And after all that big talk about having out soon, here is my horrifically late posting of the promised bonus chapter. Apologies, and I hope that you enjoy.

Cain sat down on the bed, exhausted, and doing his best not to show it. In spite of his best efforts, Setsuka noticed immediately and was at his side, looking at him critically and frowning.

"Nii-san, you shouldn't stay up late tonight. You've got work early tomorrow and you're tired." Cain gave his sister an irritated look and grabbed her cheek.

"What mouth is telling me what to do?" he grumbled, but there was no force behind his words. He was tired, and while he did not like being scolded by his adorable sister, he had to admit, tonight would be a good night to take her advice.

"I'm sorry Nii-san!" she mumbled out the side of her mouth. "But you look really tired!"

Cain gave her a tolerant smile and released her cheek to ruffle her hair.

"I know. I was planning on an early bedtime. I need to eat first," they shared a knowing smile over this statement, "but as soon as I do I'll head to bed."

"Then I'll get dinner started," Setsuka said, moving away from her brother and to the small kitchen area to begin. Cain's smile softened and he watched her for a moment before standing up.

It was then that the most unreasonable impulse hit him and his smile switched from soft to mischievous. The robe he normally wore after his shower was missing tonight, probably stashed away in a pile of dirty clothes. But in light of his new plan, it really was better that way. He simply made his way to the bathroom and shut the door.

Kyoko stood at the stove, watching the dinner cook and trying to think of anything else she could make that would not be too heavy for Cain/Ren to eat right before he went to bed. Setsuka listened intently, waiting until she heard the water turn off to start serving. It would not be right to serve her brother cold food.

At the sound of the bathroom door opening, she spoke, turning as she did. "Dinner's ready!"

The shock only registered on her face for one second before Setsuka rolled her eyes and shook her head, watching her brother make his way to the closet. He moved at his regular pace and did not betray any discomfort.

"I'll be ready in a minute," he responded, rifling through his clothes for a moment before he found something that could work as pajamas. Setsu continued to watch him, a small smile on her face, arms crossed, hip resting against the counter where she had set his food.

In her head, Kyoko was in a panic. He's wearing a towel, he's wearing a towel. Oh save me he's only wearing a towel! None of her panic was betrayed on her face, no confusion or discomfort reached her eyes. Setsuka was completely in charge, watching her brother intently, memorizing his every movement as he threw the clothes he wasn't using back into the closet haphazardly. The silly man hadn't quite finished drying off and little drips of water were sliding off his wet hair down his neck and back. His arms and hands were dry, so his none of his clothes were getting wet, but Setsuka couldn't help but wonder at what her brother had been thinking, leaving his things outside the bathroom. Really, sometimes that man…

While all of Setsuka's attention was focused on her brother, Kyoko's brain was still whirling. This isn't happening. I'm not really here. He can't actually be walking around with just-. It's only a towel. Okay, so it's a big towel, but, but…

Cain looked up to find his sister's intent gaze and lazy grin and smiled as well.

"What?" he lifted an eyebrow, demanding to know exactly what she found so amusing. Setsuka just shook her head.

"You do realize that I am the one who is going to have to sort all of that, don't you?" she pointed out, still smiling, but obviously not completely happy. Cain stared at her for a moment, draping the clothing over one arm, then shrugged.

"And…" Setsuka giggled, shook her head, and shrugged as well.

"Nothing. Dry off and get dressed before you catch a cold. You're tired, remember. And you still have to eat." Cain nodded, but didn't move. His gaze was fixed on her, and he seemed to be considering her. His head cocked to the side and smiled suddenly, almost secretly. "What?"

"I was just reminiscing. Do you remember when you were in grade school? That doll you made of me?" Kyoko was starting to come back, and there was the tiniest look of confusion before Setsuka nodded, her face blank, not sure where this was going.

"Yeah. What about it?"

"You hated being away from me so much; you made that doll and carried it with you everywhere. The teachers were horrified, mostly because it was an abomination and did me no credit. I don't think the thing looked human." Setsuka pouted and looked away from him deliberately.

"It wasn't that bad!" Cain chuckled, pulling her attention back to him and looking her directly in the eyes to emphasize what he said next.

"Oh yes it was. Although, I suppose that isn't really your fault. Your imagination can only go so far, after all." Cain could tell Kyoko was paying close attention from the slight touch of horror on her face. She was not quite sure of what he meant, but his message seemed to be getting across. "I'm sure, you could make a much better one now. Since you spend so much time fantasizing about me."

His smile was teasing, and Setsuka gave a weak chuckle and a quick "Only because you're the best," before waving him back towards the bathroom. But Ren and Cain could both see the comment had gotten to her. Since it looked like Setsu was bothered by it as well, and Cain did love his sister enough that he did not want her feeling bad, he decided to go back and get dressed. Passing by on his way to the bathroom brought him close enough to tug her hair once, just to reassure her that he was just teasing. She looked back at him and smiled while pointing a demanding finger at the bathroom.

"Dry. Now." The look he gave her demanded to know what she was doing bossing him around again, but she kept pointing. He tugged her hair once more, just to prove he was in charge of himself, and disappeared into the bathroom.

