Authors Chat: Just a short update. Mostly, I need to let you all know that I have NOT abandoned this fic. I'm taking Chemistry this summer, and as a summer course it's condensed. The instructor gives us waaaay to much homework, and it's been 10 years since I did Chemistry last, so basically, it's kicking my ass. All of my available writing time has been spent working on Chemistry. No pity please, just need to let you know I'm on a semi-sorta-temporary hiatus.

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.

Playing With Fire

Act 54a

Kyoko and Ren were silent as they walked the short distance to the restaurant, and spoke only when the hostess requested to know if they wished public dining or private dining in the upper balcony. Ren spoke up, saying a quiet corner in the upper balcony would suit them. Kyoko's cheeks tinged pink, all too familiar with why customers requested "quiet corners" in any restaurant.

Interestingly enough, the hostess seemed to understand as well. As soon as they were seated at the small table, the hostess asked if they wished to order first, or if they would like a waitress to come around for drink and meal orders. A very smart tactic if one wants to save their waitresses from surprise later… for most couples that is.

Kyoko began shaking her head, but Ren spoke up. "She'll have a milk tea, with a Flying J, and I'll have a caprice; water is fine for me."

"Very good, I'll send someone once your orders are ready. Your drinks will be here soon," and with the she turned and walked back to her post, down the stairs. She hadn't seemed embarrassed at all, though Kyoko was pinker and pinker by the moment.

"Ren! Do you know what you just did?" she asked in harsh whispers.

"Um, I ordered us lunch? Was milk tea okay for you? They make very tasty milk tea, and I thought you would like it."

"Milk tea is fine, but that isn't what I meant! Do you know what you did with that waitress?" she maintained the whisper, though Ren began to look confused.

"I'm not sure what you're getting at Kyoko."

"You just gave her our order when we first sat down! That's how waitresses know when they're serving lovers so they don't interrupt with regular service!"

Ren smiled. "So? Let them think what they want. We are, after all, dating."

"Well, y-yeah, but n-not like … That!"

Ren smiled at her sheepishly, but kept his next comments silent. Let her think she appropriately chastised him. Maybe not like that yet, but Kyoko… it's the natural progression of things. Someday, we will be together like that... so long as I don't screw up.

"If it makes you feel better Kyoko…" he reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. He clicked the pen and said "now. When are my free times?"

The relief of having documents – of any kind – in front of them flooded Kyoko's mind, with the papers there, it would be clear they had required privacy for work issues rather than as a set of lovers, and Kyoko relaxed, as their schedules were poured out over the piece of paper, identifying the times they could be together.

"We have two hours we can do something there, on Wednesday night next week."

"I don't think so; I want more time than two hours with you."

She fidgeted with the pen and kept her eyes on the paper, well aware of his eyes gazing over her face, then down to the paper as well.

"Well, then how about in two weeks, on Friday? It's a ways away, but we both have most of the day and into the evening free."

Ren thought for a moment, then agreed right as the waitress set down their drinks and sandwiches in one trip.

He graciously waited for the waitress to leave before continuing conversation, knowing Kyoko would be abashed if he laid out their plans in front of the waitress. A girl's first real date should NOT be discussed where others can hear.

Ren refused to tell her what he had in mind for them to do, but conceded that she should look nice, but not ball-room nice. Something she would be comfortable in.

They returned back to the set in exactly one hour and four minutes, leaving Ren just enough time for a quick makeup touch up, and he stepped on set exactly as the director had called for.

Kyoko, on the other hand, entered her dressing room only to find herself face to face with a very distraught Kaminari.

"Where have you been!"

"I went to lunch. W-was I not supposed to?

"NO! You were supposed to go shopping with me!"

The realization was like a slap in the face, leaving Kyoko's face drained of all color. It was exactly 0.2 microseconds from standing till Kyoko's forehead hit the floor in the world's most perfect dogeza, and the apologies came pouring out of her mouth.

"Kaminari-chan, I am SOOO sorry! Ren-san told me we were going to lunch, and I forgot about all my other obligations. Not that you're an obligation, but I made the plan with you to go shopping and I forgot all about it. I'm a useless charge, I know it! You'd be much better suited to work with someone like Ren-san! Someone more punctual and a better actor and-"

Kaminari let out a laugh, despite her hurt at being neglected. "Stand up Kyoko. Really. I thought they were only kidding when they said you apologized with a dogeza every time you felt you wronged someone. I am hurt you forgot about me, but not so much to go to such lengths. Tell you what. You can just make it up to me."

She peeked up from her fingertips and squeaked out a, "how?"

"Well, by shopping with me this afternoon, once the set is over. I believe you still have a few hours free?"

Which she did. The afternoon sets were filmed brilliantly, though with a few NG', and the two ladies bid their co-workers good night. Kyoko's eyes stayed on Ren a bit too long, Kaminari noticed, but she didn't say anything. I'll just try to squeeze it out of her later.