holding up."

"He looks about the same height that he did on the news."

The room's other occupant had followed Gotanda a pace or two behind him. Unlike the older man, she carried herself with the sort of self-respect one would expect of the upper crust. Akane Kurokawa's blue hair was about the same length as her rival's, surely by coincidence. She complimented it with a seafoam dress that stopped just below her knees and reminded Aqua of a drifting spirit on the ocean. Aqua barely had time to absorb that she was there before Kana scoffed. "You're just as bad as the press if you're sticking your nose in trash articles like those."

"Good morning, Kana. You look well."

"No thanks to you. Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Apologies. As the director said, there's much to do today."

"Well, sorry to mess with your busy schedule."

"We would have been able to use the beach house had its location not been leaked. The team had to scout a new location for our Los Angeles meetings entirely. Truly a shame."

Kana's offensive faltered. She sputtered out half of a retort before eventually giving up and turning for the buffet. "It's too early for this." The actress was probably only convincing herself, but that was good enough to get her out of the conversation.

"You promised not to squabble," Gotanda chastised his companion as they watched Kana stalk over to the buffet.

"I don't recall squabbling," Akane whispered just outside of Gotanda's audible range.

Miyako sighed. "I know I don't need to say this, but please be more professional in public. We have enough problems at the moment."

Akane nodded in time with Aqua, their eyes finally meeting. Emotions Aqua hadn't felt in a long time raced through him as he met Akane's faded smile and polite nod. It was impossible for him to predict which Akane he'd get when he finally broke the silence that had been held between them for three years. He'd occasionally sent the odd email or been in the same room as a consequence of Kana's work, but the two hadn't been anything but polite strangers since she returned his phone. For now, Akane seemed to be leaving things that way. As they followed Kana to the buffet, Akane's heels clacked in time with Aqua's steps as they fell a pace behind their elders. "You're still pretty cruel, Aqua. It makes me sad."

"I don't know what you mean," Aqua denied as he grabbed a plate.

Akane pouted, but only long enough for Aqua alone to see. "Later then."

Thankful that she'd taken the hint, Aqua filled his plate with fruit and eggs before sitting down at a circular table with two too many seats for their party. Kana had placed a sausage link on Aqua's plate before he could finish unwrapping his silverware, as proudly as if she'd prepared it herself.

"If I wanted this, I would have grabbed it, Kana."

"But you didn't have to, because I did it."

She'd clearly grabbed too many, but a glance at Akane stopped Aqua's retort in his throat. "Thanks."

Nobody else spoke before everyone was seated, giving Gotanda the opportunity to take a large swig of coffee and hold the table's attention by placing a firm hand down on it. "Alright. I'm gonna talk first, because eating and talking is too complicated." Nobody challenged Gotanda's assertion, instead eating compliantly.

"Now that we've finished scouting, we can start filming the scenes that need to be filmed on location in the desert. If all goes well, we can be in and out in two weeks, then the rest of the filming can be on a set. The news hasn't pinned down exactly where we're filming, but even if they do, we're going to find a way to ride it out. In the absolute worst case scenario, I can get the law involved, but that's only if your safety is put at risk. I don't anticipate that, but I have to let you know the potential risks."

All three actors nodded. They'd accepted these risks long before agreeing to appear in this movie. Gotanda smirked. "Good. I trust the two of you are ready to go with your roles?"

"As ready as we can be," Aqua answered for them, receiving a pointed glare from Kana.

"We're fully prepared."

"Is that right, Ms. Knowles? Tell me about yourself."

"I'm a tavern owner. It's what my grandfather did, and his father, and now me. We've been in this town longer than it's been on the map and we'll be here long after it disappears." The tone Kana chose was decidedly gruff for her normal voice, but it could have been the honeydew she was shoveling with her fork as she talked.

"Alright. And you, Mr. Brockton?"

"I'm her best customer, and perpetually drunk," Aqua supplied simply.

"Good, good. Akane here will be playing our protagonist along with Taiki, but Kana's role is fundamental to making this story work as well."

"Any chance you could elaborate on that?" Miyako requested. "These two refused to share anything."