Dinner was out and waiting for him when he came back in only a few minutes. Setsu seemed to have forgiven him his teasing and was scolding him with every bite, telling him to eat more, to be more enthusiastic about it. How else would she know if he actually likes it? Cain took it all in stride and even smiled and complimented her on the food when it was done, telling her if he disliked it at all he wouldn't have kept the first bite down.

Ren's own thoughts were in a bit of a swirl. He could not believe he had actually let Cain walk around and do that. The whole point of Ren's walking away without having said anything before was so that Kyoko would never know he had heard her. Now, she not only knew, but he had no clue what she thought about him. Allowing himself to act so shamelessly in front of her. Even if they were acting as siblings, they were not related by blood. He had to work with her when this was over.

His only hope rested in her traditional manners and tendencies. There was no way she would ever speak of this again. Ever.

Please.

While she had been scolding him, she had eaten her own dinner and cleaned up. Once Cain was done eating, Setsuka disappeared for her own shower and Cain used the opportunity to read over the scenes he would be working on the next day. His excuse for doing this instead of going to bed, as he had promised, was that Setsu would need the light on, so there was no reason to not read just a bit since he would be kept awake anyway.

When she came back out to find him still working, she walked over, grabbed the script out of his hands, and whacked him in the face with it. Then, dodging a quick grab from a slightly vengeful brother, she tossed it on top of the bag she would be using to carry the script the next day and wandered back over to her own bed.

Plopping down on top of the comforter she started plucking at the fabric instead of tucking herself in, a thoughtful look on her face. Cain, settling himself down, noticed, and rolled over towards her, propping his head on his hand. He waited to catch her attention.

The truth was that, all of Kyoko's feelings aside, Setsuka had been a little hurt by her brother's teasing. She tried not to hold it against him. He had stopped when she had been visibly uncomfortable, and he had tried to make up for it with a bit of playful kindness. But the things he had said bothered her. So many other people not involved with them misunderstood their relationship, and the things he had said made her wonder if he was starting to worry about her feeling towards him. If he could not understand her, if he stopped loving her, pulled back because he thought it was the only way to help her, what would she do? She needed his reassurance.

Noticing his sister was completely distracted and, for once, not going to pay attention to him, Cain interrupted her thoughts.

"What's wrong?" She looked over at him and tried to smile, seeing the worried look on his face. But it did not quite reach her eyes. Cain's heart suddenly ached. She had been fine just a moment ago. What had he done to earn that look?

"I was just thinking, about the things we did when we were younger. How much fun it was. How close we were." Cain was decidedly unhappy with this past tense speech. Setsuka looked at him hopefully, Kyoko's voice in the back of her head screaming a pitiful resistance to what was about to happen. "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Cain and Ren both froze. Ren's first instinct was to say no, but Cain refused to comply. The look on her face, the things she was saying. He had pushed his boundaries earlier that evening, and even if he had wanted to make the silly little girl that his sister was borrowing squirm a bit, Setsu was not supposed to be hurt by it at all.

Setsuka had started speaking again in his silence and rambled on without taking a breath.

"I mean, if it wouldn't really be a bother to you. I know we're bigger now and it would be a close fit. You might be too uncomfortable. And if you were only volunteering to let me borrow you arm as a pillow last time because there was only one bed and you really don't want to we don't have to. If you don't want to be with me that much…" The look she gave him was desperate and all resolve left Ren. This was entirely Setsuka, who had been hurt by her brother, and that meant it was Cain's choice to make. His responsibility for the actions he had taken earlier. Cain's response came after a short silence, and was given very softly.

"It you had given me a chance to get a word in before you started going off on some stupid tangents you would have heard me say yes." Setsuka brightened and Cain gestured for her to join him with the twitch of his hand. "Silly."

The last word was spoken as she slipped under the covers and snuggled close to him. He slid his arm under her neck and reached over her with his other to quickly flip the light off. Settling back, he wrapped he free arm around her and pulled her a little closer, running his fingers through her slightly damp hair just once. She let out a little sigh and Cain smiled.

"I love you, Nii-san." The declaration was quiet, but it eased some of the worry that had been eating at him. He would never get tired of her, never not want to be near her, never be uncomfortable around her. And he would never allow her to believe that.

"I love you too, Setsu," he whispered into her ear. He felt her relax entirely then, and in a few minutes, the sound of her even breathing told him she was already asleep, safe and comfortable in his arms.

Somewhere in the back of his head, Ren allowed himself to enjoy the sensation of being so close to Kyoko. It was refreshing to know that she trusted him so much to let him act out this role, this scenario, with her.

He could not know that his fleeting wish, that she herself would find solace so near to him, would be realized. The next morning, Kyoko allowed herself the briefest thought after waking that it would not be so bad to wake up next to Tsuruga Ren a little more often.

Done at last. Hope it was at least a little worth the wait. I could make my excuses, but doubtless you wouldn't really care for them. And I refuse to whine to you and pretend I am the victim. You were the ones who had to wait. So, sorry again.

I hope that no one was too confused with my portrayal of Cain and Setsu as almost separate people. I tend to think of them that way, at least, when they are being acted correctly. The more Ren and Kyoko try and interfere, the less smoothly things go. In my humble opinion. Meh, whatever. Hope you enjoyed the read. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I had some great comments that really helped. And thanks muchly to my beta who helped make each chapter better than I ever could have alone.