Author's Note: Hey guys! Long time, no post, I know. Summertime up here in the tundra is short and therefore BUSY! As my Uncle G would say, "I'm so busy, I don't know if I'm dragging a rope or lost a horse!" (A little cowboy humor for y'all) Anyway, The Homestead (my house) was struck with a massive hailstorm recently. Since I am my better half, Luke's, secretary; it's up to me to wrangle contractors, painters, roofers, etc. For the next month or so, I'll be busy with running herd on making sure everything gets done smoothly and most importantly - ON TIME. So please enjoy the next chapter and I'll hopefully post more in the near future.

As always, I love reviews, thoughts, questions, concerns? I love to hear from you and I try to respond to each and every one of you! Thank you very much for reading and keeping with this crazy story. I appreciate it!

Love from NoDak!

~SW

Inside Ren's room, Kyoko was pacing instead of lying down. Her mind raced furiously with Ren's blunt confession. Also, the fact that Moko-san knew about his feelings when Kyoko had no clue? How had she never realized this? Had she been so wrapped up in her head and obsessed with thoughts of revenge that it had turned her completely oblivious?!

How the hell could Tsuruga Ren have feelings for a plain and boring girl such as herself? It was too surreal to even contemplate! She shook her head angrily in denial. There was no way! It had to be misplaced feelings of pity for her situation. Or perhaps they were just the affections a senpai feels for his kohai.

And didn't he tell Bo that he liked another girl? Where was she in all this? Kyoko knew that the mystery girl went to high school near the agency and was four years junior to Ren's age. Ren was a workaholic, so the girl had to be someone at or near LME or TBM for him to see her. Although, to be honest, she and Ren haven't been around either agency recently due to portraying the Cain siblings. So now Kyoko was curious as to when Ren met up with his special girl?

And furthermore, if he liked this special girl so much, why the hell was he saying stuff to Kyoko like he did in the car?! That's only something that man would do. Lead a poor girl on while trying to charm the pants off another. The nerve of that…that…playboy! Tsuruga-san was better than that! He was an honest sort, always being polite and a gentleman. Except for having green eyes instead of brown. Or blonde hair instead of brown. Or having a different name than Tsuruga Ren. Kyoko stopped her furious pacing to glare sightlessly out the balcony door. Come to think of it, Tsuruga-san was damn deceitful himself. Pretty much everything he'd ever told her was a lie! Jaw clenched tight against the familiar tickle and burn of tears in her eyes. Why?! Unconsciously, she wrapped her arms around herself and tucked her chin to her chest. So, did that mean it was all a lie?! Was he just playing with her after all? If so, he was no better than Shotaro! And she was an even bigger fool. Because she fell for that damn, useless emotion once again! Would she ever learn?! How many times did she need to get hurt? She tightened her arms around herself and felt the scalding tears spill over onto her cheeks. She grinned humorlessly to herself; she only had herself to blame though. After all of Shotaro's hurtful actions, she had locked her heart away. She should've kept it that way. But no, she wanted to help Tsuruga-san. She wanted to be a good kohai. So, the more time she spent around him, the more she saw through to the real man. Or so she'd thought. She'd witnessed a lonely, stubborn, yet impossibly kind and supportive person. Especially to an unknown beginner such as herself.

But was all that a lie as well? Kyoko's jaw ached from the continuous strain and her eyes glared sightlessly out the balcony. What could she really believe? The man was a superb actor. There was no way to tell if his sincerity was genuine or contrived. The friendly little blonde-haired boy that she'd met in the meadow as a child may have been gone for years now. After all, when he'd recognized Corn the stone in the stairway a year or two ago; why didn't he tell her right away? Why keep her in the dark? To laugh at her? Maybe he didn't want her to know? Then to top it all off, he tells her everything in one fell swoop?! She could barely process it all even now. He was Hizuri Kuon. Son of Hizuri Kuu. Kuon. Corn. Her Corn. That she'd kissed in Guam. And what the hell was with that whole situation?! Another way to toy with her? To find out how gullible she was? His feeble explanations on using Tsuruga's form and voice, how the hell did she buy that pack of lies? Maybe she'd simply been that happy to see Corn again? Violently, she shook her head. No, she'd simply been that obtuse and stupid.