Gotanda pondered this around another swig of his coffee before setting it aside. "As these two and the rest of the world knows, this is a revenge story. Taiki's character, who makes his living bounty hunting, returns to the dying mining town he was born in 18 years after the murder of his father, the town's previous sheriff, to seek revenge. Akane's character helps him in this effort, and I'm not going to spoil anything else in case they put recorders in the strawberries here. Just know that Ms. Knowles is an important figure in the town. I'll appraise you of need-to-know details when we get out there."

Satisfied, Miyako nodded. "Alright. And we can assume the main base of operations will shift to Barstow."

The director scratched at his shoulder. "Yes and no. It's not cheap or easy having the full crew out there, so we're rotating essential actors and personnel. These past two weeks we've had some of the scenes that our stars are in, and these two weeks we'll try to knock out everything you two and some others are in. So we might rotate in and out a bit as needed. It'll make for some weird splits in attendance, but once we're back home we'll film out anything that doesn't sit right."

"I have faith that we'll perform as needed," Akane spoke up, having barely touched most of her food.

This of course prompted Kana to boast the same, and while Akane was doing her best to take the high road, Aqua could see her façade starting to crack at Kana's repeated jabs. When Akane insinuated something about a notebook she'd given Kana at some point, the redhead abruptly set her fork down. "Alright, that's enough. I'm getting more food." Kana used the table to stand up, jostling everyone's plates as she fled the scene once more. Aqua considered joining her, only stopping because Akane was giving him a look that implied he should wait.

"She's glad to see you," Miyako informed Akane before rising to join her, Gotanda close behind.

Had Gotanda any sense at all, he wouldn't have left Akane and Aqua alone, but Akane was ready to take advantage of the moment. "You've allowed Kana to domesticate you, I see. Good for her."

"You're the only reason I had that opportunity."

Akane's breathing changed. She refused to meet Aqua's eyes, pushing a grape around her plate. The room grew colder as the sound of shuffling plates grew louder in the silence between them. Freshly prepared sausages suddenly lost their scent as Aqua's world wavered in size. "That's the best I'm going to get, isn't it?"

"It is. If I thought we couldn't be adults about this, I would never have said anything. I'd like to clean the slate between us," Aqua proposed, unable to continue looking at Akane's pitiable face. "Should've done it a long time ago, but-"

"I understand," Akane interrupted, raising a hand. "Even if I hadn't stormed out three years ago, I would have just gotten in the way with you dating Kana. You should know I was rooting for you two."

"You were?"

The skepticism in Aqua's tone must have been evident. Akane's eyebrows raised, caught off guard by her words being challenged. "O-of course! I mean, I wasn't going to become a misanthrope over one heartbreak, and we both deserved to be happy. Besides, it's hard to get revenge when someone you love would be left behind, and if that someone couldn't be me, then I needed a replacement. Obviously I'm not so naïve that I couldn't see that wasn't me, obviously!" In her naked panic, Akane managed to knock both her fork and her knife to the ground, prompting Aqua to retrieve them for her.

"Look, this is weird for me too. But I meant what I said. I want us to be equals."

Akane accepted her silverware back, setting it down gingerly as she composed herself. "I want to believe you. But I also know that you wouldn't turn to me now of all times if it didn't have something to do with Kamiki."

"Akane, I-"

"Before we can go any further, you have to tell me that you want to live, since I can't trust your eyes with that question. I won't help you if you're going to try to leave everyone behind again."

Even with no intention to lie, Aqua found himself withering under Akane's famous scrutiny. Nobody Aqua had ever met could read a face and personality better than the actress. "I want to live, Akane. For the sake of those who care about me."

The reason must have been flimsy by the way Akane's furrowed. He'd seen that same expression on her face when she returned his phone. "Gotanda asked me if I would be okay with having you play a role in this movie. I told him it would be fine if that's what he wanted. It would be unprofessional of me otherwise. It's funny, I was thinking about how to apologize for putting you in an awkward situation when you texted me. I guess the rumor mill was right about you taking a sabbatical from your work."

The flustered girl he'd been talking to vanished behind Akane's mask as she turned her attention to professional matters, another commonality between her and Kana the two would never acknowledge. There was always going to be risk involved in putting himself in front of Akane again, especially as he realized that he couldn't allow himself to continue without setting the record straight with her.

"It is, and I won't deny that I'm turning to you as a sort of last resort, but that's not all, Akane. You are important to me. I wouldn't be able to trust anyone else with what I asked you to do," Aqua informed her honestly, hoping the star in his eye wasn't gleaming. "And I spoke with Kana about what happened. Despite her being her, she does want to connect with you. I do too."

