AGENT WALLFLOWER

Kyoko has a journalist-friend? Everybody else is suspicious except of course, Kyoko. How do you protect a clueless actress with secrets from a possible enemy masquerading as a friend?

Disclaimer: I do not own Skipbeat!

CHAPTER 1

"Sorry for waiting, Ren. I had to make some calls about your schedule," Yashiro blurted out as he hurriedly climbed in the passenger seat.

"It's okay, I wasn't waiting too long," The handsome actor said in understanding. The photographer in the shoot Tsuruga Ren was supposed to do today had reported in sick and won't be able to go to work for a couple of days, so he had some unexpected free time at the moment.

Yashiro glanced at his notebook. "The people from TBM wanted you to guest in a talk show today, I originally declined because of your schedule but since you're free now, I called them up and said you can do the job. Is that okay?"

Ren just nodded in acquiescence as he pulled off from the parking lot. Yashiro told him that he was supposed to show up at TBM in an hour but they had to swing by LME first so Ren veered the car towards their first destination. He waited for his manager to continue, since Yashiro was prone to ramble on and on about his schedule among other things, but his manager just stared at him expectantly.

"What?" Ren asked curtly, a bit irritated with his companion's eager look.

"You're not going to ask who you're guesting with?" Yashiro asked, a big grin spreading over his face.

Ren stoically stared ahead. "Judging from the look in your face, I'm pretty sure I can guess" he muttered.

"What?" Yashiro asked, frowning. "Stop mumbling, it's unbecoming on Japan's number 1 actor…"

"It's Mogami Kyoko, right?" he cut in before Yashiro could say something more.

Yashiro's fan girl grin was back. "YES!" he crowed happily. "And I called her up for you to ask if she needed a ride," he said.

Ren didn't know if he was more exasperated or happy. Yashiro had just developed a hands-on approach about his love life. He was constantly bugging him about Kyoko and arranging his schedule so that he could see her. Not that he was complaining about being able to see her, it was just exasperating to see a grown man acting like a ridiculous matchmaker.

"So we're going to LME to pick up Mogami-san?" he asked drily, trying to hide his elation from his manager.

"Yes… and the other Box-R girls," Yashiro added sheepishly. Ren merely glanced at him but Yashiro started profusely apologizing.

"I'm sorry! I asked Kyoko-chan if she needed a ride since we're going to TBM anyway and she immediately agreed. I thought it was strange because it takes a bit of coaxing before making her accept anything, and then she started thanking me for giving "THEM" a ride. Turns out all the Box-R girls are guesting at 'Tea-talk' with you.

"So basically I'm now a chauffeur for a bunch of girls," Ren lightly said as he navigated his way to the front of the LME building. The handsome actor had a gentlemanly smile on his face, but Yashiro could feel a cold aura emanating from him. It was spooking him out.

As soon as Ren slowed down in front of the parking lot, Yashiro was out of the door in a flash. "I'll go look for the girls, Ren. You stay here, I'll be right back!" he said hurriedly.

Ren watched Yashiro scamper off, and he ruefully chuckled to himself. If he managed to frighten off his manager like that, he'd better fix his mood real quick because his precious little kouhai seemed to uncannily detect his moods even when he tried to hide behind a smile. And who knows how she'll react. She'll probably blame it on herself again, he thought wryly.

Speaking of his precious kouhai, there she was walking towards him, looking beautifully poised in the school uniform which was her costume in Box-R. No need to fix his mood, Ren thought. She brightened it for him just by being there.

Kyoko cheerfully waved as she came nearer. Ren gestured for her to climb right in the car.

"Tsuruga-sempai! How are you doing? It's so kind of you to offer us a ride!" she said, giving him a big smile as she climbed through the backseat door. Ren discreetly watched her, he hadn't seen her for a couple of days now because of his busy schedule, and he hadn't realized how that had affected him. Just now, he could feel some knot inside him slowly relaxing as he gazed at Kyoko.

"It's my pleasure, Mogami-san. I'm headed there anyway," he answered warmly.

"Have you been waiting long? I hurried down because I knew you'd be early to pick us up," she asked worriedly.

"No, as a matter of fact, we just got here. Yashiro just went inside to fetch you girls"

The two chatted amiably as they waited for the others. But although Kyoko acted cheerful, Tsuruga Ren could feel the nervousness emanating from the back seat. He glanced up his rear view mirror to look at the orange- haired young girl sitting alone, subconsciously wringing her hands. For a moment, he had an overwhelming urge to haul her over to his lap, take those hands in his and whisper to her ear that everything's going to be alright. And maybe he could sneak in a kiss or two while comforting her.

But that's not going to happen any time soon, and it's not just because Yashiro was about to come back now with the rest of the Box-R girls. He inwardly sighed in frustration.

If he could have his way, he'd be cuddling her and kissing her until she was back to her usual bubbly self again, instead, he just cleared his throat and focused on the job at hand.

"Anything wrong, Mogami-san?" he asked softly.

Kyoko jumped up in surprise. When she saw him looking at her through the rearview mirror, she smiled ruefully.

"I guess I can't fool you at all, Tsuruga-san. After all, you ARE my sempai," she said. Ren chuckled although her last statement rankled him.

"You can tell me anything that's bothering you, you know," he said. He watched as she seemed to struggle with herself. She had a cute pout on her lips as she stared on some random area in front of her. Then she suddenly met his gaze through the mirror, and spoke out in a huff.

"I'm afraid the people are going to hate me… I mean, Natsu," she said worriedly. "We're supposed to guest in that talk show as our Box-R characters, but… but Natsu is a bully, you know… Who would want to see a bully?" she looked at him beseechingly.