And he was the asshole who'd enjoyed her obliviousness. Did Yashiro know? Oh gods, she felt sick to her stomach at the thought. Did those two laugh about it like Shotaro did with Shoko? She felt lightheaded and swayed back half a step. She could see it in her mind, the two boys laughing at the expense of the poor little dense girl that didn't know any better. The plain little hopeless girl that believed in fairies and princesses. The dumb girl that let not just one, but two men, walk all over her and she'd brought it on herself! She'd asked for it!

Snarling silently to herself, she fumed as she resumed pacing. Her agitation built as she meticulously went over every interaction Ren and she'd ever had. While it was true they didn't like each other at the beginning of her employment at LME, she'd thought they'd moved past that to become friends. But if that wasn't the case, then she was staring at smoke and mirrors; the illusion of a friendship. And the joke was on her.

Swirling her dark, malevolent aura around the room, Kyoko seethed in silence. Ren should have told her who he was when he realized who she was. That's all there was to it. He had no right or excuse to withhold that from her. She knew that she wasn't a prize, but damnit, aside from Shotaro, Corn had been her only other childhood friend. Why didn't he tell her? Her righteous anger cracked and gave way to the roiling sea of pain. So, she resumed pacing and reviewing more interactions, examining Ren's responses in the vain attempt to gauge his intent.

Smiling, Ren hung up the phone. That was done, so now all he had to do was wait for his mother to deliver. He glanced at the time and figured that Kyoko had slept long enough. Knowing his body, he figured she probably wouldn't sleep tonight. He padded out the door and across the hall to tap lightly on his bedroom door.

Hearing nothing, he silently opened the door and peered into the darkened room. "Kyoko?" he saw movement by the balcony, but was suddenly grabbed and forcefully yanked into the room. The door slammed shut and he was shoved up against it. Surprised, he looked up and was met with a teary-eyed, furious Kyoko.

"Why didn't you tell me?! Was all this a lie?! A joke for you and Yashiro to laugh about?!" She shouted in his face. Abruptly, she released him and spun away to resume her pacing by the balcony door.

Ren was utterly speechless, what on earth was she talking about?! Damnit, he shouldn't have left her alone with her thoughts. Belatedly, he looked around the room and realized that it was dark with her murderous aura. The late-afternoon/early evening sunlight was trying to penetrate the swirling mass of her evil grudges, but to no avail. Dismissing that, he re-focused on Kyoko, who stalked back and forth, her long frame quivering with rage and pain. Ren knew he had to tread carefully. One wrong move could send her bolting out the door and in her present state, the repercussions could be disastrous. Not only for their reputations, but for his shot at earning her trust in the hopes that there might be a relationship. It didn't take a genius to figure out what he didn't tell her. He took a deep breath and let it out, "You're right. I should have told you when I realized who you were."

Kyoko stopped in her tracks and pierced him with a turbulent stare. Her chin lifted defiantly, "Why?" she ground out in a strained voice. Her tears ran down Ren's chiseled cheekbones, eyes red-rimmed and haunted.

Ren sighed and raked a hand through his hair, but made no move to approach her. "Isn't that the $64,000 question?" at her blank stare, he hurried on from the failed game show reference, "I can't pinpoint an exact reason, but if I had to guess right this second; I was primarily scared."

Bitterly, Kyoko sneered, "The Great Tsuruga-san, scared?!" She folded her arms and kept her bloodshot gaze trained on him. Clearly, she was expecting more of an explanation.

"Look, you know that you and I didn't exactly see eye-to-eye when you first started. I thought you were a frivolous and insipid girl just trying to make her boyfriend jealous so he'd take you back." At Kyoko's brilliant glare of rage, Ren hastily continued, "But then I got to know you! I realized you were genuinely trying to become an actor. Hell, your raw talent made me speechless at times, and it still does. I concluded that you weren't just out for revenge, and I began to respect your tenacity and admire your characters. When that stone came bouncing down the stairs to land at my feet, I admit, I was shocked. I never forgot about that stone, or the little black-haired girl with sad amber eyes. So, imagine my surprise when I hear your voice, look up and see you peering over the railing. The sad, black-haired little girl had suddenly become a fiery chestnut. I was stunned; you came bounding down the stairs so worried about that stone. And the look on your face as you held it once I'd given it back; well it was the same look as all those years ago. That look of wonder and awe as you peered into its depths. In an instant I was 10 years old again and you were in pigtails. I realized the kind of man I'd become and knew that I couldn't tell you who I was. You'd be so disappointed that I wasn't a fairy prince, or even a good guy. So, I kept quiet; kept you at arm's length. Or tried to, anyway. You kept popping back into my life and that Mogami tenacity wore me down." He paused and looked at Kyoko.

