CHAPTER 73

I do not own skip beat! Yoshiki Nakamura does.

Troubles?

Kyoko remained staring at her two friends, the messed-up spiky rebel light hairs framing a straight forward look and appearance of Luke, a grin eating his face up. And the unpretentious but prime look of Jake with a face surrounded by brown heavy curls reaching his nape and kind blue eyes, sporting an apologetic smile to her intention. It apparently took her too long to react, still as she stayed, gaping and cursing Kayla for not warning her in advance, because all of sudden Luke's arms were around her, holding her against him.

"God, it's good to see you!"He said before she could utter any word of acknowledgment.

She slipped one arm around him in reflex and bent under how much strength he used; greeting back as an automate.

"Hi." She said, a small smile pulling at her lips. It was true it had been a while after all.

Finally, he released her and Jake briefly hugged her too before pulling back.

"Seeing your face, Kayla didn't say anything, "He commented knowingly before adding, "sorry for that. Kayla had to cancel coming after an unexpected proposition came to take pictures of some famous place but Luke had already planned coming with her so she asked if I could go with Luke instead to not let this one unattended."

"Hey!" Protested Luke in reply to this little barb and Kyoko laughed with them.

"It's good to see you both but you should keep your distance for now, I'm kind of sick, though it's already better." She warned.

"You're sick?!" asked Luke and he rushed back to examine her. She sighed internally. She wished she could have dissimulated it, but she didn't want them to catch the virus either so she felt better warning them.

"Just some nasty bug but I'm better, really." She insisted.

Luke peered at her for a moment longer before stepping inside with authority.

"Well, we already hugged you so it's too late to concern yourself with our health," He stated, "as I'm sure it's that you are worried about."

Jake sent him a chiding look but didn't say anything, and she sighed before stepping back to let Jake enter too.

"I already have an assigned overprotective worrywart," she commented, turning her face away with a bemused but tight smile, "no need for more."

When they arrived in the living room, they found Ren sitting on the armchair of couch, legs spread apart, looking all smiles and relaxed but blocking all possibilities to reach the actual cushions of the old sofa. No, looking as if he owned the place even. And she tensed. That was a hell of a lying smile but he couldn't fool her. She nearly missed it for a second, though, with how relaxed he appeared to be. Did she upset him somehow before going to open the door? But he didn't especially bad before she went. She had escaped to the door so he would stop asking questions because she thought she might have slipped a little but he seemed like he had already dropped it when she went.

She wasn't sure what she was feeling but something was off. She was getting mixed vibes from him.

She tried to ignore it as she couldn't question him now and stepped forward between her unexpected guests and him.

"Ren, this is Jake and Luke, two friends from San Francisco," She said, waving in their direction before glancing at Ren, her apprehension rising from the look of his frozen smiling expression. "Jake, Luke, this is Ren Tsuruga, a close friend of mine," She added and resisted fidgeting when silence stretched for an elastic second.

Ren slowly rose to his feet, creepily careful in his moves as he stepped closer to her while he lifted a hand toward Jake. His lips were smiling but something sombre was leaking inside his eyes. Was it still about earlier? Was did he look so down right now?

Jake easily took his hand and he anxiety rose. Now, she really felt awkward. Why did she have to remember that precise event right now?! She didn't feel at ease with those two meeting up for some stupid reason. And oh, she knew very well why. And it made her feel even dumber. Because, it didn't make any sense, because Ren wouldn't even care for all she knew, and because it was well buried in the past anyway.

She contained a smile as she focused on the present again, rubbing her hair off her face self-consciously.

"Nice to meet you," said Jake and Ren succinctly greeted back in kind before shaking Luke's hand too.

Feeling another prolonged silence incoming, she quickly filled the blankness and proposed drinks to her friends.

"Do you want a glass of something? Water? Tea? Coffee? Juice?" She inquired and made her way to the kitchenette with a haste she tried to dissimulate.

But once more, Ren stopped her in her tracks, softly catching her arm as she was about to make boil some water.

"You are still recovering. Let me," he insisted when he saw her about to argue.

"But – "

He looked at her with stern insistence.

"Please."

