Chapter twelve.

I do not own Skip Beat or any of its characters.

Please enjoy, and review.

Scene: Behind stage of Kimagure Rock. Kyoko is taking off Bo's chicken head, the stage crew is busily closing down the stage.

"Hhoo." Kyoko let out a puff of air. The 30th anniversary had been crazy with multiple guest stars and performers. Bo had escorted all of them on and off the set, as well as provided comedic relief as the stage crew prepared between sets.

"Kyoko, are you coming to the after party?" One of the female stage hands called out. She and a few other crew members were getting their things ready to leave.

Kyoko looked towards her, "Yea, I just need to change first. I'll meet you there."

"Okay, we'll see you there."

"Kyoko!" Hikaru hollered, as he quickly caught up with Kyoko on her way to the dressing room.

"Hi Hikaru, it was a great show today." Kyoko responded.

"Wasn't?" Hikaru beamed. He was hoping Kyoko wasn't going to carpool with the others. "I thought you were wonderful tonight err, I mean your performance as Bo was wonderful tonight… not that is not wonderful any other time."

Kyoko blushed, she felt so happy when someone would compliment her acting. "Thank you Hikaru." Kyoko smile. She gave it her all today as Bo, she wanted to ensure that Bo's character was livelier than ever for the 30th episode.

Hikaru felt his heart melt looking at her smiling. "Ummm…You're coming to the after party, right?" Hikaru suddenly felt nervous. He didn't used to be this way around her, but now he couldn't help but notice her.

The two other Ishibashi brothers arrived. "Hikaru, you coming?" Shinchi called.

"Yeah…." Hikaru looked over to the brother. ve me a minute.." turning back. "Do you need a ride?" Hikaru spouted. "You can ride with us."

Kyoko bowed. "Thank you, but go on without me. It's going to take me a while to change, and I don't want you waiting on me." Kyoko shooed him with her large chicken wing.

"Ohh. Oh, okay….Are your sure? We can wait….."

"No, it's fine. Please go, I'll be there soon."

"sure? O, okay…..I'll save you a seat then." Hikaru said trying not to get discouraged.

"Thanks, see you there." Kyoko said.

Hikaru slowly left with his co-stars.

*Hikaru is such a nice sempai.* Kyoko thought has she continued down to the dressing room. *he is always so considerate of everybody, unlike an other sempai.*

Kyoko was feeling challenged by Ren's demand to practice tonight. She should feel excited but mainly she felt fluttered at the level of intimacy her character plays. She didn't tell Ren what type of character or the romantic scenes she was supposed to act.

*I hope that this is alright* Kyoko wondered. *He asked to help me with my character Lola.*

Kyoko put the Bo costume securely away in the dressing and started getting ready. With Kanae's help Kyoko selected a long length tank top, that flowed with lace at the bottom, matched with neat pressed short shorts and leggings. She finished with the outfit with a low kitten heel and a shawl to cover her bare shoulders. As she put on her make up, Kyoko imagine herself as Lola. Lola would be similar as Natsu in fashion sense, and confidence but without her sadistic tendency. Lola was supposed to be flirtatious, approachable and able love whole heartedly.

Her make up was soft but heighten her features. She wore a sheer golden eye shadow to highlight her amber eyes, and just a touch of bronzer to highlight her cheek bones. Kyoko was pleased with how she looked. She wanted to look mature and flirtatious.

Kyoko could her Kanae's words echoing in her head.

*' Use tonight as an opportunity to practice your character-mo.'*

Kyoko hadn't mentioned to Kanae that she had plans to practice her character tonight, with Ren. She felt sheepish about not telling her about Ren but she didn't want to give people the wrong impression about their relationship.

It was 8:15 pm. Kyoko was starting to feel anxious about meeting Ren. He had agreed to picking her up from the restaurant since it was convenient but everything seemed to be moving fast for her. She couldn't really remember why he asked to help her.

….

Flashback to earlier in the day, 3:15 PM.

Scene: Lory Takarada's lavish office. His desk by the window at the end of a very long room. In the middle, a step down sitting area with a coffee table and two couches facing each other. There three men sat. Lory is sitting across from Ren and Yashiro, both Lory and Yashiro are trying to read Ren's face.

Ren was in shock to hear what Lory had requested from Kyoko. *What the hell! How could you put her in such role* Koun stared sharply at Lory. His gazed sent daggers into the president.

"What are you giving me that look." Lory said defensively.

"She is still a minor. What are you doing having her play such a role. " Ren demanded. Ren wanted to wring the president's neck over this.

