anonymous requested: Can you please do 17 and Ameripan?
17. Shy kiss
Considering what they had filmed so far for an erotic thriller, Alfred had not considered that the kissing scene would pose a problem. But there Kiku was, waving his copy of the script around, and speaking in rapid Japanese as the director hummed and hawed.
"What's going on?" he asked the on-site translator who was just passing through.
"Ah, Honda-san is not happy with the kiss scene, very not happy."
"But why? Wasn't he told?"
The translator only shrugged and hurried away, his eye on the clock.
It was another half hour before his co-star ran out of steam and the crew was roused to take their places onset. Kiku stood with his back to Alfred, the tips of his ears tinged red as he stared at the script that he was holding upside down.
"No worry, he say he do it," the translator whispered to Alfred with a thumbs up.
Kiku turned to face him. The camera began rolling, the clapperboard snapped shut, and he slipped into character as smoothly as a mask falls over a face. Alfred had to marvel at his professionalism.
They said their lines, Kiku finishing his and Alfred reciting his character's tortuous ardour, and all too quickly it was time for the kiss:
THE DENTIST reaches out his hand. Pushes JOHN's hair out of his face and STROKES his cheek. He leans in and KISSES JOHN…
Kiku froze, stopping just short of kissing Alfred. The camera continued to roll but he remained frozen in place. His hand shivered against Alfred's cheek.
Before the director could call for a break, Alfred lunged forward and caught Kiku's lips with his, brushing the lightest and swiftest of kisses to Kiku's trembling mouth. For some reason he felt suddenly hot around his neck.
They turned away from each other afterwards, their cheeks flaming with embarrassment.
The director called exasperatedly for a cut.