Authors Chat: I have no excuse for why this took so long. Don't massacre me, please?

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: Y'all know the timeline by now. If not, go back and read it in an earlier chapter! (taken out for length).

Playing With Fire

Act 33

Ren blinked sleepily as recognition dawned on him. "Mo-Mogami-san!" He sat up in a hurry, flinging the throw blanket from his legs, then bundled it up in his lap as he patted the seat beside him. "Should you be up walking around? Please. Sit down."

Maybe it was the fever. Maybe it was because he looked so cute just waking up, with hair tousled and an imprint from the sofa-pillow on his cheek. Who knows, but Kyoko found herself sitting down beside him where he motioned on the couch.

She was mesmerized.

Tsuruga-san didn't go with Kaminari. What does THAT mean? "Tsuruga-san… you're still here," she said in wonderment.

Ren furrowed his brow a little. "Of course I'm here Mogami-san. This IS my apartment… oh God… did the fever go back up that you're delusional!?" He reached out and pushed her hair from her face to feel her forehead, then slid his hand down to feel her cheek with the back of his hand. A very American gesture, he realized too late.

"No… no you still feel cooler."

She looked at him wildly. "Please remove your hand Tsuruga-san."

He looked hurt, but did as she asked.

"I'm sorry Mogami-san. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

She shook her head gently. "No, I meant to let go because you might catch my flu. Actually… I shouldn't even be around you," she stood up. "If you get sick, you won't be able to work!"

She moved to flee from the room but was stopped as Ren gently caught her arm. She turned to face him, curious at his move.

He seemed to search for words. Don't go. Don't leave me. Stay. Stay with me. What he settled for was "…if I get sick, you'll take care of me again?" There was so many unsaid pleas in those words, and Kyoko seemed rooted to the spot as he waited for an answer.

*BZZZZZ!*

Saved by the doorbell. Kyoko looked down at Ren on the couch. He wasn't moving. He was searching her face as if trying to gauge what her reaction meant.

"Tsuruga-san… the door…" she said softly.

He watched her as she spoke, but the doorbell buzzed again, then three times… it was late, but whoever was at the doorstep knew someone was home.

Ren dropped his arm, letting Kyoko go, and stood up to walk to the door.

Kyoko began to shuffle her feet back toward the guest bedroom, but froze as she heard Kaminari's voice at the door. She was back, and Kyoko found herself inching her way back down the hallway toward the living room to get a better venue from which to listen to their words.

"…Yes, dinner went well, but it would have been more fun if you had been there."

"We both know why I cancelled Tsutsui-san, and I think we can both agree the argument is valid."

Kaminari could be heard sighing. "Yes, you're right. I'll forgive you this time. Speaking of the ill-one, where is she? Still sleeping?"

"No, she was actually just awake. She…" He turned around to see down the hall that the living room was vacant. "… she must have gone back to bed. She'll be in the back bedroom, the guest bedroom."

"Good. If she's awake, that means I can take her home."

"It's fine Tsutsui-san, really. Isn't it better if she not move too much?"

"She'll be FINE Tsuruga-san. Besides, I'm sure she's eager to be in her own bed."

Ren started to protest further, but was cut short as Kyoko called down the entry way. "I'll go."

"Mogami-san!" "Kyoko-chan!" they both said in unison.

"Are you sure Mogami-san? I would never kick you out. You are welcome to stay. Please stay. I… I still owe you so much for taking care of me before."

What exactly is he asking? He doesn't own me anything for taking care of him. It was my duty as his manger! "Its really alright Tsuruga-san. You don't owe me anything. And I really would like my own bed. NOT that yours is bad or anything… I just would like my own pillow."

Kaminari smirked. "I'll wait here Kyoko-chan."

Ren couldn't help but feel somewhat irked as Kyoko turned and began gathering her things. He couldn't express it though. Not with Kaminari here. And he shouldn't even with it just being Kyoko here anyway.

He was so frustrated and had no release. He wouldn't sleep this night, but the poor punching bag in his gym would certainly see much use.

Kyoko bowed low at the door to him. "Thank you Tsuruga-san, for taking care of me. I'm sorry to have been a burden."