She caved with a little nod, acknowledging he wouldn't have bulge and unwilling to fight with him right now seeing his volatile mood. She went to sit on the armchair he had been sitting and chatted with Jake and Luke, catching up a bit on each other lives.

That's about the moment she also realized Ren had totally screwed with her. Oh, the man was good. She had said she would prepare breakfast. She was better enough. But here she was, kicked off of the kitchen like some cute puppy. All idea of cooking wiped off in mere seconds. Worse, waiting for him to bring something back to her, and to her friends.

Luke called back for her attention as she was plotting a heavy-meal revenge to this last trick.

"Hm?" She oh-so-elegantly inquired and could see the very displeased expression of Luke as he stared at her.

"I was asking what you had been up to recently, but you obviously weren't listening." He said, and she could see a rising annoyance despite his efforts at staying courteous. Luke was a good friend but she knew he often had a boiling personality. There was no stillness or tranquillity in him. He fired around on anything he cared about like it was his moral duty to defend his beliefs. It made him a very passionate and very honest person. But he was rarely diplomatic or delicate about it in consequence.

"Sorry," She replied contritely, choosing to try to appease him; entering a debate with him was rarely a good idea. She too fully agreed you had to defend your convictions and passions and express yourself if you could. Especially if you felt strongly about it.

But there were the meaning behind, and the way to share those opinions. And he looked downright pissed off right now-which seemed slightly excessive for a little lack of attention in her opinion – , but in any case, it wasn't worth arguing.

"And to answer you," she said, "I was busy in Japan recently. And I've been shouting a movie with Ren for a few weeks now. But as I mentioned, I caught a cold, so I've been resting the last few days."

But it didn't produce the effects she hoped it would, as he continued with a sneer.

"Oh? So, is that why you didn't have time to even reply to our messages?"

"Luke," warned Jake as he placed a hand on his shoulder.

Her phone had been discharged for a moment while she was under the nasty bulk of her fever, so she admitted she might have missed some just recently. But before that, she had tried to reply as often as she could. It hadn't been easy with how focused she had been on work but even sporadic, she had replied.

"Well, I – "

But he didn't listen nor let her pursue.

"Or is it really the true reason? Were you just too busy with something else? Or someone else?"He quipped.

She frowned at this. She could clearly see she was missing something here.

"What's the matter, Luke?"

He was being so aggressive right now.

He waved at her vaguely like it explained everything and she looked down at herself, not getting it. Was it because she was in her nightwear? Did he think she had been lazy? But she had just told him she had been sick, she didn't take him for the kind that couldn't understand resting for the right reasons. She wasn't even wearing her pyjamas, more like indoor clothes. Well, not hers, but Ren's ones rather. The silly man hadn't wanted to be invasive and had brought several sets of clothes through the days he had taken care of her – those where she had been too bad to do anything but sleep – , to not to rummage in her drawers. She was pretty sure she didn't look too untidy. She was wearing her own pants but the oversized (for her) tee and pullover were Ren's and she could tell it was of outstanding quality. So, she couldn't look too bad or lazy. Maybe a bit ridiculous with how much larger it was but still, she didn't take Luke for someone that picky.

In fact, most of the time, Luke was even pretty sweet.

She shot him a confused look, then asked Jake information with the eyes. But then she saw Luke gritted his teeth as he fidgeted. Then, he changed his mind again and pointed distinctly at her top this time. She heard Jake sighed.

"That's obviously not yours."He stated when she looked still disbelieving he was in fact, truly angry about clothes.

"Well, yes, they are Ren's but I don't see how – "

Fury seemed to rise all the more in him, and he snapped.

"So if they are his," he snapped, "Were you really sick or did you grant yourself some lovely vacancy sleeping with a guy while troubling everyone?!"

She stared at Luke, dumbfounded, wondering what had gotten into her friend. Old familiar guilt seized at her as if it was something she was already feeling anyway. It was true she was troubling everyone, after all. And she felt so bad about it, though she had tried to do as much as she could when she could.

But it wasn't a sinecure either. And as much as she would have dreamed what she had with Ren was indeed more; it wasn't. And his comments kind of rubbed salt on how apparently it could look from an outsider viewpoint, making it especially bitter.

