And I'm back! I know this chapter is slightly smaller than the others, but it serves as an interlude for the second part of this story. That doesn't mean this is a filler chapter, it's a little bit of fluff seeing as the last chapter was a bit on the angst-y side. It's setting up something later on- you'll see ;) Anyway hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter Six

"We're shooting the season finale tomorrow" Kyoko replied as she entered the Darumaya, trying her best to balance whilst she took off her shoes. She settled for resting the phone between her ear and shoulder, freeing up her hand so that she could undo the straps.

"Ah, I see." Ren's deep voice came through the speaker. "So will there be a season two, or is that a wrap?"

Kyoko almost topped over and had to grab the coat rack to stabilize herself, luckily the phone remained in place so she didn't have an embarrassing situation to explain. At least her shoes were off. "It's the series finale, Box-R was popular but I think everyone is ready to move on now. Even the characters are almost done with their story arcs."

"So tomorrow will be your last day as Natsu then?" Leave it to Ren to get to the point quickly. Kyoko cringed slightly. "How do you feel?"

Kyoko stalled on the staircase, twirling her fingers in her hair. Truth be told it was a tricky question; she wasn't entirely sure how to feel. Okami-san interrupted her thoughts when she attempted to get past. After a few minutes of fumbling and apologies (so much for avoiding embarrassment) Kyoko was able continue the conversation within the confines of her bedroom.

"Um... well I suppose it's a bit of a relief. I've done my job and I'm pleased with the outcome, I've kept up the standards of an actress at my level. I feel like I've done the character justice and it will be nice that my next role isn't a bullying role..." She trailed off, playing with the Daruma doll- tipping it over and watching it upright itself. She smiled at the brief distraction before her conflicting thoughts returned, as did the slight frown.

"Buuut..." Ren encouraged.

"But...But...But I'm going to miss her!" Kyoko cried loudly, punching her fist onto her little desk and startling the Daruma doll so that it toppled over again (this went unnoticed to her- as it once again righted itself). "I don't know how to feel about that, Natsu was such a bully, she was cruel and sadistic and an antagonist and I am going to actually miss her! What does that say about my own personality? How awful a person must I be to miss playing someone who treats others in such a cruel manner?! It's despicable!"

And just as she was prepared for Ren to admonish her for her foolish thoughts, he instead did something that completely floored her. He laughed.

"Is there something funny about this scenario which I'm missing Tsuraga-san?" Kyoko sulked, a pout forming on her dainty chin. She would have crossed her arms also, but she would have dropped the phone. Something she was considering if her kept laughing at her.

"I'm sorry" Ren chuckled trying to compose himself, he coughed and continued in a more composed manner "I'm sorry Kyoko, I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that I understand how you feel. I felt the same way when Tragic Marker ended."

Kyoko was so startled at this that she actually did drop her phone, once again fumbling with it and offering quick apologies; she spluttered "But Black Jack was a murderous villain, he was evil!"

"Yes and he also helped me a lot" Ren explained "with lots of things, but one thing he did in particular was help me broaden my skills as an actor"

"You don't need to broaden your skills Tsuraga-san" Kyoko chided softly, the words coming instinctively "you're already the top actor in Japan, nobody else comes close."

There was a long silence on the phone on Ren's side, so long in fact that Kyoko pulled her ear away from the speaker to check that the call hadn't disconnected. Eventually when he did speak it was a slightly strangled sounding "Thank you...that means a lot, coming from you."

Now it was Kyoko's turn to be silent. However despite the fact that nothing came out of her mouth, her mind was a flood of thoughts, and her heart hammered on her chest so hard that she was sure Ren would be able to hear it through the phone. Why would he say such a thing? Why would he single her out as special?

Of course! Kyoko concluded. It must be another flirting lesson, learning to take a man's special attention. Tsuraga-san is such a good Sempai, leaving me to figure that out for myself!

She beamed at her logical explanation and replied cheerfully "You're very welcome Tsuraga-san; I wouldn't say something like that if I didn't mean it! But anyway- I suppose I understand what you mean. Just because a character is devious, doesn't mean you can't learn something from them. In all honesty though, I think I'm also going to miss Natsu's style. She was very fashionable, a true lady of wealth." She trailed off, thinking of all the outfits and the makeup that she would miss. It would get lonely without their magic.

"I think in that case it's best to look ahead, think of your next role and other roles to come, who knows what possibilities await you in the future? Speaking of which, the President invited me to a party at the Hotel Okura tomorrow, would that by chance be the Box-R wrap up party?"

Kyoko nodded, forgetting that he couldn't see for a split second. "Yes actually although it wasn't meant to be a grand party, I believe it started off as a meal at a nice restaurant, but the President heard this and he's turned it into a larger scale one as expected."

