Chapter 2

Kyoko spent most of the next morning and part of the afternoon in Box-R filming school shots. Rumi's character, Chitose, had a love interest. Chitose's hope inspired Natsu to make up a better game.

"Who's that?" Natsu looked up from her seat. A rather handsome teen approached Chitose alone in the hall way.

"Hmm, that's Yugi Keishi, he's on the soccer team. He's in my class," Yumika answered. The girls watched him as he quietly spoke to their newest target. Chitose blushed and looked down as Keishi timidly asked his question.

"Oh… I wonder what they are talking about," Tugumi asked with some interest.

"I had a puppy once, and we had to spay the bitch before it went into heat." Natsu looked over at Kaori.

"Kaori, didn't you just break up with your boyfriend?" Natsu asked, all sympathetic.

"Yes. The stupid jerk wouldn't buy me those shoes at the mall we saw last week," she huffed.

"I hate seeing you so sad, Kaori. Wouldn't he make a good boyfriend for you?" Natsu asked with a little smile.

"Hmm. He is kind of cute." Kaori studied the blushing boy in the hall. He was tall with a lean build.

"He has large hands too. You know what they say about that." All the girls laughed at Tugumi's comment.

"What do you know about him Yumika?" Natsu asked.

"Well, he's an average student. He is always hanging out with his teammates. I don't know if he has ever had a girlfriend before, so he should seduce easily enough. I can find out more if you like," Yumika offered.

"Yes, please. We have to make sure he is good enough for our Kaori." Natsu smiled maliciously as she watched Chitose nod with a smile and walk away blushing brightly.

"Cut! Good job ladies. Let's move on to Scene 19 with Kaori and Keishi. Natsu and Chitose get ready for the next." Director Sutoyo was always so exited about the results of the filming. It was days like this that they got the most done. Everyone was doing rather well.

They finished the day around 2pm. They were on such a roll that they forgot about lunch. Fortunately, Honami had to leave and everyone was free to go. Kyoko's meeting with the casting director wasn't until 4:30 at LME, so she went straight there to eat at L.A. Hearts. Perhaps there was even some quick LoveMe work till then.

Kyoko sat with her back to the entrance, staring outside the window into the sunny spring afternoon. She felt a presence near her, and she lifted up her menu and pointed to her choice.

"Hi, could I have the vegetable tem…" she looked up at the server, "…pura. Tsuruga-san! I'm sorry. I thought… I was mistaken. I'm so sorry." She stood up and bowed down to the man smiling at her.

Ren laughed slightly. "No need to apologize, Mogami-san. I surprised you. I saw you here, and I was hoping I could join you. May I?" He watched her face flush lightly and then smile brightly up at him.

"Yes, I would love that. Please do."

Steady, don't jump in. Just take it slow. Ren smiled and sat down next to her. Not across from her, next to her in the booth. His heart was hammering and his skin was itching. When was he ever so nervous in front of a girl before?

Never. Only she could make him sweat. Even after her confession to Kanae, it only made him more anxious. Even with his stomach tied in knots and his skin ready to jump off at any moment, he was deliriously happy.

He watched her dazed face from his peripherals. Now what? He didn't know what to say. He wanted to just turn to her and say so much to her. I caught your confession about me earlier. I intend to keep you forever? No, too obvious; she'd misunderstand his honest feelings.

"How are you today?" He asked in a calm demeanor.

Kyoko fidgeted beside him. She didn't know how to act with him next to her, his long legs in danger of tangling with hers.

Why did he sit next to me? We are at LME. It's okay if the people recognize him. But… She glanced up at his smiling face. She could feel her heart drum in her chest. But this is nice. I didn't know that love can be nice.

"Everything is great today. My scenes at Box-R went very well. We even got more done than expected. Everyone seemed to be on an acting high, if that makes sense," she answered with a delighted tone which seemed to turn up his smile. Many grudge demons writhed on the floor.

"I understand. Everyone was in such perfect harmony, everyone flowed together and was perfectly in synch, it is like the characters were real and came out so naturally. It's rare. I've only had that happen to me a few times and only for a few moments." Ren stared off as he reminisced. Kyoko watched him stare off with a smile on his face, and she had the urge to hold his arm. There was just something about him that made her want to share in his delight. It was like it was something tangible, his joy.

Perhaps that is just proof of how good of an actor he was. He had the ability to project his feelings to everyone around him. The Co-star Killer was a weak and inaccurate title for him. He affected everyone around him. They didn't have to be actors, just human. A thought occurred with her.

"Tsuruga-san, are you good with animals?" She asked curiously.