But it also kinda hurt because she didn't expect her friend to think she would be so selfish on purpose. That he would think so low of her.

But what bothered her the most were that not only was he poking his nose in her potential intimacy like he had some sort of rightful regards on those matters but he was also judging her for simply having a private life to begin with. Or at least, it what his hurtful sentence had seemed to imply.

She grabbed at her arms, trying to come up with some response at the sudden attack but her conflicted emotions blocked her. Suddenly, she felt so tired and wondered why she was even trying to justify her actions. But she pushed down her sleepiness as her irritation grew. Gathering her thoughts, grateful she was in a better shape than a few days ago, she bit back the spiteful reply she wanted to give him. He had no business looking down on her or concerning himself with what she did or did not in her intimacy. Whatever her relationship with Ren, no one had any right on poking into it!

She was cut down in her momentum to speak when Ren arrived with the drinks and set them down the low table.

Making a show of doing it painstakingly slow before he bent to sit with un-bothered grace lower on the couch. He laid his fingers on the outside edge of the armchair she was sitting on, the warmth of his arm just a few inches from her back, and his proximity smoothing her annoyance out.

"Easy," he started with a polite smile that still did not reach his eyes, "you wouldn't want to brutalize a patient and friend in convalescence, would you? Kyoko is still recovering so I would appreciate if you didn't insult or hurt her with claims uncalled for."

But though she saw some guilt crept in, it didn't deter Luke and he was even readier to bolt. But Ren continued as he unfolded a throw-up.

"Do you really think Kyoko would fake being sick?" He asked. "Seriously? You are her friend, no? Didn't you look at her face?"

Luke stared at her and she wondered what about it.

"You would challenge a ghost with how pale it is." Ren replied with concerned frown to her puzzled look and wrapped her in the cover.

"I'm fine, Ren." She protested with an amused roll of the eyes. Still worrying.

"Well, at least, you looked like you could be before you were attacked with words." He said and her friend finally seemed like he had let out some steam.

Jake stepped in.

"I second that, Luke," Jake said, "You have been very rude."

But Luke ignored him and glared at Ren.

"And who are you to begin with?!" He fired at Ren. "She says you are a friend but I never heard of you, and now you are there. Pardon me if I'm concerned about my friend."

She was really starting to loose her patience. She had never seen Luke act that way, talking like she wasn't even in the room and insulting friends of hers. She huffed out with anger – ready to notch this off – but then felt Ren's hand rubbing her back slightly like he was trying to calm her down. She wanted to grumble she was not a cat. But it worked so she swallowed her words.

"Do you mind if I still reply?" He inquired and she waved at him to do as he pleased, she was too pissed right now.

"He insulted you as much as me so…"

Ren grinned back at her.

"He is here!" growled Luke.

"Well, considering you just spoke like Kyoko wasn't there either, I don't think this remark is worth being noted," slid Ren, and Kyoko could hear he was reaching his limits too. She heard Jake snorted in silence and she eyed him, arching a brow and wondering what was so amusing.

"Now, not that I don't know where it is coming from, but I'm pretty certain your – … attention in this, is of very questionable taste for Kyoko right now," Ren resumed coldly, "But I will reply you."

Kyoko was impressed Ren managed to phrase it as politely. She saw Luke gritted his teeth in response but he didn't say a word, and Ren pursued after a sigh.

"As Kyoko said, I'm one of her close friends here in Japan. I've been taking care of her because she had been badly sick these last days – "

"I was not badly sick, just sick."She protested.

"You slept nearly all the time for the last seven days with a fever needed to be closely monitored so high it was, and you didn't have a voice anymore so much you were coughing. And that's not even considering you are still on antibiotics," Ren emphasized making her two other friends' eyes turned the size of saucers.

"If you put it that way, it sounds quite bad but – "

It hadn't been that terrible she thought. Maybe because he had been with her.

Ren stared at her before adding.

"And half the studio is still empty because of this nasty virus." He highlighted with as much tenacity she expected him to have.

When she didn't retort once more, he knew she was giving up protesting and turned back to Luke.

Who looked far more shameful than a minute ago.