Lory squinted his eyes. "Your act like I'm casting her a R rated setting, this is nothing. The script just has her flirting and kissing little with a young man. It's nothing in appropriate, much younger actors are playing such parts." Lory continued. "She is 17, soon she will be an adult of legal age. This is the next big challenge she needs to succeed in, if she is to be a truly great actress." Lory was feeling offended by Ren's reaction. "This is way I called you up here."

"For what?" Ren/Koun said coldly. He knew that Kyoko would be pushed past her comfort zone, but he was more annoyed who was playing Kanae's partner, Leon. Jonathan was as bad as Kijima just younger and cocky.

"For you to help her get through this challenge. She will need to find a way to fully embody the character and I don't know if she is ready the way she is now…..Or are you going to have her learn these new milestones with a different man?" Lory now wanted to smirk at Ren, he felt so victorious. He could read the trail of Ren/Koun's thoughts.

Koun didn't know what to say other than *You, melding dirty old man. You just want to interfere… but to have her first serious kiss to be with Jonathan (Leon's real name)…..* Koun's heart drop, he couldn't stand the image of Kyoko first moments of intimacy with someone other than himself. He also knew what Jonathan was like when he took an interest in a girl. He trusted in his own ability to attract women but he also trusted Jonathan's ability to get women to fall for him as well.

"Take this as an on opportunity." Lory said. "You will be able to imprint a standard on her. A standard of which she will compare every other man to for the rest of her life…" Lory was squealing inside, he was in glee watching the raw emotions of love, and anguish Koun was displaying. "She is already becoming a beautiful young woman, are you going to sit idly by as someone else comes and steals her heart?" Lory said.

End of flashback.

Scene: At Nikos bar and grill. The restaurant was busy, a large section of it was filled with Kimagure Rock crew.

Kyoko walked up to the restaurant, it was 9:30 pm. Kyoko was only 30 minutes late compared to the others.

Hikaru had been eyeing the front door for the last 25 minutes. When Hikaru finally saw Kyoko walking through the door, he felt his heart fluttered. He thought she looked so beautiful, he felt throat and abdomen tighten by the sheer sight of her. Hikaru waved Kyoko down.

"Kyoko, over here." Hikaru called to her. Hikaru saved a seat for her next to him.

"Ishibashi(s)" Kyoko said. She walked toward their table.

"Come sit here." Said Hikaru as her scooted down the booth to allow her to sit by to him.

Kyoko scooted in next to Hikaru. Hikaru smiled nervously, he was struggling to think of what to say to her next. Hikaru just looked at her without able to articulate words.

"Hey, Kyoko you look great." Yuusei Ishibashi smiled at Kyoko.

" Yea, I normally don't get to see you outside to the Bo outfit. Nice figure." Shinchi Ishibashi smiled. Both brothers gave Kyoko the thumbs up.

Hikaru could just die from embarrassment from his two co-hosts and friends.

Kyoko froze for a moment before responding in hostess mode plus with a little Lola mixed in. "Thank you Yuusei, and Shinchi. I noticed you two have a nice figure as well." Kyoko smiled brightly at them, and winked slowly at both Yuusei and Shinchi. The Ishibashi brothers were stunned by her response. Both Shinchi and Yuusei's eyes traveled over to heart broken Hikaru.

Hikaru felt deflated and limp. What he would give to have her look at him that way. He was dying to get a reaction of interested from Kyoko.

"Kyoko what do you want to drink?" Shinchi asked.

"Hmm, I don't know. What is good here?" Kyoko said as she looked around.

"Don't worry, we'll just get you what we're having." Shinchi was nudging Yuusei out of the booth in order to give Hikaru some privacy with Kyoko.

When Shinchi and Yuusei left the booth. Hikaru suddenly every conscience of Kyoko's presence.

"Kyoko."

"Yes, Hikaru."

"I want to tell... "

"Hey! Ishibashi Hikaru. How are you?" said one of the assistant managers as walked to the front of the table. He started grabbed Hikaru hand to congratulate him about the show's latest ratings.

Scene: on the other side of Niko's, sitting at a dimly lit booth. Ren disguised with a baseball hat and dark scarf. Time: 10:32 PM.

So I'm going to stop here. I have two pages written for the next chapter and I have a route in mind to take the story but I keep feeling uninspire to write. So this is what I have.

And thank you for your comments and congratulations.

Neko, I believe a beta reader is like a proof reading someone story. Let me know if that works for you.