Authors Chat: (Firstly, sorry for the long Authors Chat this time!) I was out most of yesterday, so y'all had a day's break between chapters. I'm home all day today though, so you get this chapter and will probably get another later today sometime.

I already mentioned this on Mechgouki's blog, so it may be repeat for some of you, but I wanted to say, when I write, I write with the intent to elicit response from the readers. Meaning, I want to make you feel emotion or feel like you are a part of the story. That's part of the reason I constantly leave Playing with Fire chapters at a cliffhanger. It leaves you wanting more. (Wanting would be the response elicited.)

I really like comments on my stories, not because I'm looking for personal glory, but because it tells me that I have succeeded in my goal to elicit response from you, the readers. So I genuinely thank you for your responses.

The greatest compliment you can give a writer is to know that you liked their work.

I would greatly appreciate your comments and constructive criticism!

That being said, italics text are direct thoughts of characters, text is in quotes, noises are done with asterisks.

DISCLAIMER: Skip Beat! and it's characters are not my original creation, they are owned and created by Nakamura Yoshiki.

Story Timeline: This fanfic is outside the timeline Nakamura-sensei has set forth. This would take place past the present storyline, but a not-so-distant future. Character development applies as I will attempt to keep the characters as Nakamura-sensei has made them. (Otherwise it just isn't a fanfiction but rather a fiction merely using the same names!) Just don't forget that some things may seem a bit out of character since they (characters) are in situations that Nakamura-sensei has not yet put them into or developed the emotional necessity for.

Playing With Fire

Act 10

"This is where the scene skips time, so nothing too risqué between the two characters is shown."

His voice reverberated through his chest, causing a pleasant tremor in Kyoko's ears. The fast beat of his heart and the base like vibrations seemed almost like music to her heart. It created a sense of contentment in Kyoko's soul that she couldn't understand.

Ren picked Kyoko's face up from his chest now and gently pulled her up to match his face as he gave her one last kiss, then let her go and slipped out of bed.

Katsuki reached down to the floor and slid his slacks back on and began buttoning his dress shirt again. As he turned to leave he gave the parting sentence of the scene.

"I'll think only of you if I am ever chewing spearmint gum… Natsu-san." With that, he winked and smiled with the gum he had stolen from her mouth sticking out between his teeth, then he turned his back to Natsu and walked out the door.

Just outside the door, Ren leaned heavily against the wall and released a sign of relief, then glanced down at his ever present watch. It was nearing dinner time. They had practiced through lunch, and she hadn't even noticed.

Ren walked to the kitchen and began looking through his stack of take-out menus, wondering what Kyoko might like. He did not call to her nor fetch her to find out. The longer she remained in his room, the longer he had time to form an excuse for calling her name instead of Natsu's.

This woman… It has been YEARS since I have made such obvious mistakes, even in practicing. She was the one needing practice, and yet, I am the one constantly messing up!

Ren ran a hand through his hair in agitation. What was it about her that always made him so unable to focus on his work? He rightfully SHOULD be able to immerse himself in the script and forget everything else. That's how it's always been since coming to Japan anyway. Why was now any different?

Kyoko peaked her head out the bedroom door and looked down the hall. Ren was in the kitchen, leaned over the counter, looking through a small stack of fliers.

"Oh? Tsuruga-san, have we finished?"

Ren looked up at her, "Yes Mogami-san. I figure you are getting hungry? It's getting late. We've completely missed lunch."

"I'm alright, we can keep practicing if you want to…" Her cheeks flushed a bit, but her stomach betrayed her as it emit a strained gurgle. "… m-maybe just a bite then…" She walked up and stood beside Ren, leaning on the counter herself.

"What would you prefer?" He handed her a few menus to choose from.

She picked Italian cuisine then handed the menu to Ren to choose for himself. After taking excessive time to decide, then giving up and having Kyoko decide for him, he phoned in the order and suggested they sit and watch something while they waited.

Kyoko went to his movie case and looked through the titles. Ren owned a few of his own earlier works, though they looked as if they had never been viewed.

"Tsuruga-san, can we watch The Sirens of Lamshire?" She held the case up with Ren and the leading actress staring out at him.

"That? Why do you want to watch that?" Ren scowled a bit.

"Because it's well known! This was the film which first gained Tsuruga-san wide spread fame in the industry! It used to play on T.V. quite a bit, though I've never seen it."

"It was on T.V.? I can't believe they played that on network television. I never watch my own work."

"Then why do you own it?"

"This is an exception actually. I own this because the premise was good. It was actually given to me though. …Mogami-san, if you know it was on television, but you want to watch it, why have you never seen it?"