"I'm sure he had his reasons as to why." Ren replied and Kyoko couldn't help but notice the tone of suspicion in his voice. "So do you have an escort to the party?"

Kyoko blushed and replied shyly. "No. Although Mo- I mean Kanae-san has agreed to go shopping with me tomorrow to help me find a dress. We found out that it was going to be a party very last minute, and I realised I had nothing to wear."

"You don't have any dresses?" Ren replied and she could practically hear his raised eyebrow.

"Well I do, but didn't you hear the party is a masquerade one? The President says we have to go in disguise and the last person to be discovered wins some sort of prize, there is also a prize for the most outstanding or opulent costume. So Kanae-san and I are going to go and buy masks and see if we can find any period outfits for hire."

Tsuraga-san was once again quiet for quite some time, which made Kyoko nervous and she wasn't quite sure why. There was no logical reason for her to feel nervous, and yet she did.

"Tsuraga-san?" She inquired nervously.

"Forgive me, Kyoko, I was lost in thought" he replied and Kyoko breathed out a sigh of relief. "I was going to ask if you wanted picking up for the party tomorrow night but, instead I have an idea. That is providing you can find a safe way of getting to the party? I will drop you off home at the end of the evening of course."

"You don't have to do that; I can find my own way safely both to and from the party." She was going to continue her protest, until she remembered the tips from her magazine Flirting tip 21. A man who is willing to escort you to different places is a true gentleman, and a gentleman expects a lady. So act with grace! "But that's very kind, of course I will accept. What was your idea?"

"Well, it's as you said, the idea of a masquerade party is to try and figure out who is who" Ren said as he looked out of his apartment window at the ever-darkening horizon. The idea was absurd, and he wasn't sure she'd go along with it. But things had changed since that night a week ago, the night they'd spent holding hands, laughing at funny sitcoms and talking about nothing of importance until two in the morning, when he'd finally had to drag himself back to reality and take her home. He'd had a taste of what it would be like to actually be with her, and it made him ache inside. He knew it was stupid, he knew that it was one thing he had to get used to never getting, but damn it he did want it. Now more than ever.

And even if he couldn't be with her fully, he'd use the time spent helping her with this role to the fullest extent. He'd lose himself in the fantasy because really that was all he had. It made him feel pathetic, but it was the truth. He was a drowning man grasping for air bubbles.

"I suggest we play a little game, as part of your flirt coaching." He explained, his heart pounding painfully against his chest "you have to find me at the party and, if you think you've found me, you have to say something flirtatious to me."

There was a long pause, Ren couldn't help but notice that there had been quite a few of those in this conversation, before Kyoko stammered out a response.

"B-but Tsuraga-san, what if I flirt with someone else by accident?"

The thought had occurred to him and he hated the idea of her flirting with another man, but at the same time the risk far outweighed the reward for what he had in mind if she succeeded.

"I guess I underestimated your abilities to spot me in a crowd. I thought you would have known me better than that by now." He heaved a heavy sigh, and it wasn't completely dishonest. He was quite disappointed that she doubted herself.

"I- I suppose you're right, I mean I have spent a lot of time with you" She trailed off, murmuring something about his proportions and how tall he was, and Ren couldn't help but feel a swell of happiness that she'd taken such notice of him. "I'm sure I could find you. But I won't f-flirt with you until I'm absolutely sure."

"I don't expect anything less; I wouldn't want you flirting with anyone after all." He replied and hoped she'd get his meaning, just this once, just this one time.

"No I wouldn't want to embarrass you like I did at the Dark Moon party, nor would I want to give anyone a false impression of my intent. That could get rather awkward."

Ren hung his head in his hands wishing, for the millionth time, that things could be just a little bit simpler. Alas nothing ever was with the girl he loved. It was just the way things were and he'd better accept it.

"But...Tsuraga-san?" Kyoko's voice suddenly sounded so small that Ren grew worried. Was she going to back out of the plan?

"Yes?" He replied with a degree of trepidation.

"You have women flirting with you all the time, I'm sure it will be no different at this party. If a woman...came up to you...and- and started flirting. If it wasn't me...would you flirt back?"

Just as he had begun losing hope, once more hope shone a glorious ray of light onto him. His soul lightened. Maybe, just maybe, she'd begun to feel something for him? Maybe she was, dare he even think it, worried that he'd focus his attentions on another woman?

"Kyoko" He said in his most gentle, sincere, and yet serious voice "I promise you there is no way that I would flirt with a woman unless I absolutely knew it was you."

OOOOH the plot, and the romance, thickens. So what do you think will happen? Do you think Kyoko will find Ren? What does he have planned if she succeeds? Let me know what you think by reviewing ;) I'm interested to hear your opinions!

Until the next time!