She turned and followed Kaminari down the hall before he could protest, but he said softly anyway, "You're no burden… Kyoko." His heart clenched as he watched her walk away from him. He could hear her voice carry down the hall all the way until they reached the elevator.

"Thank you Kami-chan. It will be nice to sleep in my own bed. Tsuruga-san's beds are nice, but it isn't the same."

"Beds? Did you start in one then move to another Kyoko-chan?"

"Oh, n-no, I just… meant… the guest bed," she shrugged, "but I'm sure his own bed is probably nice as well. Tsuruga-san doesn't skimp on his furnishings it seems. He has a really nice apartment."

"Yeah, he does. Do you come visit him here often?"

Kyoko shook her head 'no'. "I just come to cook for him sometimes. And we've practiced a few scenes here is all. He's a very good teacher." The last was rushed out to give credibility to him acting as her sempai, and Kyoko knew it. Hard to say things about him though without giving implications these days. Everyone always seemed to assume something.

"What sort of things does he teach you?"

"Oh… just the usual…. Since I'm unable to attend some of the lectures at LME academy, he helps me with little things… like helping me to find my character."

"That's no small feat. He must be a good teacher." Kaminari fell silent as she watched the road ahead of her, and as the stoplight ahead turned red, she said, "what about kissing?"

"WHAT!?" Kyoko blurted out.

"Well, I mean, there's a kissing scene in this script, and it's scheduled to be filmed pretty soon actually. Has Tsuruga-san helped you learn to kiss properly for an actor?"

For an actor? Is there a proper way to do it? All those times… was there something I should have paid attention to? I just can't imagine it though… when he kissed me, the whole world went blank…

"Kyoko-chan?"

"Hmm?"

"You didn't answer. Does that mean Tsuruga-san HAS helped you learn to kiss properly?"

Kyoko's face turned red as heat jumped into her cheeks. "Y-y-yes." Her words stuck in her throat, cutting off anything else she may have answered.

"Then tell me. I'm curious. Was he a good kisser?" Her face was completely serious as she watched the road.

Is she really asking me that!? How would I know? Though… I certainly didn't DISlike it… Kyoko had to steer her mind away from thoughts of kissing Ren. The pain piercing her heart at having to tell Kaminari was too great.

"I guess. I guess he's a good k-kisser. He's the only one I've had to kiss yet. We actually… had to kiss for one of the scenes he did in Box 'R' Chronicles."

"Good. Then you've already kissed on camera. You know how hard it is to get a good angle then, right?" Kaminari was smiling. Well at least I know THAT much. It's a start.

She pulled into a parking space in front of the Daruma-ya and helped Kyoko climb out, carrying her bag up to the door for her so she could fit her key in the lock.

"Thank you Kami-chan – for the ride I mean."

"Oh, its no problem at all Kyoko-chan." She didn't leave.

"Um… I can go in from here Kami-chan. Just let me have my bag."

"No, it's fine. I'll bring it up to your room for you. You shouldn't exert yourself. You may be feeling fine now, but you still look white as a ghost."

It was true too. Though she felt alright, she felt weak and was actually grateful to Kaminari for carrying her bag up to her room.

"Now, where are the washcloths? Go ahead and change while I get one damp and cool for you."

"That's alright Kami-chan, I can take it from here. Go ahead and go home."

"Hmm? Oh. I'm not going home. I'm going to stay here with you tonight and take care of you until you're healthy."

"But… if you do that… what was the point of leaving Tsuruga-san's place?"

"Aah, are you forgetting Mogami-san?" Kaminari moved to the bedding and laid out Kyoko's futon. "Your own bed. Or did you not tell me the truth? Do you prefer Tsuruga-san's bed to your own?"

Kyoko flushed.

"I-it was his GUEST bed. Bedroom. And n-no… I don't prefer Tsuruga-san's bed to my own." She pulled out a pair of fresh pajamas and began changing as Kaminari found her way to the linen closet and bathroom.

So it did have something to do with the bedroom. Kyoko-chan, a person can only have so many slips before it becomes intentional to cover up. What on earth are you hiding….