"Um… ah… that's actually because of… um… because of Shoutaro."

"Shoutaro?"

Kyoko's face paled. "Um, forget I said anything!"

Ren frowned at her, and she shrank back. "Mogami-san… what are you keeping from me?"

She flinched. "N-nothing! Really! I just… I … it's just I promised not to tell anyone Shou's real name! Please don't say anything Tsuruga-san! Please!"

Ren furrowed his eyebrows. "Because it's you, I won't. …Did you really hate me that much?"

"Well, Shou used to say th… No! I mean No! I never hated Tsuruga-san, not even once! But HE always did, you being on the top of the entertainment industry! It should be something to look up to! That is why I am your Kouhai!"

Ah yes… there was the reminder that he was viewed as her teacher. An instructor. A mentor. Not a lover.

That was enough to steel his resolve.

"Alright, go ahead and put in the video. We'll watch it."

As the opening copyright information and credits began to show, he said what he had to in order to get rid of the feelings of guilt.

"Mogami-san… back when we were practicing. You noticed I said your name in one of the lines instead of Kitagawa-san, correct?"

She nodded and blushed.

"I did that for a reason." Oh how he would go to Hell for lying! "You seemed to be getting very engrossed in your Natsu role again. I said your name to bring you back into the scene mentally. You were loosing yourself to the character."

She was quiet as she thought about what he said, then answered a soft, "…oh. You're right. I'm sorry."

She frowned. I know I wasn't too into the role. Why would Tsuruga-san say that? Was that why his heart was racing? No… then what was that… and… and why did it make my heart speed to match his?… Maybe Tsuruga-san was right after all. It probably WAS Natsu's excitement. Yeah, that's it… Natsu was excited… and I forgot myself again…

The food arrived while Kyoko was lost in thought, so Ren had answered the door and accepted their food. Kyoko looked up as he carried the bag into the kitchen and began pulling down dishes.

She looked over the back of the couch. "Would you like help Tsuruga-san?"

"That's alright, I can handle this." He dished out a portion for himself and Kyoko and carried the dishes into the living room just as the movie began in earnest.

Kyoko ate slowly as she was engrossed in the movie, Ren ate slowly as he was engrossed in his thoughts and with watching Kyoko's expressions throughout the movie. She really was enjoying it.

After they were finished, Ren cleared the plates and told her not to worry about cleaning them, he would do so later. This left them free to enjoy watching the movie, and as the end credits began to roll, Ren looked over to see Kyoko asleep, leaning against the armrest.

He turned the T. V. off and put away the movie, washed the dishes, and phoned the Daruma-ya, all the while Kyoko remained asleep on the sofa. Lack of sleep the night before had taken it's toll, and Kyoko seemed dead to the world.

He hadn't tried this before, though he had only even seen Kyoko sleeping once before, but he would find out how easily she awoke soon enough. Ren reached down and carefully scooped Kyoko up in his arms. She would have been excited beyond belief if she realized he was carrying her princess-style, and not because she was injured this time. As it was, she was so exhausted that she did not wake at all.

Ren's own exhaustion from not sleeping the night before, and the mental exhaustion from stress throughout the day was wearing on him as well, and he found himself drowsy. He had not anticipated Kyoko to be staying when she had work the next morning, and so the guest bedroom was not made up, and Ren simply did not have the energy to put it together.

…She and I have been in the same bed earlier… I doubt she would mind too much…

Maybe it was his wishful thinking talking and acting of its own accord, but he walked her into his own bedroom and gently tucked her under the covers. For safety sake, lay himself down on top of the covers and pulled a second blanket up from the end of the bed to cover himself with.

His final thought before falling asleep; they had both worked hard today, she would forgive him this once.

When Kyoko awoke, an unfamiliar weight rested against her side. Ren had moved in his sleep to drape an arm around her waist and was snuggled comfortably against her back, on top of the covers. She was flustered and didn't know what to do. If she removed him, she would wake him. The longer she thought about, she realized what had awoken her. Her bladder screamed to be emptied, and she was left with no choice BUT to slide out from under his arm and go to the bathroom.

She very carefully slid sideways out from the covers, moving very slowly as to not wake Ren. She quickly did her business in the bathroom, then returned to Ren's bedroom door way.

What am I thinking!? I can't crawl back in bed with Tsu.. T-Tsuruga-san… I know… I'll go to the guest bedroom. Oh, but hrm… Ren said it wasn't ready for guests. What should I do?"

Torn, she looked back and forth between Ren's bed, with him asleep in it, and down the hall to the guest bedroom and made up her mind.