CH3.2

A/N: Yes this chapter as redone again for the 3rd time.

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A few days later

"Uff," Kyoko mewed as she bumped into a wall as she turned a corner at LME; her balanced slightly lost until hands guided her back up right. Blinking a few times at the strange fabric wall that caught her, she slowly lifted her eyes up and was met by a familiar face.

"Good afternoon," Kyoko smiled as she stepped back from the man, who assisted her and bowed.

"Good afternoon to you too Kyoko-chan, its been a while are you feeling better now," Yashiro inquired as he inspected her features for any signs of fever.

"Yep, I'm pretty good now, I started working again a little with a few scenes for Box-R this week and some LoveMe duties," she updated him. Her eyes slowly wondered up to the face of the man next to him and she could feel her body getting warm at the gaze aimed at her; its been almost a week, Kyoko thought to herself as her hands clasped themselves.

"Good afternoon," Kyoko shyly almost whispered out to Ren, as he took a deep breath.

"Good afternoon... Mogami-san," a sting shot through her body at his words, it was strange reverting back to formalities, did it mean that she had to revert back to Tsuruga-san?

I have to behave... it was agreed that it would be Kyoko-chan only until she got better; geez why do I want to crash my head to hers to kis- no check her forehead, is she really better, her cheeks look a little flushed.

"Are you in a rush today? Have you eaten?" Kyoko asked him snapping his focus back to her.

Ren smiled at her concern for his health, "we had a sandwich and some fruit for lunch and I have a reading in a bit," he replied as he watched her acknowledged sadly; she was hoping to have lunch together since it had been a while. "You still owe me a meal when your free," he informed her, bringing a shy smile to her as she said she remembered;' Maybe he's skipping meals purposely so he can get you to cook for him and spend time together' Senri's words ran through her mind.

A touch caused her eyes to draw to his hand that had slowly reached out to her and caressed her arm. "Did you need a lift home, I'm driving by the restaurant;" he asked politely, but Kyoko shook her head slightly.

"I still need to see the President about... about some security procedures," her voice quivered as memories began creeping into her thought, and the pair could see her skin growing pale. Yashiro turned to his charge, who was affected by her quivering voice; he could tell this time Ren knew what happened completely, even if he did not.

"Nothing's going to happen to you while you're here or with me or anyone who cares for you," Ren's reassuring voice spoke; Kyoko looked up and didn't realize when he had moved down to her eye level, both hands on her shoulder while gazing comfortingly into her eyes; "we'll make sure that you're safe the best we can." A small gaze to Yashiro also confirmed his commitments to those words.

Her heart beated a little faster at the sincere words he spoke and she could feel his hands warming her through her jacket and throughout her body, bringing utmost comfort to her. She smiled to herself; no harm would come to her under LME's roof or while in their presence, especially his.

"Thank You," she spoke earnestly as his expression began lifting again. Pleased with her better mood, Ren stood back up right with a quiet sigh as he looked at his watch.

"We have to get going soon, Ren," Yashiro spoke out the breaking news to Kyoko; as much as he liked the blossoming conversation, if they were late it would only make Kyoko feel responsible, and as a buddy he brought up the time to spare Ren having to tell her.

"Oh, I'm sorry you have to get going don't you, we can chat more next time," Kyoko spoke out as a subtly sadness passed her; at least I saw him today... even if only for a bit.

"No need to apologize Mogami-san," another sting went through the pair, "it was really good to see you today." Ren glanced to Yashiro who had his schedule open, he looked up and gave him an apologetic smile; it was not possible to make time today.

"Would you like us to escort you to the President Mog-"

"NO," Kyoko shot out stunning the two at her protest; Kyoko blinked in shock a few times when she realized how she responded. "Sorry no, I'll be ok and I don't want you to... to be late," she looked away guiltily.

The male pair glanced at each other before turning back to the teen; "Alright then, we'll be heading off then Kyoko-chan, bye," Yashiro spoke as he began heading towards the car park, he paused a few steps away when Ren hadn't followed yet.

"Are you sure your alright," Ren asked Kyoko again; she nodded and looked up to him.

"I guess I'm just a little tired," she sighed; she was more mentally tired than physically.

"Don't overwork yourself, you only just got better," Ren spoke in a lonely voice as he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear, briefly touching her face; his smile lifted Kyoko heart as she remembered how caring he had been to her. It saddened her heart when she watched him rejoin Yashiro and wave a final goodbye to her as his back disappeared further away.

She stood there for moment as thoughts ran through her mind, and soon she ran to the car park looking for him. Turning frantically to find him she spotted him just as he was about to step into his car.

"Tsu- tsu-," she drew her hand to her throat as the words caught; darn it; she looked up with determined eyes and took a deep breath, "REN!"

Pausing his motion, Ren turned around and his eyes widened when he saw who had called his name out. Kyoko beamed when he heard her and jogged quickly to meet the wide-eyed Ren, catching her breath as he stared stunned at her.

"Um Tsuruga-san... you can still call me by my first name if you want, it might be strange to switch back, oh but that's if you want to," a blush crossed her breathless face.

"Ren."

"Eh?" she looked up to him with her flushed face.

"Same goes for you, it's only fair, if it's too hard or strange to call me Tsuruga use my first name, Kyoko-chan."

He saw her eye become like doe's and it confused him briefly; she should have expected this right? She did come after me to go on first names basis right? Initially he felt that it was slightly cruel of her to call him Ren then suddenly switch back to Tsuruga, but hopefully he can make a little win for himself now.

"Ren is shorter than Tsuruga-san, but if you want to keep our relationship then Ren-san," IDIOT, Ren cursed himself mentally at his words; as much as he preferred just Ren, he didn't want her to runaway embarrassed so Ren-san would be a good mid-point.

The words processed through Kyoko's mind; Ren-san… I can live with that. Kyoko didn't speak but responded with a subtly adorable nod; Ren smiled at his little triumph.

Feeling a growing desire to embrace her and take her in the backseat of his car he quickly continued getting into his car with his passenger who was in a chaos mix of agony and delight; giving another goodbye they were off again to work as Kyoko waved farewell whilst she pondered his words and the Ren's hand gripped the steering wheel tightly.

"Relationship?" Kyoko whispered to herself as her hand drew to her lips as she remembered what she did that night, and she panicked, what did he mean?

The mildly sweet water from beneath the ground was surfacing to a dry spring; the recent time they spent together watered her withered emotions... and she had bravely taken them to her heart when their lips touched and again just then. She grabbed her top towards her heart with determined eyes; I'm okay... even if those emotions return I won't be stupid again, I won't show him, I- I can use it to become a better actress... that box is still securely locked so I'll be okay. Standing back upright she began returning into the building, pretending that nothing had changed, but what she hadn't realized was that the she was picking the locks to her own heart.

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