Ren scrambled to gather his scattered wits. With Kyoko looking at him with those puppy-dog eyes, his brain was refusing to do any coherent thought at all. But he had to give her a good answer, he couldn't let her down.

"Mogami-san… you love your character Natsu, right?" he asked.

Kyoko nodded eagerly.

"Why do you love your character?" he asked.

Kyoko paused to think for a moment, and gave him a slight smile. "It because she's elegant, beautiful, classy, confident and cunning. She knows what she wants and she's not afraid to do anything to get it. She's very strong-willed, that's why it's really fun to act as her," she answered.

Ren rewarded her with a smile of his own. "Well, there you have it," he said simply.

"Huh?" Kyoko said in confusion.

"Mogami-san, the fans of Box-R love and 'love to hate' your Natsu. Yes, she's a bully but you've also managed to show them her beautiful, elegant, confident and strong-willed side. People admire that about your character. And also, you don't have to worry about the fans not liking Natsu because the people at TBM wouldn't invite Natsu to a talk show if they didn't like her."

Kyoko stared at Ren consideringly. Then she broke into a sunny smile.

"Yes, you're right, Tsuruga-san! Natsu is really great! Who wouldn't like a strong-willed girl like her?" she said happily. Ren heaved a sigh of relief since he was able to soothe Kyoko's nerves satisfactorily, but he balked at her next quip. The temperature at the backseat had also seemed to drop a few degrees.

"Natsu will just beat anyone to death who doesn't like her," Kyoko said in a cold Natsu-like voice.

Fortunately, Yashiro and the other girls finally arrived and piled into the car, and Kyoko returned to her cheerful, bubbly self again.

-o-o-o-o-

Monobu Kenta wondered what he was really doing in the crush of people in front of a big building with a big TBM emblazoned on it. Some people held placards that had something written like "Natsu you're the best!" or "We love you Mio!" or "Kyoko No. 1!" Then there were others that had "Marry me Ren!" or some other ridiculous message like that.

Well, he was standing in the middle of a group of fans obviously, thus the silly placards. But he had never followed Showbiz buzz before, so he was wondering why he got assigned to this. His first newspaper article in his first ever job and it's just some fluffy showbiz crap, he thought darkly. He scowled when an overeager teenager jostled him forward. The offending party didn't even notice him at all, his whole attention trained to the front. Kenta inwardly sighed, he didn't even get why all these people were excited to see a bunch of actors. They were just pretty faces anyway. In his own opinion, Showbiz was just a waste of time.

But this was a job. His first ever article for his first ever job. His opinions didn't matter. He's supposed to cover a guesting of the Box-R girls in a show called 'Tea Talk with Hino-chan'. But how was he to do that when he didn't know who these actors are? Hell, he didn't know what to do at all.

Should he interview one of the fans? Should he ask them what the hell he was doing here and who the heck are they waiting for, and reveal what a big showbiz idiot he is? He cursed Sato-san again for all this. He had just appeared at his desk an hour ago and told him he was covering this assignment. Ignoring his pleas that he didn't follow showbiz at all, his supervisor booted him out of the office and told him to get a story or he was fired. He didn't even give him time to research Box-R, Natsu, or… what was that name again… right, Kyoko.

"I don't care what you have to do, I'm paying you to do something so get me something worthwhile for my paper! Don't bother to come back unless you have something good to show me!" he remembered Sato-san growling out as he tossed him a camera and pushed him out the door.

He was as good as fired.

Suddenly, somebody started yelling and the crowd surged forward excitedly, taking Monobu with them. He struggled to hold his ground, but finally gave up and just held up his camera away from the flailing mass of fans. He was carried almost up to the front, so he was able to see a group of girls followed by a tall handsome man and his manager walking sedately towards the entrance.

The crowd screamed out different names, hoping to get the actors to look at them. The handsome man at the back looked gracious as he smiled and waved at the crowd, but the girls just gave haughty, sidelong smirks at the people and just walked on by. Oddly, the fans seemed to love it, and screamed out even more. Monobu shook his head. What the heck, did these girls think they're so hot they could treat their fans like garbage? Well, they ARE pretty hot, in that unbelievable school uniform that accentuated the girls' natural assets. I mean look at those legs in that short skirt!

Monobu took pictures as they came nearer to where he was standing. He figured this was the best he can do anyway. Hopefully, he'd get a good enough shot that could save his career so he can redeem himself next time he's given a chance. "If only the girls would turn their heads for a good shot!" he irritably thought. So far, no such luck even though the fans were practically begging to be acknowledged.

The girls were all stunning to look at, haughty smirks and all, but his attention seemed to be pulled towards the short-haired girl, apparently the leader of the group. The other girls seemed to be hanging on to everything she did. Who wouldn't? Everything about her screamed refined elegance, from the tip of her stylish short hair down to her polished, heeled shoes. And there was something else… She had an air of fierce confidence around her, like she could crush anyone she wished if she wanted to. The way she moved made him think of a shark – unpredictable and dangerous beautiful.

But something seemed awfully familiar about her. Was she someone he knew before? Monobu frowned to himself. He was pretty sure he'd never forget a girl as stunning as the one walking in front of him... she had presence that made sure you never forget. But still…

The actors were walking right in front of Monobu now and were almost at the building entrance when the short haired girl momentarily paused. She half turned to the crowd and gave a languid wave. The fans went wild.

At that moment, Monobu saw her Golden brown eyes and gasped.

"Agent Wallflower-san!" he blurted out.

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- Hi There! This is my first time writing a SkipBeat Fanfic. Hope you like it and leave reviews! I'd really appreciate it (really, I'd appreciate all the encouragement I can get) Thanks!

Uhhh… to clarify… this isn't a spy story, alright. I'll clear the title up in the next chapters.