Authors Chat: So I'm sure all of you who regularly read this story probably thought I fell off the face of the earth. Close, but not quite. Passed Chemistry (see previous chapter's notes), the fall semester I failed Physics, our instructor was a putz. I'll be taking almost a full load this upcoming semester (including redoing Physics) in order to graduate in May 2012. So, that means I'm still on sort-of hiatus. I've been slowly writing this chapter for the past four months. Sad, no? Anyway, Enjoy the chapter, seems to be a lot of 'filler' but it plays an important part of this story's development. I think you'll understand by the time you reach the end. *grin*

You'll be able to about imagine what the next chapter will be about. Anywho, enjoy!

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 55

"So soft…"she mumbled, fingering the delicate cloth at the hem. Her focus was completely on the dress on the stand in front of her.

"You should try it on Kyoko-chan."

"N-no, it's fine Kaminari-san, it wouldn't look good on me anyway."

"That's silly, but, suit yourself. I'll be right back." She headed toward the floor attendant and was guided off to a changing room.

Kyoko's eyes went back to the dress in front of her. It really was beautiful. White dupioni silk formed to the bust of the wire mannequin, the scoop neckline and sleeveless top revealing the inside of the dress, which was lined with a delicate white chiffon. The chiffon wasn't just a lining though, it trailed down the dress where splits in the dupioni silk began at the thigh and filled the gap which would be created when the wearer walked. Decorating the hem of chiffon where it would show just below the knees were little pale pink, silver, and teal embroidered butterflies. When one stood still, the dress would appear completely white, and wholly made of dupioni silk.

It was movement which made this dress come alive. Movement Kyoko was sure she was never meant to make. She agreed to shop with Kaminari, and had even intended to shop for herself, but Kaminari didn't seem to have the same sense in style as Kyoko. The difference, to put it bluntly, was price. A "sale" for Kaminari seemed to mean going in to all the designer shops and looking for last season's designs, rather than going into a department store and searching the clearance sales.

When they had entered their current store, Kaminari went straight to the back, where the previous seasons remaining stock of dresses would be. Kyoko absently meandered through the current designs, half-heartedly looking at each dress as she went. It would be hard to find a dress without knowing where Ren was taking her.

It'll have to be something light, and dressy, but not too dressy. Something that could be worn for any occasion. Something like… like that. That was when the dupioni silk dress had caught her attention, and held it rapt until Kaminari had tried on all the dresses she intended to from that shop.

After Kaminari gave instructions to the floor attendant for packaging the dresses she chose, she gently guided Kyoko away from the dress and out of the shop.

"Come on, let's get some ice cream. They're packing the dresses for me carefully so they'll hold up to travel and I'll have a good box to store them when I put them away, and that'll take a while. Once this season is over, it'll be at least three seasons before I'm able to wear those dresses again. Aaah, but they were good deals, and there's nothing too flashy on them that would make them go out of style quickly. What about you? Did you try anything on?"

"Well, no, I think I'll have to keep looking on another day Kaminari-san."

"What about that white dress? You couldn't take your eyes off of it."

"There was that… but it is a dress from this season's line, and the price was more than I take home in a year!"

"Kyoko-chan, you have got to be kidding me! I know what kind of rates are in your contract. You can afford a dress like that if you really want to. If not, I'm not doing MY job well enough to get you good contracts!"

"I didn't mean it like that Kaminari-san, you're doing a good job! A very good job, and I'm happy with you as my manager." At that, Kaminari beamed. "It's just that I'm still paying for my tuition to Lory's Magnificent Actors and Actresses Performance, Dance, and Martial Arts School for Gifted Talents of The Industry."

Kaminari stared at her for a while. "…Well THAT was a mouthful. Is that really what he's calling his acting school? But anyway, you're an accomplished actress now Kyoko-chan, don't tell me you're still taking lessons?"

"Well, yes. I haven't finished the course, and I may be doing well, but there is still so much more for me to learn. Just last week, I learned how to fall like I've been shot without actually getting myself hurt! And it isn't just that cost either, I have my high school tuition, rent for my room at the Daruma Ya, a monthly train pass, and food expenses."

"Surely you can at least get rid of the train pass. Tsuruga-san and myself drive you to and from your sets, and you ride your bicycle everywhere else. Why do you even HAVE a pass?"

