And I'm back after being gone for a week and a half! Am very sorry but life suddenly got very hectic :D I had two birthdays over the course of a weekend and a best friend who had laser eye surgery so had to sort out all the presents and put my nursing skills to the test. But everything's fine and I've made up for the slight delay with the longest chapter yet- so I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Four

Kyoko stood before the rack of magazines with shivering hands. The rest of her body, on the other hand, seemed to have frozen. But she would do this, she had to do it. It was research. She was still pure Kyoko and this was just for a role. It wasn't even that big of a deal anyway.

So why did she feel like throwing up a little?

It was a Sunday- a much needed day off after so many days of shooting Box-R's intense scenes- but Kyoko felt restless. The Darumaya wasn't open today either, as the Taisho couple were visiting the hospital again. Kyoko had slept in but had decided at breakfast to have a walk around town, people watch perhaps, and maybe buy some lunch. She had thought about messaging Chiori and Moko-san, however she remembered that both of them were busy. That was fine though, Kyoko was used to being on her own. As a child she had spent most of her days alone, playing pretend games with imaginary friends or going out to explore, and she was very much an advocate of the phrase 'being alone doesn't equal loneliness'.

As she had walked the streets, casually sipping a sweet tea, she noticed a health and beauty store selling the latest line of fashionable makeup at fifty percent off for one weekend only. Her heart had swelled. She hadn't been able to resist the pull, stepping inside to get a better look at the objects of her hopes and dreams. The makeup was flower-themed and Kyoko had had a wonderful time looking at the colours of the lipsticks and their names. Honeysuckle was a sweet little pink lipstick; Bluebell was a light violet, Lily a deep pink.

Then she had spotted the Rose lipstick. The deepest and most beautiful red, the colour of Sleeping Beauty's lips, and Kyoko had immediately thought that Yui- her new character- would have lips like that. Her imagination had spiralled from that point until she felt that she had to buy the lipstick. She felt she needed it to become Yui. Yui would have bought the lipstick if she'd seen it. She decided, as it was on sale, that she was allowed to buy something like that. It wasn't for her but for her job after all. So she had picked up one for herself, making her way over to the pay point.

It was then that she had seen the rack of womens magazines. Right at the entrance to the pay point, where they would have garnered the most attention. On any normal day Kyoko would have breezed past them without a second thought but at that moment, the headlines on one magazine caught her eye:

'50 tips to flirt your way through anything!

Look Sexy AND classy? Yes you can!

First date fears? How to get back out there.'

Kyoko debated furiously with herself. She didn't want to waste money on something she would never read again. But on the other hand she couldn't expect Tsuraga-san to teach her EVERYTHING there was to know about flirting, he had his own life, his own career. He was too busy to help her at every waking moment. She wondered if her character would have ever read one of these magazines. Kyoko frowned, her first thought was that most smart women were capable, and didn't need magazines such as the one before her. One the other hand she'd seen many business types and even fellow actresses reading such magazines- usually when on their break. Perhaps it was relaxing, reading something that didn't require you to think too much, whilst picking up useful tips here and there...

'Are you going to line up dear?' An older woman stopped behind her with a smile, pulling her out of her reverie.

'Oh- ah- yes. Sorry.' Kyoko stammered, and before she knew what she was doing she had picked up the magazine and made her way over to the nearest available cashier.

After all, Tsuraga-san had been impressed with her showing initiative. Kyoko smiled confidently to herself. She hoped to continue that trend.

The few days after the texting incident, Yashiro had been absolutely relentless in teasing Ren. He hadn't even needed to talk, just sat there with such a goofy expression of glee on his face that Ren wasn't sure if his manager had suffered some sort of brain injury from the 'excitement' of it all.

Well if Yashiro hadn't suffered a brain injury, he was heading towards one if he didn't wipe that stupid grin off of his face. Ren's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he reigned in his Kuon-esque anger. The worst part was whenever he had run into Kyoko in Yashiro's presence. He could literally feel the vibrations coming off of his manager in his attempt to keep his mouth shut. Yes, Ren had been very firm on that. Yashiro wasn't supposed to know about the flirt-coaching. If Kyoko found out that he knew...Ren didn't even want to think about what would happen.

Yashiro was currently wearing that damned grin in the backseat of the car, whilst Kyoko rode up front with him. He'd surprised her with his fixed phone, calling her to ask if she was free for the evening as he was. It turned out they'd both had a free day, and Ren cursed himself for not calling her sooner. He could have spent all day with her. But he supposed, like all other aspects of his relationship with the Marigold-topped actress, he would just have to accept what the gods gave him and be happy with it.

He took a sideways glance at the young girl in the passenger seat beside him, staying perfectly quiet and watching the world go by. He could tell she was lost in thought, her elbow rested on the door handle and her hand across her mouth. He fought down a different kind of urge- the urge to just simply reach down and give her knee a reassuring squeeze. But he suspected his manager's brain would explode from fan girl happiness if he gave into that particular want. That, among the other more obvious reasons, kept his hand firmly on the steering wheel and his eyes fixed onto the road until he'd dropped Yashiro off and they made their way to his apartment. Perhaps it was nerves keeping him silent, perhaps it was anticipation. Either way Kyoko seemed to sense that his mood wasn't entirely relaxed. As a result she seemed to keep quiet herself and the whole scenario seemed very awkward.

