A/N: The Chicken Dance!

Whew! This week has been exhausting! We've had so much taping for 'Box R.' I've been trying to catch up at school, both high school and acting school. Any moment I'm not busy doing any of those, I'm doing Love Me work. Today, I even had filming for 'Kimagure Rock' on top of all those. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to help out at the Daruma-ya to help pay my rent, but I'll work extra next week to make up for it. I also picked up a few more projects that had script readings this week too. I want to make sure I have some projects lined up for when 'Dark Moon' ends soon.

Normally, I find it exciting to be busy. It makes me feel like I'm making progress towards becoming a successful actress. Making progress toward a new Mogami Kyoko that I can be proud of. I'm also looking forward to making Sho's chin drop and be able to say "See Sho? This is what I can be without you. Look at what you threw away so heartlessly." Though I don't know if I'd actually go and say it. He might come up with some stupid retort.

I don't find it as exciting when I've had so little sleep. Ever since Ren dropped me off after our date, I haven't been able to sleep well...

Just thinking back to our departure makes my heart race.

Ren left a zombie to close the front door. I either floated or oozed upstairs to my room, I'm not sure which. After I had closed my own door, I collapsed and leaned against it. It was as if I stopped functioning. I tingled everywhere. My lips burned. My heart hammered against my ribs. He was right. I was convinced by that second kiss. Before, it all could have been a misunderstanding since I bumped into him so suddenly. He might have felt obligated to return the words and kiss me. But there was no mistaking that he meant to kiss me this time. Not to mention the way he looked at me when I went to feed him from my own chopsticks... Emperor of the Night still boggles me.

I really didn't think about getting ready and into bed. My brain was racing and empty at the same time. I never felt this way about Shotaro. I always cared about him, but I never felt like this about him. What was that all about then? Did I actually love him? Or was it something else? Then what is this with Ren? Those thoughts and a thousand others kept me from sleep over the course of this week. Even now, they stopped me from remembering that I was standing in the middle of the hallway at TBM Studios in Bo's costume. He still has the power to make my brain suddenly stop functioning! I haven't even spoken with him since then! We've been so booked that we haven't even spoken on the phone. Though there have been plenty of messages left on both of our voicemails.

A familiar voice echoed down the hall cutting off my thoughts.

"Bo! It's good to see you!" Huh? Was that Ren? What was he doing here? Where is Yashiro-san? Wait, Ren can't find me here! I looked at him with started eyes. Was there a way to escape? I glanced around to see if there was an excuse to run off or an easy way to disappear.

"Why does it look like you're trying to run from me? Aren't we on friendly terms?" His gave a nervous smile. While as his kohai, I've seen a side of Tsuruga Ren that most people don't get to see; but after our collision in LME's hallway, I'm starting to see a whole other side of him. I was curious why he'd be nervous around Bo. He tells him things that he wouldn't tell others. He came closer so he could speak to me properly. I decided to stand my ground and speak to him.

"Ah yes, we are." I decided to joke a bit. I don't like seeing him nervous. "You aren't depressed and sitting in a deserted hallway like I normally find you." His nervousness lessened. I inwardly sighed in relief.

"I was doing an interview down the hall, but I thought I'd stop by and see if you were around. As for why I'm not depressed, I have good news that I wanted to share with you."

I started to panic. Was he going to tell me about that other high school girl? But then, why was he nervous? Was it only because I looked like I was going to run away?

He didn't stop so I couldn't cut him off and ask. The thought about the girl came up again. Is that why I couldn't get a hold of him this week? Did he finally get together with that girl?

"I wanted to thank you. If it weren't for you, I would have never realized how I really felt about the girl I told you about. She feels the same way I do about her, too." Oh, he really did get together with that other girl. He's been so busy spending time with her that I haven't been able to see him, let alone speak with him on the phone. This is why I never wanted to experience that stupid emotion love again. When I finally thought that I found someone that wouldn't throw me away so callously, I'm just a victim to his playboy whims. I knew all along he was only a playboy! I should have run after I blurted out those three words! Unaware of the chaos and frustration underneath the chicken head, Ren continued.

"We actually went to dinner last Thursday. Her career is picking up, so I haven't gotten to see her since then though… But I thought, since you helped so much, that you'd appreciate that your efforts weren't wasted."

Huh? Wait, that's when I went to dinner with him. And he wouldn't eat dinner twice. He would do just about anything to get out of eating more than he had to. And along with that, I was super busy lately, too.

He was smiling that bright genuine smile that he shows me sometimes. Thunder struck.

"WHAAAATTT?" I squawked out. He was startled at my sudden outburst.

I snatched off my head.

"You were talking about me that whole time?" Ren's eyes widened tremendously. I realized too late I probably should have kept my head on. My shock made me forget how I didn't want to associate myself with Bo, or at least, to Ren. I didn't want him to know that his anonymous mascot confidant was his silly little kohai. I didn't want him to be embarrassed at all the things he told me, but I guess it's too late for that now.