"As for the clothes, I brought back some of mine to not be forced to search through Kyoko's clothes when she was too sick to pick some," Ren explained with forming disgust over having to stress things in detail like that. And Kyoko didn't blame him. They didn't know each other, to him, Luke was a perfect stranger trying to fault him while he had been nothing but kind and considerate these last days. Fine, she was biased, she knew that. But it still was true.

"I hope you won't mind I'm not giving a report by the second of the last days because I was too busy to keep a journal," Ren finished and she could see his anger was finally seeping through. She saw Luke drop eyes and she placed one hand on Ren's shoulder, glancing at him. He understood.

Ren got her message and nodded, sitting backward.

Not ten seconds later, Luke was apologizing like a mad man.

"I'm sorry Kyoko. I'm really sorry for even suggesting- … for doubting – … I was … I'm sorry," He said again, shaking his head and she sighed. Sometimes it was easy to forget he was younger than her. And sometimes it was really obvious he was only eighteen. Not that she picked her friends by age or mind that fact. But as he could also be very mature on some occasions, she sometimes forgot she had to keep that in mind when he was being too impetuous.

She sighed lightly and patted Luke's shoulder, anger evaporated.

"Alright, alright, I understand," she said. "And as long as you do too, it's fine. You hadn't realized and were worried. Just don't presume things before asking anymore."

He didn't seem particularly happy but nodded again. And when he lifted back his head and she smiled at him, he beamed at her.

She heard Ren sighed softly and she turned back, throwing him a silent question with her eyes.

But he shook his head, seeming amused and yet not.

After that, things had fallen into place and they chatted more easily for a little while, though she noticed Ren stayed silent most of the hour that followed. She briefly wondered if her friends' abrupt visit had made him awkward but hadn't had time to dwell on it too much as soon Jake decided they should leave and let her rest, and belligerently, Luke had seemed to agree. The last one hadn't seem all that appeased but he had been repenting over his behaviour plenty and had minded his attitude.

Kyoko accompanied them to the door when they had set to leave and they made her promised that they would arrange a few dates where they could see each other.

But while she had agreed, she was already hoping it would be with the both of them together and separate meetings. It had been great seeing them after so long despite Luke initial rudeness but she didn't feel at ease meeting only Jake. Totally stupid, she knew. She had been alone with him several times after that happened. But somehow, having him here, near Ren made her feel guilty and like she should keep her distance with him.

She frowned at her own reasoning, her mind was a mess.

Pushing the thoughts aside, she came back in and approached Ren, already apologizing for what happened at the beginning with Luke. But to her surprise, Ren brushed it off like it was nothing, mumbling something about understanding him and before she could grasp it, the day had followed its unavoidable road to another end as she slept some more and started to organize her schedule for when she would go back to work. Ren himself would be away for part of the day starting tomorrow. Though he had only decided that after verifying like half a dozen times she was good enough to be let to her own devices. She had assured it wouldn't be a problem. She was ready to return to work and quite frankly she was even starting to get bored. If it wasn't for the fact Ren himself was far too entertaining and exhilarating to her – not that she would ever admit it aloud – , she would already have called the director to beg him to take her back at an earlier time.

So it came as a surprise when three days later, on her first day of work after her time off, she kept feeling sleepy after every two scenes; and worse, she even fell asleep once. She munched at her inner annoyance of this new side effect, certain it was temporary and that she just has to rest enough at night and take enough caffeine and it would be alright.

But it remained the same on the next following days, despite Shingai-san not letting her work even half what she was used to, and Ren pampering her like she was about to drop dead every two seconds. Which was endearing but irking. She was no porcelain doll. If she was apt to work, she was apt to work.

That's how she found herself hiding yawn after yawn six days after resuming work. It was noon and she had already acted three of her scenes out of the few she had left. As the fight one and the car accident would be filmed after the ski trip.

But right now, her issue was with the two mother hens watching her keenly who's set up a limit of hours for her for the afternoon. Ren and the director.

They had been observing her with such a diligent persistence since the day before yesterday when she had tried to go back to a normal schedule pace. Obviously, she had pleaded she was better enough and that was no need to spare her anymore. But her delight and relief when the director abide reluctantly, had accepted, had been short. She had proceeded with her day with not much of any bump besides maybe a little more tiredness at that time. She had been hoping that, was she to succeed working normally that day, her worrywart shadow would definitely stop making a hole in her back. But at the very end of that day, there had been a tiny event that put a damper to her peaceful plans. She had felt weak after finishing a scene and had stumbled a little. Just that. Okay, that and, based on told tales, she might have been quite pale again.

