Chapter 11 – love is so confusing

Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.
Bruce Lee

A first kiss is always special, especially when it is with the person you have fallen in love. It feels wonderful, so incomprehensible, so indescribable. The sweaty palms, the racing heart and the goose bumps that spread like fire. The body is on fire. And that is exactly what Kyoko Mogami is just experiencing. For the first time in her life she felt really loved. She belongs here. She belonged in the arms of that man who is giving her all those kisses.

They started so innocent, like feather caressing her lips. But with every kiss the passion grew. Ren got bolder and couldn't control himself anymore. Not only was he kissing her but she was kissing him back. Sure she was clumsy and inexperienced but those kisses were the best he ever got in his live. Ren couldn't believe how lucky he was to have her.

The actor couldn't stop himself from hugging her. It was too good to be true.

Somehow his hands found their way under her shirt.

"Reeeen." Kyoko moaned and Ren stopped abruptly.

"Damn!" he cursed pushing Kyoko away a bit.

He was going to far. Ren knew that he had to stop. He had lost himself in those kisses. It was good that her moan woke him up from his trance or he would have gone too far.

"Ren?" Kyoko asked unsure of what to do. She was blushing like crazy especially because of the way she said the name of him just some seconds ago. But the pained face of the man made her worried.

"Did … did I do something wrong." She asked tears starting to fall from her eyes. Tears Ren didn't want to see. With the way he stopped so abruptly he made her think she had done something wrong. But that wasn't true.

"Stop Kyoko!" he exclaimed and took her back in his arms whispering in her ear: "You didn't do anything wrong. No, what you did was wonderful. But I shouldn't have done that. I went to far. I should have…"

"NO!" Kyoko screamed and made him look at her face: "I liked what you did all of it. It was fast, I know. But I don't regret it. Like you said I would have told you to stop if I didn't want it. But I let you. I would have stopped if you had gone any further. I… I think I like you. I mean…"

Was she really doing this? Was she saying that…? Ren's heart stopped he was waiting for her words.

"I love you." As soon as those three words left her mouth Kyoko fainted in Ren arms.

It was too good to be true. But it was reality. She said she loved him even after what he did. She said she liked what he did. Ren hadn't been so happy for a very long time. And Ren Tsuruga began to cry. Tears of joy left his eyes.

"I love you too Kyoko."

"You want to be an actress?" Lory stared at the girl in front of him.

"Yes." Her answer was short and confident. She looked so cute and innocent that he thought she wouldn't survive the acting world but here she was looking at him with big golden eyes that shone of confidence.

"Why?" As the president of LME he had to know.

"Firstly it sounds interesting and I've always admired actors. I know that it may sound strange but I feel like my whole life until now was an act. The only time I could be myself was with Ren or when I was alone. The most things I've done were for others. I want to find myself with every character. Ren told me so much about acting and about his work. Some time ago he gave me the task to act out a character he choose. The feeling I had when creating her and when I was her was wonderful. I was really happy. I want to be happy again. I want to show the world what I can do. I'm not doing this because I want fame and money. I want to be an actress because I really love acting even if I don't have much experience." The young girl's face told Lory that not one word she had said was a lie. Her eyes were like a open book for him.

He saw the pain when she spoke about her past.

He saw the happiness and the glances at Ren.

He saw the smiles the actor gave her in return.

He saw the light blush and dreamy look on her face.

Because of those little things Lory was completely captivated by the young woman who stood before him. And he smiled: "Seiji Shingai spoke very highly of you young lady. You can´t believe how surprised I was when he told me about the filming. You and Ren did a wonderful job. I will give you a chance like Shingai-san did. But the acting world is harsh. Nothing will be given to you. You have to work very hard to archive your dreams. So tell me are you up to it?"

He expected her to scream joyfully or dance around because she certainly looked like those types of girl who would show everyone how happy she was. What Lory didn't expect was her smiling a genuine smile and deep bow and the words: "I promise I will work hard."

He was stunned. Lory Takarada was stunned.

She is good.

"Than it's official." He could see the proud smile on Ren's face.

The boy is so oblivious

"From now on you are an actress of LME agency. You don't have to audition. What you did today was more than enough to convince me that you earn this chance. Takenori Sawara will be something like a manager for you. He is the head of the talent department and will take care of you until you debut. I bet Ren will be more than happy to show you around the agency, right boy?" Lory was very happy for the young man. It looked like Ren had found someone to love. They would need to make decisions on how much they were going to tell the press. If Kyoko Mogami would get famous and those two announce they are in a relationship now everybody will think that she only got famous because of Ren.

Ren was able to catch the warning look his boss gave him and understood what the man wanted to say. As Japans number one actor he had to be careful around the press. But more important was Kyoko. Oh how much he loved her. It wouldn't be good for her career if anybody knew about them. They had to be careful in public. With a nod he returned his full attention back to the girl he fell in love with. "I told you that he would say yes."

Her laugh was music to his ears: "I wanted to hear so myself. What about the tour Ren-san?"

They were in public now. LME had many ears, far too many.

"I'm happy to show you around Kyoko-san."

He knew they would manage to keep up the façade.

The actor was being the perfect gentleman while he was showing Kyoko around. He would smile and introduce Kyoko to everybody they met on their way as a new talent who just joined the agency.

The people from LME were all very friendly to her. They would smile and give her a warm welcoming. Well, most of them did. There were some younger women who looked at her with cold and jealous look. "Don't care about them." Was all Ren said but she was happy. Nothing could bring her down right now. Kyoko knew that now it would get hard and she had much to do.

I will give it my best.

.

Ren was a busy person. When he came home a bit after 9pm a warm: "Welcome home." greeted him from the kitchen. After hanging up his jacket and taking of his shoes the actor made his way into the kitchen. There she stood. Beautiful as ever, cooking their dinner. His arms found their way around her waist: "What are you cooking?"

"Dinner." was her simple answer. The blush on her cheeks was so adorable that Ren couldn't help but press her small body firmly against him. "What if I'm not hungry?"

"You will eat! You are a tall man and you have to work hard. You need to eat. And I don't mean Onigiri. That is not food, it's just a snack."

Kyoko's behaviour made him smile.

It wasn't long until they both were eating their dinner. They would steal looks at each other all the time and when their eyes did meet they would blush and look at their food. If Kuu Hizuri would see this he would sequel and talk about young love.

The day had been long and filled with so many wonderful moments. It was a day neither Kyoko nor Ren would forget.

It was going to be hard from now on.