She stood at the foot of his bed with her back to the balcony. She still had her arms folded, but the line of her shoulders had loosened and anger no longer dominated her expression. Bewilderment and hurt had taken anger's place. Ren slowly approached her and gently placed a hand on her-his?-bicep. He looked up into her stormy eyes, "I meant every word I said in the car, Kyoko. You're everything I've ever wanted and the one thing I couldn't allow myself to have." He slowly ran his hand down her arm before brushing past her to stare out the balcony door.

From behind him, Ren heard a timid, "what do you mean 'couldn't have'?" he kept his gaze out the window, but saw in the reflection that Kyoko had turned and was now behind him right at his back. Ren could feel the heat of his taller form behind him and had the stray thought that the swapped bodies were almost normal to him now. He shook his head promptly to clear that absurd notion out of his mind and focused on Kyoko's question.

"When Rick died, I took his watch and I wear it every day to remind myself of what I did and who I am. That's someone who doesn't deserve to love and be loved. Yet, I made a hypocrite of myself because, despite that reminder, I still fell in love with you." Ren explained calmly. The more times he said it; the easier it was. He kept his eyes gazing out the balcony door and fell silent. It was up to Kyoko now on how she wanted to respond.

Kyoko remained mute as she pondered his words. All their interactions were still fresh in her mind, and now without the fog of anger and betrayal clouding them, she could view them in a different light. Tsu-Ren-had always went out of his way to help her. Either with rides – or meals—or acting advice. He constantly worried for her safety. His anger was righteous in his defense of her against Shotaro and his treatment of Kyoko. His generous presents at the Happy Grateful Party, his consistent presence, his ability to ground her wildly emotional mood swings. Nii-san. Cain. His doting protectiveness. His strong arms gently wrapping around her when she knew they were capable of so much destruction.

Abruptly, his sincerity was proven to her. It had been there all along. Her eyes widened as all the memories played themselves out to her in her mind's eye. Why hadn't she seen it all as it happened? Moko-san was right. He had been blatantly obvious in his pursuit of her to anyone with eyes and half a brain. No wonder President Takarada had the reaction he did when she confessed her feelings to him in his office.

She closed her eyes in self-recrimination. No wonder people thought her a special brand of stupid. Here was Japan's #1 Male practically throwing himself at her and she blithely went along her days in oblivious peace. Gods for dumb.

Ren was already so conflicted about Rick's death and felt like he couldn't be happy. And along comes a girl that catches his fancy, and she pays no heed to his attentions. He even confessed it to a chicken, yes, she understood now that she was the girl Ren had talked to Bo about. There was simply no other who fit the parameters of the description he told the rooster. So yes, he confessed to a mascot, yet not the girl. Because he was afraid of rejection, and felt unworthy. It all made complete sense now. She opened her eyes to connect with Ren's gaze in the reflection of the glass door.

"You're doing it again." She said simply, voice devoid of all emotion.

Ren's golden gaze widened in question, "Doing what?" he asked cautiously.

"Punishing yourself for an accident that's not your fault." Kyoko responded. "I didn't know your friend, Rick, but do you think for one second that he would want you to go through life completely alone and unhappy?"

Ren opened his mouth to give his usual, canned, reply; yet stopped and thought about it. He reminisced about Rick and their adventures together. The good times they'd had with Tina, and the laughs shared by all. Rick had saved Kuon from going down a long, dark road. Would Rick have wanted Kuon to pay for Rick's sacrifice by being unhappy?

He could almost picture Rick's scolding face right then. No. The older man would be pissed at Kuon if Rick saw him now. A smirk ghosted across Ren's mouth, if Rick were here, he'd be all but shoving Kuon towards Kyoko with a heartfelt, "Go get 'em, Tiger!" whispered in Kuon's ear. The answer was clearly, "No," Ren said, "Rick wouldn't want me to live like that. Alone." He turned to face Kyoko, and once again, stared up into his own face as it looked down on him. "So, what are you saying, Kyoko?"