"I-it's more for those times when I need to go somewhere that's out of traveling distance with the bicycle." Never mind that that rarely happened. Kyoko's definition of 'traveling distance' meant anywhere she couldn't travel to in under an hour, and considering her speed capabilities on the bicycle, did not leave many places she would need to go within Tokyo city limits. Then again, she could hardly tell Kaminari she took the train home from Ren's when it was late at night and too dangerous to ride the bicycle in the dark.

"Well that shouldn't be too often at least. Know what? I just had a great idea Kyoko-chan. We should get you enrolled in a driving school. Now, before you start to protest, this can be part of your training. I'll talk to Takarada-sacho about it. What do you say?"

Kyoko had started to protest, but now the idea didn't sound half bad. What if a role she would take on in the future required her to drive? She would have to learn then… or pass on the role altogether. It would also mean she could get a vehicle eventually, and wouldn't have to rely on Ren anymore to drive her everywhere… though, she looked forward to seeing Ren's porche come around the corner to the Daruma Ya most mornings.

"Aah! Kyoko-chan! You're blushing! Does that mean it's a yes? You seem excited."

"N-no… I mean, Yes, it's a yes." Her hands moved unconsciously up to her cheeks. They were indeed hot. The mere thought of Ren sent her heart pounding…

"And so what got made you blush?" Kaminari raised an eyebrow at her.

"Just that... I would drive…"

Kaminari laughed. "Na, I don't think so. I think I've gotten to know you pretty well in the short time we've been working together Kyoko-chan. You only blush like that when you think about Tsuruga-san. Or is it Ren-kun these days?"

Kyoko's mouth opened to form a response, but no sound came out as her blush deepened. Kaminari hardly noticed though, as two young women approached their table, shopping bags in hand.

"Yashiro-san? Well, it IS you! Chika, I was right! It's Yashiro Kaminari-chan!"

"Hey Kami-chan! Wow, you look great! It's been, what? Three years? How's Mikito? Still chasing his tail?"

The three ladies chuckled, Kyoko momentarily forgotten.

"I'm doing well Chika-chan, Sakura-chan, and it's actually Tsutsui-san now. I got married a couple months ago."

"Aaaah! Kami-chan! Why didn't you send us an announcement! We would have sent gifts! Who's the unlucky man?"

"Ha-ha Chika-chan. He's actually a doctor from a good family. He's a few years older, so you wouldn't know him, and before you ask, no, he isn't the man my parents had picked out for me. Like I would EVER marry that… well. THAT."

The two ladies chuckled, but a tenseness was there that hadn't been before. Both knew who Kaminari meant by "that", and both knew his introduction to the Yashiro family was the TRUE reason she had fled to the States immediately after high school graduation, and that had been when they lost contact.

It was Sakura who broke the tension. "Well, we wish you a life filled with happiness then. So what's keeping you busy these days? Chika and I were obviously shopping."

"Aah. Actually, ladies, allow me to introduce someone to you. Chika-chan, Sakura-chan, this is Mogami Kyoko."

Finally being acknowledged, Kyoko did a perfect bow with her forehead down to the tabletop.

"Hello Chika-san. Sakura-san. Kyouko is my name, please treat me kindly."

The two raised their eyebrows at her overt formality.

"Kyouko is my charge."

"Then… you've gone into hospitality Kami-chan?"

She laughed. "Kyoko-chan, you can relax now. To answer your question, no, I have not gone into hospitality. I've actually gone into entertainment management. Well, AM going anyway. I'm working through my internship right now. Kyoko works for LME Studios as a rising star."

Kyoko let out a stutter of protest, but it didn't stop Kaminari.

"You may have seen some of her work actually if you watch television or keep up on the entertainment news."

"Sorry Kami-chan, we don't really watch much TV. "

"That's all right. Actually, that's probably for the best. Helps to keep things 'quiet' if you know what I mean. Fame usually comes with the price of lack of privacy. It's always nice to run into people who treat your normally, or so I'm told. Ladies, Kyoko has been in a few commercials, a music video – actually, you may know the song if your tastes in music still haven't changed. Have you heard Fuwa Sho's "Prisoner"?"

Their eyes went wide at the mention of that song, and they both nodded emphatically, clearly indicating their tastes in music had not changed.