But still. Such a minor thing had had tremendous consequences, as her damn Mr. Fairy – the rat! – decided to plot against her with the director so that she couldn't over-exercise herself. Stating if she had had a manager, they would have done the same thing and would have protected her interests even if she couldn't see them herself.

In consequence of what, she had now a time limit for the next few days. She couldn't work more than six hours a day. And she had to have at least one break of two hours in the middle of them – proposition of the rat – , and half an hour after each other hours of work, that one was from the director himself. How excessive! How utterly ridiculous.

But the director had stated he would rather delay the schedule one thousand times more than damage his actors' health again, so she had no other choice but to accept. It was that or going back to her room to rest several more days until she could do the scenes without getting tired so easily.

If she hadn't been afraid thinking about a curse might have worked, she would have cursed her fairy. Damn man. She was sure he had turned upside down the director's mind. He was totally behind it, and if she needed any proof of that it would have been the shit-eating satisfied grin he sported each time she was forced to rest.

She wanted to be pissed at him. She really wanted to. He had gone behind her back and forced her hand on how to manage her schedule. He had no right to do that without talking to her first.

So, yes, she had reasons to be genuinely pissed for once.

The only issues were that, one, she knew he was partially right, she had felt grateful for the breaks between her scenes more than once already. Second, she would never have agreed to it if he had talked to her about it. Which he hadn't missed to underline though it didn't excuse not talking to her beforehand. Third, under the satisfaction and tease, she could catch sight of the genuine concern still lingering.

And that is what had made her cave.

Thus she sulked. Because, having to accept the reasons for being work-blocked didn't mean she had to be pleased about it. For once, she wanted to make it clear to the adorable idiot, being worried was no excuse to overstep boundaries. Though he had already profusely apologized, while not backing down. Obviously.

Two, it had been the perfect excuse to try keeping him at a safer distance. As she was still shaking from the overall experience of "taking care of sick Kyoko".

Well, the idea had been good at least. The execution? Not so much.

Pretending to be easily annoyed at him was one thing but ignoring him or keeping it him away from her? It was beyond her scope of capability. She was like a bone and him the dog refusing to let it go.

A huge part of her just couldn't help the joy at having his care and attention, but another side was just damn annoyed at herself for being such lovesick fool, such a puppet into his hands.

Which helped her maintaining a sulking expression. Sometimes. Because she was angry. Just not with him anymore.

Or not too much.

Because she saw him coming toward her, coincidentally after another yawn had escaped her. Just when she had convinced the director she could do one more scene before a real break. Well, if you didn't consider a quarter as a real break. She pushed back her hair, ready for a fight. She was fine. A little tiredness wouldn't kill her. She could do the other half of this scene.

She ignored the big bad lion stalking as she determinately made her way to the stage, painting a bright cheery smile to the director when she bypassed him. She was so close. They only needed three more scenes from her and they would be finished with her role until their return from the trip for the last two. But if she took a break right now, they wouldn't have time to shoot it today. Not with how the planning was going. And the studio for this scene wasn't available tomorrow. Which meant it would be delayed even further. And with her two other scenes needing to be done and all the rescheduling for the cast members that had also been sick, it would end up being postponed for after the trip. And it would complicate even further with how her own schedule looked to be up from here. So, it needed to be done. Today. Now.

She bumped her nose in something and staggered backward with much fail in elegance. She let out a plethora of curse words in her mind at the lack of equilibrium and strength she had in her legs these days. No doubt it was some remaining weakness from this damn bug, but it wasn't playing in her favour.

She caught herself at last second, glad she didn't plainly land on her backside, and looked up to what was evidently her unnecessary knight in shining armour blocking her way.

"You worked three hours in a row, you need a break." He said, crossing his arms in an unmoving stance.

"I'm perfectly fine, thank you," She protested despite the light sweat her hit against him had provoked, "besides, the director already agreed."