"Animals? Like dogs and cats?" He cocked his head wondered where she came up with that question.

"Yeah, like did you have a pet? Or perhaps had to act with one or anything?" She clarified. Before he could answer the real server came by. She was about Kyoko's age, and she fluttered over to the table, her eyes devouring Ren's form. She stopped at the table, obviously in a jitter. She must be new.

"Ah…um… what… what could I get for you, Tsuruga-sama?" She asked nearly jumping out of her skin.

"We… would like two orders of vegetable tempura, please." Ren stressed the word We, and the waitress seemed surprised to see someone else at the table with him. He was oddly pleased that she didn't seem upset about it like most women would have been, just shocked. She probably wouldn't have seen Yashiro beside him either. He turned to Kyoko.

"Would you like anything else, Mogami-san?" He asked politely.

"Um… Tea, please," she spoke politely, and he finished the order. She shouldn't be surprised or upset by the server's reaction. Tsuruga Ren was sitting right there next to her. Even if she was alone, Kyoko wasn't noticeable. She wasn't recognizable as the newbie starlet she was, let alone next to the biggest star in the business.

It wasn't the fact that she wasn't recognized that upset her. It was just the attention. The server had the nicest smile and a nice figure with a slim waist curving up to a shapely bust that Kyoko didn't take from her mother. Beauty was the first of many reminders that women who deserved to be by his side wanted to love him just as she did.

"Mogami-san?" She snapped back out of her thoughts with his voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Tsuruga-san. Did you say something? Please repeat it?" She fretted at her horrible attention span.

"It's fine. What were you thinking about?" Ren asked. He was smiling at her, ignoring the rest of the world.

"Ah, nothing really, just wondering about my question," she said, steering the conversation back. Kyoko smiled again trying to hide her little lie. His smile wilted a little but nodded.

"I never really was around animals much. I didn't have a pet growing up, nor have I worked with one." He thought about it for a moment. "My best friend growing up had a dog, but he was friendly with everyone. Why do you ask?"

Kyoko blushed and thought about her reason. It should be okay to say, "I was just wondering, since you are so good with people, if you were good with animals too. It's just a silly thought."

He wanted to laugh. No doubt she thought I could call birds and woodland creatures to tidy up a cottage. If anyone could woo a fawn to their side, it would probably be her. Their food arrived, and they started to eat.

"What are you doing today, Tsuruga-san?" She inquired.

"I have a meeting upstairs at 3, and Yashiro-san needed to do some things so I thought to come in and eat. Then I noticed you," his voice turned soft which brought her attention to his face. She dragged herself back to her meal. He didn't know the things that smile did to her insides. Sometimes it makes her forget to breathe, or forget that she couldn't fly.

It took a while to figure out why that smile made her feel that way. Once she accepted her feelings and her assignment as Setsuka was over, Kyoko started to miss him dearly. She thought perhaps Setsuka was the problem and embraced the fact that they wouldn't be together anymore. Two weeks passed and each day was worse than the previous. Then half way in the third week she was able to see him again, and she floated. She was happy that whole day and she didn't understand why until she was able to talk to him again. He found her by chance, and it felt like no time was lost.

"Well, I'm happy you are eating. I always worry about you," she admitted and wanted to take it back.

"You do? Why?" He asked. She wanted to crawl under the table.

"Ah…um… because I know how busy you are and that you don't have time to eat, and you just pick that processed junk, and Yashiro-san just lets you without ever putting his foot down, and you really should take better care of yourself, but you don't, so I worry, and…" She was rambling, and he couldn't help but think how she looked good, flustered and breathless for his sake.

"Okay, okay, Mogami-san. I get it. Breathe."

She started to pick at her food to avoid his bright eyes. She had wanted to ask him something. Something that she really shouldn't but after so many internal arguments with herself, she thought it would be okay.

"Um, Tsuruga-san," she started hesitantly overcoming years of etiquette.

"Yes?" He said after swallowing a bite. She was looking down at the table, her chopsticks playing with her food. Why was she so nervous?

"Could you… if you want to that is… would you call me Kyoko?" She could feel the heat on her face. It was such a selfish request, but surely he thought nothing of being the only man in Tokyo allowed to use her last name-one of the few things her mother had given her. She just wanted to hear him say her name like someone close.

"I would love to Kyoko-chan," he said, and she could feel his smile directed at her. She blushed harder as she continued.

"You don't need the honorific unless of course you are uncomfortable without it. Please call me whatever you feel comfortable with." She was nervous, scared that she would offend him. But her mind kept telling her that dropping the honorific was disrespectable to only those they were referring to not to the person saying it.