"…Kyoko… What are you doing dressed as a chicken?" I thought I saw a large question mark floating above his head.

"Ummmm…" Must escape! This is a horrible situation! I glanced around again in case an escape appeared in the past minute or so.

"Kyoko?" He asked again tentatively. I was frozen on the spot. What do I tell him? How do I explain this? I tried opening my mouth to respond but I was cut off by another voice that called from down the hall.

"Kyoko-chan, I just wanted to tell you thanks for a good job as always. Unless you're hungry and want to get your favorite anpan..." When Hikaru-san came closer and passed the corner, he saw a very startled and confused Tsuruga Ren standing there. Hikaru-san's chuckles die away as his face pales. Why the sudden change? I snap my head to look at Ren. The Demon Lord glared at the much shorter TV host. It was nice not to be on the receiving end of that stare for once. Hikaru-san turned and was nearly sprinting back where he came from.

"I'll see you later, Kyoko-san!" He called hurriedly over his shoulder. Kyoko-san? Why the sudden change to formality? Oh...

Oh no, oh no, now I can't even deny that I'm only a substitute! Ren knows that I eat with the hosts and that I'm "always" there. Slowly, I look back at Ren.

At first he gives me the "You lied to me again" glare. His face then drops all expression becoming stone solid. Was he going to look away from me in disgust? I've had nightmares about that before but never thought it would happen this way! I was not expecting his lips to quiver and then burst out laughing. What? What was so funny about this all of a sudden?

"You mean, I basically confessed how I feel to you and you think I'm talking about some other high school girl?" He leaned up against the wall clutching his stomach. My jaw dropped. Tsuruga Ren laughing in the middle of a hallway? It was like the time he nearly kissed me on his kitchen floor. Ren just lost it. I could only watch in awe and confusion. I liked seeing him enjoying himself like this though.

A couple people that walked by were surprised to see the Tsuruga Ren laughing so freely. I gave them an excuse to walk away quickly.

"Gomen, Gomen, I just told my sempai about one of my roles. It's why I was embarrassed to tell him about it in the first place." I continued muttering. "I knew he would look down on my first role." A little bit of Mio slipped out at that last part. It was enough to get them to continue on. An actor sempai laughing at his kohai for having a mascot as a role was reasonable enough. Well, it's also part of the reason I didn't tell him about it. He finally wrangled in some of his laughter.

"Ahh, I guess it's no wonder that you were in Love Me after all." He wiped away a tear from his eyes. His smile was rather… boyish. My lungs filled quickly. Ah, that look wasn't handsome. It was cute. But "cute" doesn't seem to fit with him. Like that time I was petting his hair, I thought his hair was cute. Or when he pouts, that's adorable. Maybe he can be cute sometimes, but the rest of the time... he's unbelievably handsome.

Still, it doesn't change that he laughed at me. I pouted. I felt like I needed to defend myself since it wasn't obvious. At least, I didn't find it obvious. How can he expect me to assume that?

"There wasn't any reason to assume it was me. Why would you fall in love with someone like me? There are so many other prettier and more talented girls than me…" I fought to keep a sigh from escaping.

"I have lots of reasons, Kyoko-chan. I don't think you realize how much you've grown up in the past year." He was acknowledging me? It is a bit vague, but no matter how you look at it, it means I've made progress! He paused and tilted his head to the side.

"You know, the president was shocked when he realized who I fell in love with. He said something along the lines of 'Why did you have to fall for such a difficult person, Love's number one absentee?' I fully understand what he meant now." He looked like an amused angel. That's new. Is he thinking 'Silly Mogami-san. not being able to realize that I've been in love with you this whole time'?

"It's not like I told you to fall in love with me." I muttered. The ground was a much safer place to look right now.

"Well, maybe not exactly that, but you did tell me a few other things: 'Hurry up and deepen your relationship." His fingers tilted my chin up so I would look up at him.

"'She's good enough to be your partner.'" His angelic smile beamed at me.

"'She can even get married!'" His thumb caressed my cheek. His angelic aura was traded in for Emperor of the Night. He leaned in so his face was close to mine.

He whispered:"'Seduce her with all your might...'" Oh Kami! I really did say those things! Ah!

He closed the distance between our lips. His lips slid across mine slowly a few times before he drew away. I found that breathing and any more thinking is really difficult right now. A warm fiery feeling burned in my stomach. His smirk broadened. So that's how you deal with that expression! Wait, so he wanted to kiss me all those other times too? I guess I really was in Love Me for a reason.

Ren kissed my cheek before straightening up. He started moving towards his next appointment, though not before looking over his shoulder.

"I checked with Sawara-san about your schedule. I'll pick you up for dinner tomorrow night, Kyoko."

The only thing I could do was let my heart thud against my chest. I managed to nod finally, though I'm not sure if he saw. A smile crept on my face as I continued to stand there. I really missed this feeling of "love."