A woman hastily fumbled with her buzzing phone, finally answering it. "H-Hello? Oh! Sawara-san! Hm? Yes, I can come see you, I haven't left LME yet. Mmhm. Yeah. I'll be there in a few minutes. Bye."

As soon as she clicked her phone shut, the calmness she forced during the phone call dissipated after hearing the news. "Ahhhhhhhhh! I can't believe it! Is it true?! Does a director really want me as a lead in a movie?! I have to hurry and get to Sawara-san's office!"

Collapsing against his office door and gulping in air, she breathed his name, "Sa...Sawara...san... I'm here..."

"You really didn't have to sprint here... The director specifically asked for you, not anyone else."

She perked up. "Really?"

"Yes." He opened a drawer to his right, pulling out a newly printed script. "He showed up after giving his script to the other lead actor." He gave her a synopsis of his conversation: "He said: 'This script here is for Mogami-san. I absolutely want her as the main heroine in this film. After seeing her as Ami in 'Kindling" I knew she had to be in this. Hell, even her earlier work as Natsu and Mio. I need her Sawara, please convince her for me. She would be the perfect Fujishima Ayumi.'"

'Ah, I remember Kindling... That was the movie where I played the Detective, Kusariga Ami.'

Sawara handed her the script. "Now, I want you to go home and read this over. See if you want the role."

"Um..." She flipped the book over in her hands, glancing through the pages idly. "Who's the main lead?"

The man locked eyes with her. "Tsuruga Ren."

"I accept."

"But, you didn't even look at the script!"

Her eyes blazed with determination. "I still accept. It's my chance to finally prove I'm good enough to star alongside Tsuruga-san."

He sighed. "Read it over, and if you still want to be in it, tell me again."

A grin spread across her features as she rose from her chair. "It's not going to change. My answer will still be the same tomorrow."

"Read it, Mogami-san."

After making it to the garage, she flipped her phone open, quickly calling the only other person with the same script. "Ren? Can I see you? Alright. I'll be over there in a little bit, I just left LME. No, you don't have to come pick me up. What? Look left?"

She looked to her left and immediately closed the phone, seeing him lounging against his car. "Why are you here? I thought it was your vacation period?"

He opened the passenger door, closing it after she sat and quickly following suit. "The president asked me to have tea with him, and he had a script for me."

"Ren?"

"Hm?"

He watched her eyes sparkle as she spoke. "I have something to show you when we get to your apartment."

"Oh?"

"Mmhm. You're going to be surprised."

The couple sat on his couch, with Ren speaking first. "So, what did you have to show me, Kyoko?"

She grinned and produced a script from her bag, setting it on the table. "See for yourself."

"Shadowed...Hearts?" His eyes widened. "Who are you?"

She held out her hand for him to shake, "Shimada Reisuke, I'm Fujishima Ayumi."

"You're starring... opposite of me?" He pulled her into a hug.

She smiled into his shoulder, her voice muffled by it. "Ren, I finally get to star alongside you as your equal... I'm so happy..."

He released her, quirking a brow. "Have you read any of the script yet?"

"I only flipped through the pages quickly, why?"

Tsuruga sighed. "Kyoko... You're supposed to read the script before you accept a role..."

"What's so bad about it?"

The senior actor grabbed the script and began flipping through the pages, finally finding the one he wanted and handing it to her. "Read."

Her eyes scanned the page as her mouth voiced the characters. "SCENE: REISUKE'S ROOM, NIGHT.

AYUMI: "Rei... Please don't do anything stupid tomorrow..."

REISUKE: "Yumi, I'm not that stupid."

AYUMI, cups his chin, kisses him. "I know, but still, please be careful."

Geez Ren, a kiss. What's so bad about that?"

The man grabbed the book again, flipping a few pages after that. "Continue."

She sighed and began reading again. "AYUMI pushes REISUKE down on the bed, hovering over him on all fours.

AYUMI: "I'll give you incentive to come back alive."

REISUKE: kisses AYUMI, rolling them so they switch positions. "What's my incentive?"

AYUMI: grabs REISUKE and pulls him onto her. "I'll give you a hint, you're on it."

So?"

Ren sighed again, flipping to the next page. She took the silent queue and read once again. Her face turned crimson. "S-So, it has a sex scene..."

"This is why you read beforehand."

"It's not like I... We... haven't done that before, but to act this out in front of people..."

"You're going to have to focus, Kyoko. I'll help you figure out Ayumi."

"I don't even know where to begin."

He cupped her chin and stared into her eyes. "Focus. You're Fujishima Ayumi, the daughter of a yakuza family. I'm Shimada Reisuke, her lover, and second only to you and your Father, when it comes to the command of the group. We're yakuza. Lets see that acting ability, Miss Mogami."

There was silence as she read through a portion of the script before she finally answered, a fire burning in her eyes once again. "Of course. I can prove I'm an actress capable of sharing the spotlight with the amazing Tsuruga Ren."

He grinned at her response. "I love that determination you have, but I'm Reisuke. Who's this 'Ren', Ayumi?"

She watched his demeanor change, closing her eyes and molding her will to match it. Opening them back up, she was a hard yakuza family leader. "I don't know, maybe some guy I slept with before."

He spun her into saying the lines from the script. "That's rude to say to your boyfriend."

"Oh, I'm sorry? Do you want me to be obedient? Too bad."

"Yumi, you could lose some of the sarcasm."

"Yeah, and you could grow a pair and become second in command," Ayumi leaned closer to him, her face a hairs breath from his, "but you don't even have me whipped. What makes you think you can command the respect of the guys?"

"The guys only listen to you because they want to fuck you."

"Tch. And you don't?"

"I never said I didn't, but you were the one who jumped me, remember?"

"That's right... I saved your ass during that street fight."

"Yeah, and I broke the kneecaps of the guy who was about to stab you."

The look in Ayumi's eyes changed. "You remind me on purpose, don't you? You know it's fucking hot when you're violent."

"Not as hot as when you put your cig out on the snitch." Reisuke shuddered. "God, that gave me such a boner."

"Hey, hey, easy big guy. I can be calm and sweet too, you know."

"Yeah, I know. Actually, I think I'm the only one who knows you aren't a total, sociopathic, violent, bitch."

"Hey, I'm not a bitch."

"Fine. Violent, sociopathic woman."

"Thank you."

A sigh fell from her lips after a few moments of silence. "Rei..." Her tone made him look up, immediately locking eyes with her, "About tomorrow..."

"It'll be fine. It's just a typical raid." He wrapped his arms around her, pushing her to lean on him. "We go in, fuck some shit up, and leave. Easy as that. No one dies, no one gets injured."

"I know but, I can't help this feeling I have."

"Yumi," He cupped her chin to make her look him in the eyes. "I'll be fine. You'll be fine. It's going to be alright. Now, I have to go speak to the boss about tomorrow. Are you going to be alright?"

"Can I go to your room tonight?"

"Of course. I'll be waiting."

Ayumi closed her eyes, Kyoko Mogami appearing as she reopened them. "How was that Ren?"

The man next to her did the same. "That was fantastic, Kyoko. That's a perfect attitude for Ayumi."

The redhead smiled and laughed, "You weren't a bad yakuza goon yourself, Ren."

"I have a feeling this is going to be an excellent film."