It was her turn to avert her gaze and focus on something safe. The city's nightscape had never received so much attention from her before. She took a breath and tried to organize her thoughts. It was a lot like herding cats, she didn't know where to start. She figured she'd simply blurt out the first thing and let it flow as it would from there.

"Today has truly been a day of revelations. Your real identity, my role as Bo the Rooster, Rick's accident, and the re-appearance of my Fairy Prince, Corn. All of that I handled in stride. Up until Moko-san's outburst and your declaration in the car. Suddenly, I felt exposed, vulnerable and convinced that it was happening all over again." She paused and swallowed around the lump in her throat.

"It?" Ren asked softly.

"The very thing that brought me to LME in the first place…and unknowingly back to you. I fell prey to that damn useless emotion and the guy walks all over me because of it." She ground out.

Ren froze, as hope suddenly unfurled within him. Was she saying… "What emotion?" he inquired.

"Love" Kyoko spat, voice harsh, "I mean, the whole thing is preposterous. You saying you love me?! I'm a plain and worthless nothing! Why would you even say something like that, much less mean it?! When we got back here, I paced in this room and fumed. There was no way you were serious! I figured you were just like Shotaro, joking about my idiocy with Yashiro like he'd done with Shoko. After all, you're…YOU" she gestured to Ren's rangy physique, "and I'm just—"

"Stop. Right. There." Ren's voice was steel. Kyoko had never heard her voice sound so authoritative. It startled her into looking at where Ren stood, arms crossed and amber eyes furious. She fell silent and even backed up a step in the face of such overwhelming fury. Her heart beat fast and Kyoko regretted ever opening her mouth.

"You are not to compare me to that fucking idiot ever again, do you understand?" Ren's voice was implacable. He took a breath and continued, "The fact that you actually had the idea that I would treat you that way is downright insulting. Furthermore, that Yashiro and I would consider you as our version of an inside joke is completely hurtful. The realization that Shotaro," Ren sneered the name, "and his manager did that you absolutely devastates me. But the knowledge that you still think so little of yourself pains me like none of the other shit can." Ren softened his stance, voice and approached a wary Kyoko.

"We've been through a lot, you and I. But even as you tell me to not be held back by Rick's death, you'd still suffer under Fuwa's constant verbal castigation that no doubt loops in your head. It does, doesn't it?" Kuon's temper spiked at Kyoko's small nod and her downcast gaze. He regained control, took a deep breath, reached up and placed a hand under her chin to bring her gaze up and met it with his own confident stare.

"After the time you've spent with all of us at LME, have you ever seen any of us treat another like he did you?" Mutely, Kyoko shook her head.

"Has anyone at LME or any of your projects ever berated your work, intelligence, or appearance? Or were they happy with the outcome of the project?"

"They were all happy and told me I did a good job, but I'm sure they were just being nice—"

"Stop." Ren's voice cut in, silencing Kyoko again. He wasn't going to quit until she realized her true worth. "Those producers, directors, and other staff all have heaps of time and money invested into every project. They do not simply call out 'good job' to be nice. They are genuinely congratulating you on a job well done. That's all you, Kyoko. Every project you've been on has been a success and that is due in part to your legitimate talent and beautiful figure." Ren saw her open her mouth to protest, so he glared at her to close it again.

"The things that Fuwa, and in some part your mother, said were meant to keep you down and in their control. Fuwa couldn't find his ass out of a paper bag by himself, so he needed you to take care of him; or so I'm assuming. You never have really told me the whole sordid story, but in no way, are you plain, boring, useless or whatever words that asshole has called you. If you want me to let Rick's death go, you need to get rid of that Inner Fuwa voice that holds you back. Do you think you can do that?" He smiled at her.

Shyly, Kyoko nodded, "I can try," she murmured.

Ren grinned even wider, "That's my girl." Suddenly, his stomach gave a loud growl that surprised them both. They each looked down at Ren's stomach, then matched gazes again, "I guess we'd better go get something to eat. Your body is pretty hungry." He chuckled and held out a hand for Kyoko. When she grasped his hand, he towed her out of the flat, prattling on in true Kyoko form about the groceries they needed to get, and asking 'Ren's' advice.