To be exact, it was more than the director turned in line with her arguments after she explained how high the chances of missing the window to film this particular scene before the trip was, and how bad it would be if it weren't done today. But Ren didn't need to know the details.

Ren frowned at her words, and glanced at the direction where Shingai-san was but she didn't bother checking. She was quite sure that Ren knew why she was being stubborn right now, she didn't need to explain it. But he didn't let her pass.

"It needs to be done today," She insisted when he kept to block her way.

He nodded.

"I know, but right now you need a nap, you have been fighting against sleep for the last hour," He persisted, poking her in the arm with his index finger. She stumbled lightly and he tilted his brows, making his point. "You are barely able to stand."

She heard shuffles and whispers, as well as a few snickers around them as the same kind of argument repeated itself. She was alright but he considered she was not.

"I'm fine, Ren. I can do it, just a little tiredness isn't going to break me," She tried to reassure him.

"It's not about being able to do it or not. This scene has a cascade."

"I can do it."

"It would be very dangerous to attempt it in these conditions."

She could see he wasn't moving, and she sighed. The director had agreed and he wasn't the one deciding. She stepped to the side. She would do it and prove him wrong.

He let her pass his side before throwing to her

"I never said you couldn't do the scene, just not right now."

Then he caught her arm from behind. His grasp was soft but unexpected enough, and this time she couldn't avoid fall as she tumbled again.

Ren caught her by the waist, fortunately, preventing a hard fall right on her face, and she let out a breath. That would have convinced the director to send her back to her room.

But before she could grab back at her fighting spirit, Ren called out to the director.

"Director, she needs a break." Ren shot and the director nodded as he made his way to them.

"I'm perfectly alright!"She hissed, trying to extirpate herself from his iron grip but he tightened his grip on her.

"I understand that this scene need to be done today," he told the director as he had all the understanding in the world for the dilemma they were having, "but could it be possible to prolong the day to shoot it later when Kyoko has rested, rather than now?"

"I know our time in this setting is starting to overlap the production of another movie that started a few days ago and booked this studio setting for most evenings but could it be possible to negotiate just for today?" He inquired with just enough insistence in his words to show he would bulge on this.

She saw the director pondering Ren's proposition and she snapped.

"You can't be serious, there is no need to trouble everyone for just one scene I can do right now and – ."She protested but Ren's angry response cut her short in her planned diatribe.

"You tripped after I had barely grasped your arm, Kyoko," He shot back, "When you normally have enough strength to lift me! But right now you can't even escape my hold!"

She held back more shouts and grumbled she just hadn't bothered trying. But Ren caught it.

"Oh? Why, though? As I know, you really wanted to just now…"

"I'll see what I can do." Shingai-san said, cutting their argument then he turned to her. "I'm sorry Kyoko-san but he is right, you are still recovering and you need to rest a little before continuing this scene. And it was unreasonable of me to let you persuade me of otherwise."

She opened her mouth to protest but he lifted his hand to cut it off.

"You are just too good at putting external interests and acting before your own well-being," he added with a self-apologetic smile, "and it's not the first time I fell for it but not this time."

"Let Ren take care of you for now, he is very good at it." He said and he turned back to Ren, "Make sure she rest."

"On my honour." Ren replied.

"What? Wait, no, I'm fine," She insisted, knowing she needed to concede defeat but hoping against everything the director would hear reason. It was beyond outrageous. It was just a little scene. With some acrobatics, fine. But she had acted in worse states.

But the director turned around and walked away, and she was still trying to think about how to convince him when her dwelling got interrupted short when she was heaved from the ground before securely landing in Ren's firm arms. And he just took her away from the stage, carrying her toward the nearest couch without a damn care for her protests.

"You damn sneaky overly enthusiastic rat worrywart … Put me down … You, you …-she cursed again – … Put me down." She repeated, trying to wiggle her way out when he ignored her but her strength failed her and she couldn't manage to extirpate herself from his arms. The one time she actually really wanted to, she couldn't.

"Ren, put me down."

"No."

"Put me down, I said."

"No, you are going to nap and then you will be able to shoot your cherished scene." He told her with such a flourish fake innocence her words vanished her. Her exasperation rose to higher levels at his nonchalance but when she couldn't muster a good enough lashing retort, she lost her last thread of coherence, and just hissed at him like an angry cat. Not just like even but exactly as a cat would have. Which didn't produce the response she would have hoped for, obviously.