"Yeah, she was one of the Angels in that music video."

Kyoko blushed and ducked her head just a little, suddenly conscious of her lack of make-up.

"We've seen that one! But… you look nothing the same as either angel."

"Chika! Hush! That wasn't appropriate. Kyouko-chan, you do not look the same right now, but you are just as cute as your angel that the devil fell in love with."

Kyoko's blush deepened at Sakura's compliment, but stammered out in a whisper, "I-I was the other one."

The new awkward silence was broken by Kaminari. "Well, she's also Natsu in 'Box R', and is staring in her first film, but that's still filming, so I can't talk about it just yet. Aah, and we actually need to get back to the set. There are just a few more scenes for the day." She started to gather her purse and jacket.

"Well it was nice to see you again Kami-chan. Do you still have our contact information? It hasn't changed since high-school."

Kaminari nodded, and promised to call before all four ladies took their leave of the delicatessen.

As they walked to Kaminari's car, Kyoko seemed to have a cloud hanging over her head.

"Kyoko-chan, I think you're raining on my new shoes."

"What?" she looked around her clothing frantically, trying to see where she was leaking from, thinking she had spilled ice cream and not realized it.

Grinning, "I meant the cloud of your thoughts. Won't you tell me what's wrong?"

"Oh…. It's nothing," but the frown remained.

"Come on. You can tell me anything Kyoko-chan."

"Weeeeellll…. It's just that… You told my real name to those two people."

"What, Chika-chan and Sakura-chan? You don't need to worry about them, they won't tell anyone,"

"But what about their families! And their husbands!"

"Kyoko-chan, they're not married, and you don't need to worry about their families."

"But I saw! On their fingers were wedding bands!"

"Oh… that's true, but they're not married. I can assure you, there are no men in their lives."

"But-"

"Kyoko-chan. They aren't married, but they ARE committed."

Kyoko gave her a quizzical look.

"Committed. They're together… in a relationship. With each other." That did it. It finally sank in, causing Kyoko to blush.

"But there's still their families-"

"Who haven't spoken to them since they came out in High School."

"Oh." Was all Kyoko could think of to say. She knew same sex couples existed, but had never met one herself and was unsure how to respond. They were in Kaminari's car driving back to the set before Kyoko spoke again.

"Kaminari-chan… um, I… I have to ask… are they together because they can't hurt each other? I mean, I don't understand what a woman would do with another woman if they weren't…"

"Weren't what?"

"Well… don't they want children?"

"Don't want…" Wait, what? Is she implying sex? Kaminari slammed on the breaks, causing the car behind her to blare their horn, then speed around her using a very impolite way to say hello.

"Kyoko-chan… there's more to sex than making children, more than just a man… than just intercourse."

Kyoko stayed silent, and the blush had returned to her cheeks.

"Oie… I can't believe I'm about to… okay, look. I know you've slept with Tsuruga-san, think back to that."

Kyoko's cheeks were flaming, as the blush spread to her ears, and she sank down in her seat.

"You can't tell me that you didn't… you didn't enjoy it?"

"Honestly Kaminar-chan, all I remember was pain. I was in character, and when I'm Natsu, she sort of takes over."

"Oh Kyoko-chan, no wonder you and him were having problems. Okay. I'm only going to talk about this a little, then I'm going to give you a homework assignment. Men and women can feel pleasure when having sex, and not just when a man puts his… himself inside a woman. There is pleasure with that too, but it comes after the first pain. The way that a woman feels pleasure can be from the outside of her body as well as the inside. That's how women do it with each other. There are other things they can use to feel pleasure with each other on the inside, but for someone heterosexual, that's what the man's part does. Ok?" Looking at Kyoko clearly indicated the poor girl for one, couldn't talk in response, and two, was slowly trying to escape through the bottom of the car as she slipped further down in her seat.

"Okay, I'll take that to mean you get it. I'm not really doing a good job explaining, that's more of a mother's job, but I know you don't have the option. So, you get to learn through experience. Your homework assignment is to do it to yourself until… until you reach orgasm." Choosing the right words seemed to be hard here, what could she say that wouldn't completely frighten the poor girl?

"Um, K-kaminari-san… h-how will I know when I've reached O-… it?"

Kaminari was silent for a moment. "You'll know." My god… Tsuruga-san, you had better appreciate this!