How about mine? Can I call you that? His heart was beating loudly in his chest. He was sure that she could hear it, but she didn't give it away. He watched her stumble at her request as if it was the worse thing in the world for her to ask of him. Didn't she know how much he would do for her? That he felt the coast of his homeland drifting further and further away, but he wasn't hurting when she asked him to make her happy?

"Kyoko," he said in the way that a man acknowledges a woman. She doubted that her whole body was blushing, but it felt that way.

"Yes?" She whispered, unable to hide the emotion in her voice but trying any way.

"Are you free Monday?" He asked and it shocked her. Monday? Monday? What was today?

"Monday?" She asked. Her mind was wiped clean the moment he said her name. It just echoed in her mind and then she was forced to think. Monday... Oh yes Ok. Today was Thursday. What was she doing Monday?

"Yes. Monday? Are you free anytime that day?" He asked. There was a hint of eagerness, urgency and nervousness in his voice, but she was blinded with her own thoughts of that day.

"I have to do an outdoor scene with Box-R that day. But it should be in the morning. I'm free for the rest of the day after that." Unless that meeting today schedules something on that day, She thought to herself.

"Kyoko, I would…" He hesitated. Is this okay? She loves me so logically she should say yes. But she's immune to logic! No, thinking her way is too dangerous. She's not scared now; it's okay to ask her. It's okay. Speak…

"I would like to take you out after your shoot then," he finally said.

Kyoko stayed silent. She was in such a heavenly place when he said her name that she really didn't understand his request. She must have been hearing her own thoughts. Yes, that must be it.

"I'm sorry. Could you repeat that, please?" She asked confused and looked up at him.

"I would like to take you out," he paused, "on Monday," she nodded and he continued, "on a date," her eyes started to widened, "with me," Ren finished causing her to drop her chopsticks.

"Oh. I'll get you a new pair." He started to stand up and then looked back at her. She was like a paralyzed bunny, "Don't go anywhere, okay?" He added, and she gave the barest of nods. He was a little hesitant to leave. What if she hopped off? He didn't want to actually call on the woodland creatures to do his bidding and bring her back. Why take the chance of her disappearing?

He hurried over to the server station. There was no one there so he swiped a pair and quickly returned. She didn't move and was just looking at the probably now cold food in front of her.

"Here you go." He held them out to her as she studied the cold morsels in earnest.

"Kyoko? Hello?" He asked. Was this a mistake? Did I move in too fast?

"Ah, thank you." She gingerly took the new set of chopsticks and just clutched them in her hand. Ren tried to take another bite of his food, to act like it was nothing to ask a girl out, but it really wasn't. First off, this was Kyoko he was asking out, not just any woman. Second, Tsuruga Ren hasn't committed to anyone in his entire career. His acting had limits; there was no way he could eat another bite. He thought to ask again.

"Perhaps you prefer later on that night, for dinner perhaps? We can do that. Or is this Monday too soon? I think I have some time off next Friday." He paused and looked at her for a moment. It was too soon. He blew it.

"I see. You don't have to try so hard to say no, Mogami-san. It's fine. Just forget…"

"NO!" Kyoko yelled out a little too loud, and she felt the eyes of everyone in the area look at her. She blushed and waved an apology to the crowd.

"I mean, yes. I would love to…" her hands covered her reddened cheeks, "go out with you on Monday, Tsuruga-san," she whispered it. He could barely hear it.

"Ren."

"Huh?" She looked up at him.

"Please call me Ren. No honorifics, no more Tsuruga-san. Just Ren. What time do you think you'll be done?" He asked.

This was all happening too fast. A date… with Tsuruga Ren… on Monday. Ren, just Ren. This can't be happening.

"Um… we booked the pool from 10 to 2. So it should only be till 2. Is that okay?" She asked timidly.

"Two is fine. Where are you filming? I can pick you up there." He offered and looked at her. She had her eyes closed, and there was this flash of pain. Then she opened her eyes and licked her lips.

"We rented out a pool near Senshu University. Instead of doing a beach scene, they wanted to do a pool scene, so we had to get a pool. They said Monday was going to be a warm day so they thought to do it then." She smiled up at him shyly.

"You don't have to pick me up there though. If you like, I can meet you at your place or wherever you'll be so you don't have to drive out," she added and looked up. It was almost three.

"Oh, you have to go. You said you had a meeting at three, right?" She perked up, instantly alarmed. Ren looked up at the clock and sure enough it was about 8 minutes till three. He frowned. He didn't want to leave, but she said yes. He had a date with her on Monday, nothing could ruin this day.