"You've grown cruel indeed," Akane noted as she took a note on her phone, fully suppressing her self-doubt by another name with the professionalism that had first attracted Aqua to her years ago. "Well, that's alright. Your proposal was interesting enough to consider even if you weren't a friend. I've reviewed the role you picked out for me."

"Can you play it?"

After checking to make sure the rest of their party was fully distracted, Akane leaned in. "Yes, but it would be easier and faster if you would tell me why you feel the need to see me play the role of the male doctor who was supposed to deliver you."

"You can call it indulging a whim if that helps."

"It does not. In fact, it makes me concerned. Especially because you clearly haven't told Kana about this whim of yours."

"Why not ask Kana for advice then? You could pretend it's about the movie, and it would surely be a good way to bond more."

Akane's phone immediately returned to her purse. "I'll figure it out myself, thank you. And I expect you to provide more information if you want an accurate portrayal. But more importantly, make sure Kana's informed every time we meet to work on this, even if you have to lie about why we're meeting. I don't want to be the reason any rumors start."

At the buffet line, Kana was arguing with the chef unfortunate enough to be visible that the eggs were prepared improperly. Miyako and Gotanda were chatting pleasantly about the upcoming movie while pretending they didn't know the actress. Turning his attention back to Akane, Aqua nodded.

"I know. I won't get her involved in anything weird."

"I know, because you don't do that to your loved ones. Because if I see you do that, I'll make you wish you drowned." The air was ice cold for a moment before Akane's smile returned.

"And in exchange, you'll make this movie a success for us. Then we can talk about being even, if you really want to." Aqua had no idea what Akane was insinuating with that invitation, but it served his purposes well enough for now.

"My role isn't that large, but I'll do what I can to elevate you and Kana."

Akane put away half of her orange juice before she replied, prompting Aqua to do the same. He hadn't realized how draining this conversation was until Akane forced them to take a break. "It would be good enough if you could do your part to keep the media from delaying this shoot any further. The heat is intolerable out there."

"I'll try, but they're shockingly pervasive here. Kana and I couldn't figure out why they're so invested in Gotanda's movie."

Akane tilted her head. "You haven't heard? Did Miyako and the others not tell you, or do they not know what you're walking into either?"

Kana and the others were coming back with their food, still more focused on their plates than the table for a few more seconds.

"Head what, about Kana's scandal? I mean, I understand that, but it still feels unnatural."

"No no, not that, though I'd like to speak to both of you about that later. I mean this." Akane showed Aqua her phone, which had a list of celebrities with dark green dollar amounts on it like some sort of hit list. "This is taken from a website that hosts bounties for information on celebrities, like the TMZ but, ah, shadier. The police track it and my father sends it to me because he's overprotective. Unfortunately. since it's just a bounty request for info, it's technically not illegal unless they can prove privacy laws were violated."

"So there's a large bounty on information on Kana? I guess that tracks."

Akane shook her head. "Look at the top."

At the top of the page was the highest bounty for a name Aqua recognized all too well.

Aquamarine Hoshino. Any information, minimum six figures, subject to negotiation based on detail.

Aqua sat back in his seat. The words made sense individually, but there was something wrong with how they'd been put together. "I don't get it. What did I do?"

"I don't know," Akane admitted as their friends approached earshot range. "But this explains why you asked to meet with me so frivolously. Do you understand now? Someone has decided that it's worth more than the next five highest bounties combined to obtain information they can use against you. So let me ask you one more thing before we can start: Is me playing this role worth it to you?"

It was no accident that Kana sat down right as the question was asked. Her irritation at the spectacular breakfast service vanished as she noticed the staring match between her boyfriend and her rival. "Uh, what did I miss?"

Aqua waved off Kana's concerns with a shake of his head, a single black star shining confidently in response to Akane's challenge. "Nothing at all. I was just telling Akane that I look forward to seeing her perform again."

A/N But Again: Whew, that took longer than I thought it would! Vacation will do that to you lol. The stage has now been set for the second arc of our story, and I for one am very excited to introduce Kana's least favorite bluenette to the mix. The next chapter will see Director Gotanda's filming resume as tensions flair between the actors. It'll definitely be finished in a sooner timeframe than this one, so please let me know what you're looking forward to seeing from this arc until then!