'It would probably be best if we ordered takeout tonight, we have a lot of ground to cover and it wouldn't exactly help if you were stuck in the kitchen for half of the night.' Ren said, finally breaking the silence as they stepped into his apartment. 'I know a place that does slightly healthier takeout, it's not greasy at all. My treat, seeing as you cooked last time-'

Ren stopped right in his tracks, just as he'd turned to see Kyoko taking off her jacket. His breath hitched and he was immediately thankful he hadn't seen what she'd looked like whilst driving- because the car might have careened off the road.

She was wearing one of her corsets from the time she'd played Setsu, but she had paired it with one of her own peasant-style skirts. The clash of styles, sweet and sexy, somehow made it just that more tempting for him. It was somehow bold and yet understated. The low-cut style of the corset bared the gentle slope of her cleavage to him, her graceful shoulders and neck caught the light. The light lace of her skirt gave a faint outline of her slim legs. Desire to pull her to him, to explore every inch of that beautiful body, clouded his mind and his mind went blank to all else.

Kyoko shifted under the suddenly intense gaze of her Sempai. She saw something in his eyes, but was slightly unsure of what it was. Judgement? Disapproval? No, it didn't seem negative. And yet it made her very nervous. She had decided to implement some, not all, of the tips she had read in the magazine earlier- if only to test the water a little. She felt she hadn't quite earned the right to put on the Rose lipstick yet though.

Kyoko wondered if she should tell Tsuraga-san about her research, but perhaps if he were aware it would make his reactions less genuine. Besides, she was a little bit embarrassed. Some of the tips were far too forward for her liking and she didn't want him thinking she was going to anything like jump in his lap (which was part of 'flirting tip number 37: if all else fails- just go for it...').

'Thank you for the offer. It's very kind of you. You don't have to though. I'm sure I could cook something quickly.' She smiled shyly up at him through her lashes, hoping to move past this odd exchange. She reasoned it would seem strange to him, to see her suddenly dressed in one of Setsu's tops whilst out of character.

'Flirting Tip 11: If a man offers to pay for your meal, and is genuine about the offer, never protest too much. He wants to either show off, or just treat you to make you happy. To deny him that chance when he's offered could hurt his pride. It's ok to protest a little, but do it gently and let him know his gesture is appreciated. Remember tip 1! A smile does go a long way.'

Well it seemed to do the trick of getting Ren to stop gawking at the poor girl like he was a dog and she a piece of meat. He turned away from her to hide the redness creeping up in his face and to calm himself down a bit, using the gesture of finding the take out menu to cover this. He immediately denied her offer and insisted that tonight he was treating her, and they set about ordering their meal. Ren kept his eyes firmly off of her cleavage whilst she reached up to grab glasses and help him set the table and eventually they settled into a comfortable routine. They discussed the benefits of days off, and what they would like to do if they had each had a more extended amount of time away from work. Ren said that he would like to fly out to Hawaii and just relax on a beach for days, perhaps even sleeping under the stars. Kyoko admitted that one day she would like to go to Italy, as she loved the look of the old towns with the cobbled streets and the houses with the flower boxes.

'Did you know in Verona, people write the names of their lovers underneath a balcony that is said to be Juliet's balcony from the Shakespeare play?' Ren stated after a mouthful of grilled salmon onigiri. Kyoko frowned.

'Why would people want to do that? Didn't Romeo and Juliet die at the end of the play?' She asked playing with some of the noodles on her plate whilst she thought about it. Ren chuckled at her logical response. The girl had such a clashing nature. Sometimes she could be swept away by the fantasy- although that was mostly if it was fairytale influenced. However sometimes the LoveMe side of her would flare up and she'd ask a question like that. For some odd reason it made him happy. Kyoko could never be called predictable.

'Yes I suppose when you put it like that it does seem strange. But think about the sacrifices Romeo and Juliet made to be together, even as far as the ultimate sacrifice. I suppose people believe writing the name of the one they love symbolises their devotion to their relationship.' Ren said and the pair fell into a thoughtful silence.

Kyoko didn't know what possessed her to ask, but the words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them-

'So, would you write anyone's name down?'

Ren nearly choked on his Miso.

'Flirting tip 22: Catch them off guard: If a man is telling you an anecdote, catch him off guard with an unexpected and daring question/statement. One of our readers, Sakura, tells us her story. "On our first date, my boyfriend- a fireman- told me a story of his training. After he'd finished I said something really cheesy- along the lines of him having to be an exceptionally good identifier of all things hot. He was surprised for a second but he grinned and replied that he was also an expert of things that were smoking and we laughed for about ten minutes over how silly it was. It helped ease the first-date tension and I think it really helped show we were both attracted to each other." So there you go girls!'

What on earth could she have meant asking that question? Ren looked at her face, growing more rapidly red, her eyes wide. She was embarrassed but holding firm. He wondered if her motive was to attempt to start flirting, if she was showing initiative again seeing as he praised her. He hoped that somewhere in the deep recesses of her closed off heart; she was attempting to see if he held a candle for her. But of course that was impossible.