He bent over her in a fit of throttles, barely managing to keep him from dropping her and from falling himself.

"Did you just- … pfffkehumpf – … hissed at me?!" He shook his head as more laughs bubbled out, and she could actually make out tears pouring from the corners of his eyes so much he was laughing. She turned her face away, feeling embarrassed now.

"Is what happened when you are so pissed you are at a loss of words?" He inquired with overly too glowing curiosity in his eyes when he finally calmed down, "Or do you simply spend too much time with your cat?" He teased with cackles ready to start anew in his throat at the tiniest response from her, she was sure.

She huffed at his teasing and stared around when she heard chuckles here and there, and groaned when she realized she had, once again, forgot they weren't alone. They were very much making a scene in front of the full cast.

"Put me down," she said again, feeling embarrassed. It was going to give the wrong impression again.

"By the way, I'm curious about one thing," Ren started, blatantly ignoring her demand and the stares of their colleagues, "you just called me a rat. Why a rat, though?"

She glanced back at him and noticed they had reached the comfy white sofa installed against the wall but that Ren had just stopped in front of it without dropping her.

"You plotted behind my back to prevent me to work rather than telling me, you are a rat." She grumbled before glancing with insistence at the couch to be put down. But he just lifted her higher and tighter against him, making it hard to focus on anything but the feeling of being pressed so close to his warmth.

"When did you ever see rats plot?" He asked with an odd tone in the voice and eyes dancing with amusement, though she would grant him he hadn't tried to deny he had plotted. But when she thought about his question, she came short on the answer. She racked her mind to remember from where that conception of hers came from but only ended up confused. She didn't know.

"I will make a wild guess…"Ren attempted and his overly too happy face warned her she was about to pay for her bout of reckless speech improvisation. "Could it be – " he whispered with a conniving smile, "that it came from – … a Disney?"

She stared. And stared. Refusing to acknowledging it for at least fifteen seconds.

"Shut up."She said at last, dropping her face in her hand. He laughed at her.

"I guess I was right then."

"Please, just, shut up."

"That is too cute." If she had not been so sure he was mocking her, she could have doubted he was gushing about it like some awed teen.

She groaned again and hit her face against his shoulder.

" ." She stressed. "And put me down."

"Yes-yes-," He singsong-ed merrily as he placed her on the couch before adding with gleeful pride, "Cute hissing cat."

She was never going to live that down.

Fine. She decided ignoring his teasing was the best course of action. She yawned before looking away, set on remaining indifferent but he just chuckled and placed a cover around.

"Take a nap," He ordered her, "I will wake you up in the evening when they are ready for your scene."

"Yes-yes … You know cats eat rats, right?" She said as she stretched on the sofa and closed her eyes after a new yawn, obeying diligently because what use there was to fight at this point … plus, she was sleepy.

He stifled a laugh at her comment but his reply got lost in the drowse that settled on her. But she thought she heard something resembling 'I would gladly be eaten by you'.

Though it didn't make sense. Why would he want her to eat him?

PS: Hello guys. Yes, I know, it has been long and many people have waited for this chapter. My apologies. I have ton of things going on and health is still playing to the russian roulette so I didn't really have the time to write on this much. And this chapter also felt tricky for me. No matter how i twisted it, i never managed to come out with a version that satisfied me. So, i hope it won't look too bad nonetheless and that you will have a good time reading it. I wish i could say when will be the next update but I'd rather update when i can than promised you anything and crushing your hopes later on with a date i couldn't meet.

I wish you all an incredible beginning of advent holidays. I hope December will be wonderful for everyone. With lots of love and happiness and time spend with your loved ones. With confections of your own.(We made our own advent calendar this year, wohouh!) And with good food and gifts if you can help it.

And for the ones who might not be as lucky, i wish and pray for all of those people that better times and new joys will come.

I'll cross fingers and hope i will be able to update a little more often in the next moment, anyway. So cross fingers with me.

Reviews are food as always.

Lot of love and kisses.

Mimagfan.

AUTHOR OUT.