"You're right. I need to go." He leaned back and took out his wallet.

"Ren," she said softly, "Don't worry about paying. I can pay, and you really didn't eat much." She was letting him get away with not eating, too!

"You didn't either." He pointed out, and she pressed her lips together. It seemed they were both too nervous to eat. "Please allow me to pay. You stay and eat." He stood up after dropping a few notes on the table, enough for the bill and a heavy tip or a decent tip if she wanted another meal or dessert.

"I'm not really hungry," she murmured, and he understood her position. He never knew butterflies could be so filling.

"Would you walk me to my meeting then?" He asked. She looked up at him and there was this timid but hopeful look on his face. She nodded wanting to spend more time with him as well, but the shock of the date was still fresh in her mind.

For once she didn't care about the food. She started to slide out of the seat when she noticed his hand held out for her. Her heart was in her throat, and she looked up at him then back at his large hand. Her hands felt sweaty but her mouth dry. She wiped her hand across her shorts and then placed it in his. His fingers enclosed around hers, and it felt like he was holding her whole body against him. She gave a small shaky smile as he helped her out of the booth.

He didn't want to let go, he would have been happy to hold her hand the whole way up to the 7th floor. In fact, he would have tried to make her take the stairs if it wasn't so close to the meeting time. But he couldn't, and he didn't keep her hand. He did notice however that there was a small red spot on the back of it. He frowned wondering what it was.

"Kyoko," the sound of his voice made her jump. She was still wondering if this was really happening.

"Yes?"

"What happened to your hand? Did you burn yourself while cooking?" He asked. He was lucky enough to find an empty elevator for them to ride.

Kyoko looked at her hands and found the little mark she did to herself. She closed her eyes and tried to think of a reason but couldn't. Her mind wasn't up to making up an excuse so she said the truth.

"This is going to make me sound foolish, but I pinched myself to make sure I was awake. But I should have known I was since you didn't…" her eyes widened, and she quickly stopped mid-sentence.

"I didn't what, Kyoko?" He asked with an amused tone.

He probably thinks I'm an obsessed fan girl now. Geez, so pathetic. She looked up at him, and he was waiting patiently with a little smile.

"You didn't do what you would normally do in my thoughts," Kyoko admitted without going into much detail. The elevator dinged on the 7th floor, and she quickly walked out in front of him; however, she had to stop, since she didn't know what room he was going into.

"What do I normally do?" His voice was so close to her. She turned around and found him almost pressing up against her back. Her heart pounded her in chest, and she felt like she couldn't breathe past it.

"Um... your meeting. You need to be in there. You should hurry," Kyoko stammered. She didn't want to tell him.

"Tell me first, and then I'll go," Ren spoke softly. She found herself pinned against the wall, his body surrounding her like a cage. The hallway was deserted, but she had hoped that someone would pass by so she could escape.

"You'll be late, Ren. Your perfect record will be tarnished," she pleaded with him to let her go, to let her thoughts and dreams stay in her head.

"Then you better hurry and tell me," Ren whispered and leaned in as she was looking away. "Otherwise it will be your fault I'm late." His breath tickled her ear and caressed her neck. She trembled slightly and closed her eyes.

"You would have kissed me by now," she whispered completely mortified.

"Now please go or you'll really be late." She didn't look at him. She didn't want to face him. He was so mean always forcing her to spill everything. She felt his hand at her chin, and her eyes opened wide in shock. His fingers lightly slid up her right cheek, making her turn to face him.

"Now, I'm the one who's dreaming," he whispered. He was so close, and she couldn't breathe past her pulse.

Ren fought with himself. He fought not to force her into something more, not to grab her waist and pin her to the wall and force his feelings into her. He allowed himself a taste, a small stroke on her cheek. Their kiss was salty from the tempura, but it was a flavor shared between the both of them.

He pulled back, and Kyoko was left quivering. She had closed her eyes and forgot about everything around her until he pulled back, first his lips then his fingers and finally his desire.

"I'll see you on Monday, Kyoko. Be safe," his voice seemed to touch every nerve in her body and then he left. She watched him walk down the hall, about four doors down, and walked in, but not before he looked back with a brilliant smile on his face. She watched the door close behind him, and she felt air burn her lungs as it came rushing through.

She stood there in the hallway reliving that moment and then smacked the back of her head against the wall. Her face twisted in pain.

"No. I'm still awake," Kyoko whispered to herself. She pushed away from the wall and walked back to the elevator, nursing her head.