Definitely the most unpredictable girl I've ever met.

The longer Ren didn't answer the more Kyoko felt her resolve crumbling. This had been such a bad idea. She was sure she'd stunned him into silence with her forwardness. Perhaps she was testing the waters too much, perhaps he thought her arrogant now. But she had been curious. Behind the facade of acting, she wondered if he would ever tell her (out of the Bo-suit anyway) about the high school girl he had loved. She wondered if he still loved her. Her hands shook slightly and suddenly she felt an intense hatred for that stupid magazine. She was going to burn it the second she got home. Deep in her fantasies of burning the magazine to ashes whilst it begged for mercy, Kyoko didn't notice the expression on her beloved Sempai's face change until he finally responded- in a voice as silky smooth as luxury ice cream.

'Why, would you be jealous if I did?'

He wasn't quite the Emperor of the night, but he was very close to it. His dark hair fell into his eyes as he tilted his head with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. His hand rested on the side of his head and his smirk was one of playful seduction. Kyoko's legs shivered and she found herself lucky to be sitting down.

But it wasn't the flirting look he was giving her. No. It was his question that was really causing her trouble.

Would she be jealous if he was in love with another woman? Kyoko liked to think she wasn't the jealous type. She wasn't stupid, she was aware her feelings towards the man sitting across from her had grown far beyond that of simply Sempai-Kohai and even past friendship. She was attracted to him; she was drawn to his personality. She enjoyed spending time with him and he made her feel safe and welcome. But she couldn't let those feelings spiral, she had to keep them under control or risk everything she'd gained. It was difficult. Especially when he looked at her the way he was now.

It's just acting Kyoko, it doesn't mean anything.

But what if he was still in love with that high school girl? What if she was like one of the girls that used to have a crush on Sho back in middle school? Kyoko couldn't see any girlfriend being comfortable with Kyoko spending so much time at Tsuraga-san's apartment. Regardless of how innocent it truly was. Things would change, she was sure of it; she wouldn't be able to see him. The phone calls and messages would stop; his imparting of wisdom would be a thing of the past. They would continue their lives without each other...

And suddenly Kyoko didn't feel jealous. Instead she felt like the world was crumbling around her.

'Kyoko?' She snapped her eyes back up to Ren, who called out her name and no longer looked like he could seduce women with a single glance. No, now he was looking her with a mixture of concern and confusion. 'Are you alright?'

Her heartbeat quickened and she wrestled to find any sort of viable excuse for her peculiar behaviour. She put on a sheepish smile, one that Ren could see through the second it stretched on her face.

'Sorry. I guess I was just lost in thought. Flirting...it's all very new to me, and I guess I haven't gotten the hang of playfully flirting. I don't really know how to respond to you, how to convey the coolness you'd expect from someone who was a natural at this.' She stammered out and it was the truth, just not the entire truth. Kyoko swallowed the guilty feeling inside when Ren gave her a look that suggested he knew there was more to it than that, but he wasn't going to press her for more. This surprised her- she'd expected the gentleman smile. Perhaps whatever he had made peace with during the Tragic Marker filming must have affected other aspects of his life too.

'Hmm...' Ren thought for a moment, stroking around his chin slightly in thought and leaning back in his chair. 'Well maybe we're going about this the wrong way. I think in order for things to feel more natural, you have to relax. We should probably start with the basics of flirting.'

'What do you mean?' Kyoko asked, tilting her head in confusion in an entirely charming way which caused Ren to force his mind to focus back on topic.

'It doesn't do to just say words and expect them to be conveyed in a flirtatious manner. Think about Mio and the way she holds herself tall and proud, think of Natsu with her catwalk model style of movement. Think of Setsu with her defiant, confident pose. As an actress, you do these movements and gestures naturally because they are part of the character and help convey their personality. In other words we need to start by addressing the body language of people when they flirt.'

Kyoko gulped 'Body language? Of people that flirt?' Her mind suddenly brought forward the more lewd images and diagrams she'd seen in that magazine earlier. She felt a panic attack coming on.

Ren nodded, standing up and offering her his hand.

'Body language.' He confirmed and she looked at his hand like it was growing snakes from the finger tips. Her eyes bulged wide and she looked up at him.

'Wait. Right now?!' She cried, failing to keep the squeak of fear from her voice as he took her hand and started guiding her out of the kitchen towards the living room. 'But- but dinner! And we- we have to tidy up. The dishes need cleaning!' She was aware she sounded like a complete idiot, but she'd rather be an idiot who still had SOME semblance of dignity left.

Ren turned to her and she'd never felt more like a trapped mouse in her entire life.

If he wasn't in Emperor of the Night mode before, he certainly was now.

'The dishes can wait.'

I don't know why I enjoy embarassing my characters so much. Maybe it's because I think both Ren and Kyoko are so cute when they're flustered XD anyway- reviews are love! The feedback on this is so amazing, so keep going! I love hearing all your thoughts :D

Til the next time! Xx