Ren needed to get away. 'or rather Kuon needs to get away' he thought deviously as he finished getting dressed after filming ended. It had ended early. Mostly due to the love scene sparking memories of kissing the girl he loved when he had been himself in Guam. Well not really himself. He had been her fairy prince again for a moment and she had treated him so openly. Oh how he longed for that. His memories had made today's scene better than the director could have hoped for. So well in fact, that the director had excitedly ended filming today crowing about how he had just won some bet. The director couldn't wait to show off his newly recorded scene and what he thought it proved. Oh how the director was right about Ren thinking about a kiss and being in love during the filming, but oh how wrong he was about who that kiss and love was with. Ren slumped again. Kyoko, the one he was thinking of, had been so distant. His heart ached. He just wanted to escape. He especially wanted to escape before his next interview.

"Good luck on your interview" Kyoko had told him mechanically this morning. He hadn't believed she had ment it. Not with the way she couldn't look him in the eyes. He could only sigh as she disappeared from his presence as quickly as she could again.

Ren sat with his head in his hands. The interview was a disaster. His polite manners only came off as trying to hide the truth. And his pause when asked if he was in love had convinced everyone all the more. And to make matters worse Kana had blushed at his unintended pause about love thinking he had meant her just like everyone else did now. At least that was in private as she turned him down again for a confession he never made.

That was how Ren found himself in the chair of Jelly Woods "the witch", having his hair dyed from it's dark brown to his natural blonde. His warm brown contacts removed to show off his true vibrant green Iris. Muse-sama as Kyoko had amusingly called her, had taken one look at The Tsuruga Ren when he entered and immediately offered to help. 'How ironic is it that I'm escaping my troubles by becoming myself' he thought.

The large park had a lovely deep wooded section with a small stream that glistened in the afternoon's sunlight. Ren had been there many times before to bask in the woods and let nature wash away the headache and less enjoyable parts of his chosen profession. He approached the fallen log he usually sat on only to find it already occupied. He stopped in shock and stared at the tiny woman with reddish hair who seemed to be blissfully daydreaming in the beautiful setting. 'don't be her. Be some random stranger'. He half hoped silently while the other half knew it was the little starlette he was in love with and wanted to hold her. With her hands clasped and her mind probably thinking of fairies she twirled around and stopped staring right back at him as recognition lit her eyes. 'not now, not now!' he thought in horror that he had been caught. Kyoko was already so cold to him. Will she ever speak to him again if she finds out now that her fairy prince she treasured so much was him?

"Coooorn" she yelled out and flung herself into his arms. He held her, bewildered but unwilling to let go. She felt so right in his arms. He could feel himself melting into her embrace. Letting it wash away the world but also building anxiety. Should he explain? Now could be a moment for the truth, but with how she felt about him at the moment would she ever recject him outright? How was he even going to explain?

She pulled away and looked at his face. Scrunched her nose as if momentarily unpleased. Ren tensed up. He opened his mouth not even knowing what he was going to say. Her fingers on his lips kept him from having to find out.

"I know you must look like him, but if the voice you are gonna borrow is his I'd rather you just not speak"

Stunned. 'She didn't recognize me?' he counted that blessing. 'Why would the voice have to be his. . . mine?' he corrected himself in his head, 'was she thinking about me that much?' he hoped. 'Oh but it must have been bad if she doesn't want to hear my voice.' He saddened himself again.

"I'm so glad you're here!" She trilled at him finally stepping out of his embrace, grabbing his hand and dragging him closer to the stream. "Doesn't this remind you of where we met?" She gestured to the stream, rocks and trees around them. He nodded, smiling at her enthusiasm. 'at least she still thinks of part of me foundly' he thought.

"I was walking around thinking after some troubles latley," she began still holding his hand. Ren couldn't help but worry that he was the troubles. Or at least that he had ruined their relationship enough that she would no longer come to him with those troubles, "anyway I seemed to get lost in thought and when I finally looked up I found myself here and thought it'd be a perfect place to find fairies." She giggled, "and I guess I was right." She squeezed his hand. His heart rate increased dramatically at the small gesture. Then she just started rambling, She told him about lotus In the mud and all her coworkers and how her and kanae were practicing English before her best friend left for america and how she was going to desperately miss the girl while still being thrilled at the opportunities Kanae had. At some point they sat on the log together, she had leaned against him resting her head against his arm and letting him wrap an arm around her waist like a backrest for her. "We had a visitor come to our improv acting class today." Kyoko idly kept chatting. Ren was surprised she even had time for the LME acting school anymore. "The director owns a diner theater and is offering acting spots that will count for class credit. It sounds pretty interesting and it's only one or two nights a week. I'm thinking of doing it, but I'm going to check with Yashiro-san to see what he thinks with scheduling and . . ." She kept on but Ren could only wonder if it would cut into his time with her. He also wondered if it was also only for students. One or two nights a week acting with her sounded amazing. That was how the afternoon was spent. Kyoko talked at length about everything except Ren and he listened intently without saying a word. Nodding or shaking his head when appropriate and treasured each moment he had with her this way.

She never mentioned him after saying he couldn't speak to her in his voice. Ren wondered about it. 'maybe I'm not that important to her. Maybe she really doesn't spend time thinking of me the way I think of her' he silently worried. They watched the sunset through the trees And when dark laying back on the grass to look for stars. There weren't many in the city. Still her attempt made him smile. Kyoko rolled over almost leaning on his chest looking at his face and smiled brilliantly. Ren's heart nearly exploded. How he wanted to reach up and touch her face. Kiss her and that beautiful smile she gave him. "It worked!" She said, "your curse stayed broken! And you smile so nicely" she watched him. 'Oh, I guess I am smiling.' he realised letting his smile grow even wider. She got up and offered him a hand to join. After he was standing too she said, "I have to go now". His heart sank and it must have shown on his face because she grabbed his hand and stepped towards him, "I've had a really good time and I really want to see you again" she looked up at him almost pleading. Ren vigorously shook his head yes. "I can be here again on Thursday" she offered. He nodded again. He didn't care what he had to do, he would be here whenever she wanted him. He paused at his own thought. He loved the thought of her wanting him, in any way. "7pm?" She watched his face as he thought for a moment and then pulled his hand away from hers to hold up 9 fingers questioningly. "Ok. I can do 9" she said. Ren heaved a sign of relief. She left him standing in the dark woods.

"That must have been some stress relief" Jelly Woods commented as Ren sat in her chair relaxed, pure bliss showing on his face. The complete opposite of how he had left several hours before. "What did you do?" She asked hoping for the secret of happiness he seemed to find.

"I sat in a forest and never said a word" he let out a small joyful smile causing a baffled yet charmed look from the hairdresser. "I need to do this again in two days Woods-san" he informed her.

"Need?" She asked suspicious of what he had actually done during his time as a blonde. "And call me Ten"

"Need" he grinned letting his desire to have Kyoko lean against him again wash over his features for a just a moment. It had its intended affect. Ten-san would do almost anything to make someone that beautiful that happy. She dyed his hair back and huffed at the idea of another time so quickly.

"Ren-san, will this be a frequent trend now?" She worried for his lucious locks but rejoiced for the unusually good mental state it might keep him in.

"I do hope so" he said wistfully. She grinned conspiratorially as they aranged for if after next time he found it would be a habit that he would wear a Ren wig between his forest visits.