Chapter 1: Moving on
Summary: Kyoko has finally had enough of being mad at Sho. After her heart to heart with her mother and learning of the heartache, she experienced from Sho is minuscule compared to her mother's, Kyoko decided to let bygones be bygones...
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Skip Beat, I only want to envision them in a different setting than what is already written by the Amazing Yoshiki Nakamura.
[Starts at the end of Skip Beat vol. 39, ch. 235: Sakura Messenger.]
Shoko opened the door to the waiting room for Kyoko where Sho was lounging on the couch. Shoko was a bit concerned that the two childhood friends turned enemies
would start another one of their quarrels but with the woman beside her looking so pensive she thinks, 'Maybe she's finally going to forgive Sho...?' which was the last
thought on her mind until the usual happened.
"This is why I hate live tapings... So exhausting!" sho said in frustration, hearing the door open thinking it was his manager coming to get him, he said, "Perfect timing
Shoko I'm tired and hungry...let's go out for lunch...huh?" finally noticing Kyoko by the door looking at him in deep thought. "Whaa...huh... Kyo-" he started to blurt out
but was met with a sharp pain on his shin instead he didn't notice her move towards him at all. "Ouch! What the hell was that for Kyoko!?" he exclaimed even Shoko
was rattled by Kyoko's actions but before neither could speak Kyoko pulled down Sho's collar and replied, "You should have expected that kick from me, considering what
you did to me the other night...".
Sho thinking back to the night he saw her looking so hopeless at the back of Darumaya, almost ready to vanish into thin air. Kyoko continued to say, "Did you think I'll
let you get away with desecrating my person once more? No, you deserve this pain but I do have common sense so even though your help wasn't needed I guess a
word of thanks is in order..." she paused for a second, then continued to say "well that's that." Sho thinking she was going to say something else that resembles any
words of 'Thanks' as she put it but was astounded when none came from her mouth. He started to develop tick marks on his forehead ready to explode with an angry
complaint but was beaten by Kyoko as she wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him to her.
She sighed a deep sigh and said "Sho...I don't want to fight you anymore and I am letting go of my wish for revenge against you." She felt him stiffen from the close
contact but continued to say her piece of mind to the temporary mute, even Shoko who was witnessing the rare friendly interaction between the two was surprisingly
quiet. "I forgive you for throwing me away..." Kyoko started to say when Sho tried to justify his past actions but was silence with a pinch to his shoulders by Kyoko and
he flinched, she continued to say "Stop... It's in the past but if you hadn't done it I wouldn't have met so many amazing people in my life that gave me strength to keep
going." She unwrapped her arms around him to look at his face seemingly for the first time since they ran away from home and finally seeing him for what he is, an
overconfident, talented, dedicated artist, and her first best friend. "We have grown up you and me, we are not kids anymore although technically we are but each and
every life decisions we made contributed to us maturing way beyond our years...don't you think?" she asks him while tilting her head smiling.
Sho was stunned at what he is hearing and seeing, he couldn't believe this is even happening. He looked at Kyoko's face looking for any signs of lies but only seeing her
warm smile like back when they were kids, "Kyoko...what are you getting at? This isn't like you..." he says with a hint of worry from the bottom of his stomach. Feeling
Kyoko's arms loosen around him so he can stand up fully, he feels a sense of dread before hearing the one thing that will crush his pride and possibly his heart being
uttered by the one girl he wished was still by his side. He wasn't going to lie to himself anymore, he missed her so much, he had the perfect girl but he threw her away
and now he's finally paying the price 'don't say it Kyoko...please!' he thought loudly.
"Shotaro...I am in love with Ren Tsuruga, I have for some time now and I'm not going to lie that I'm not scared of what the future would look like but I'm happy." Sho
couldn't believe his ears, he slowly pinched himself on his arms to check if whatever he is experiencing is not a figment of his overactive imaginations. He took a couple
of steps back trying to form coherent words but the only thing running through his mind was 'No! not...not with that pin-head, platform-wearing, ham actor!? She can't'
but instead, he finally blurted out "Whaaattt!?" Kyoko chuckled at his expression that looks like it might resemble the Nio Deva King. When Sho finally recovers his
sanity to look towards Kyoko who's still chuckling at him albeit discreetly (well she tried), he said "So...I win right? You'll go back to Kyoto and serve the Ryokan
forever...right? You promised me..."
He was about to gloat but was interrupted by Kyoko. "No Sho..." Kyoko started to say while shaking her head looking up to Sho's face giving him a tender smile, she
continued to say "I will not be going back to Kyoto because of that silly promise I gave you...you do not get to dictate what I can and can't do with my life anymore. I
have permission from that woman and your parents to stay and follow MY dreams" She gave him such a serene smile that it left him speechless..."You should talk to
your parents you know, they miss you too." with that said, she turned and said her goodbyes to two silent people in the room and closed the door, on her way to the
bright future she will carve for herself in ShowBiz.