Disclaimer: I don't own skip beat or any of its characters. It's an AU story.

Few things about this AU story:

1. Ren/Kuon isn't violent. He's just afraid and reluctant to love because of his past.

2. Sho isn't a bad character. He is loving, caring and supportive. Sorry but I'm sick of Sho being a bad ass.

3. Kyoko is 26 and Ren is 30. Ren's former spouse Murasame Ayumi is deceased and will only appear in flash back. She will be the only OC in this story. No past girlfriends of Ren/Kuon will be introduced.

4. Nanokura Mimori is a supporting character. It means she won't be a bad character either.

5. The only Villain in the story is Kyoko's mother Mogami Saena.

6. Story of Ren's past can be different. He may or may not be Kyoko's Corn, I mean her childhood friend.

A/N: Dear readers, here's the story "Reluctant Love" which I had removed for re-writing purpose 3 months ago. I hope you like the rewrite. Please tell me what you think. It's sad to say that "Whisper of Heart: An Undying Love" will not be continued as some of the readers told me that this story is waste of time. It discouraged me and I completely forgot how to proceed the story in panic. I hope you don't mind. I have just lost the will to write that story. So sorry. I write for readers but if they don't like it then I won't continue it. Sorry again.

Enough of my ranting, I hope you enjoy the story.

Reluctant Love

Prologue

"I love you Kyoko, you know that I'm crazy about you since childhood. I can't even think of losing you. You mean the world to me. Please promise me you'll never leave me. I don't know what I would do if you left…"

"I love you too Sho-chan, I promise, I'll never leave you"

"You mean it Kyoko?"

"Yes I do"

"From now on, you two are officially married. Congratulations to you both" A distant voice of an aged man rang in Kyoko's ears and pulled her out of her deep thoughts.

Her husband gave him a smile and thanked him in return.

Kyoko looked around her and found herself sitting in a place called marriage registration office. Her face saddened because the man sitting beside her wasn't her childhood friend and lover Fuwa Shoutaro. He was someone else picked up by none other than her own mother for her. It was totally a loveless and arranged marriage. She had to sacrifice her love just for his bright career. She didn't want any harm for her beloved that's why she had no choice but to consent with her mother's demands.

She looked to her side and gazed at the dark haired brown eyed tall man, Tsuruga Ren who was the wealthiest man in Japan, the sole owner of massive Business Empire with its branches scattered worldwide, especially in Japan, America and Russia. A well known and well reputed man was now her husband.

She sighed sadly mourning at her fate. "Life can never be like you want it to be."

I'm sorry Sho-chan for leaving you behind. I just didn't have any choice. I'm not a betrayer. If I'd refused then my mother would have ruined your singing career. I love you sincerely that's why I didn't want you to suffer. I'm sorry for breaking my promise. Please don't hate me for breaking up with you. I'll always love you. I hope you'll understand that it's hard for me to be without you but true love demands sacrifice.

"Are you OK Kyoko-san?" She heard Ren asking her with concern.

"Ah! Yeah, sorry I was just zoning out a little" she composed herself at once and smiled at him.

Ren smiled slightly. "No problem"

Silence fell over again as Ren busied himself in completing all the remaining formalities while Kotonami Kanae, Yashiro Yokihito and Takarada Lory signed as marriage witnesses and the couple registered their marriage. Mogami Kyoko officially became Tsuruga Kyoko, second wife of 30 years old Billionaire, Ren Tsuruga, a widower and father of 6 years old daughter , Tsuruga Aika.

All of them were about to leave when Ren's phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it.

"Hello? Who is it?" He asked for confirmation when he noticed it was an unknown number.

"Are you Mr. Ren Tsuruga?" a male asked from the other side.

"Yes I am, who are you?"

"Mr. Tsuruga, I'm Doctor Hayate Yukino from City Hospital, your daughter is admitted in hospital. Please come soon"

Ren's face paled. His heart jumped into his stomach.

"What happened Ren?" Lory asked worriedly noticing his panic but Ren was no longer in position to answer.

Oh God! Please tell me she's alright. I shouldn't have left her alone when she was mad at me.

"Wh-What happened to her? Is she alright?" he shuddered with panic while stammering.

"She tried to take her life. She's in critical condition. I advise you to come as soon as possible" Came a sad response of the doctor.

Ren's blood froze. His entire body went numb. His mind refused to think and process normally.

"It's all my fault. If only I had talked to her and explained the reason of my marriage. I remarried for her sake. She needed a mother. I had no idea she would go that far to harm herself. She's only six years old. How could she do this? Does she hate me that much?" Ren was as white as a ghost.

His mobile fell down from his hands as he stood there frozen in place, shocking everyone else who was present there.

"Ren… Ren….!" Lory shouted.

"Mr. Tsuruga….? What happened?" Came Kyoko's voice.

"Ren, hang in there. Pull yourself together. Tell us what happened?" Yashiro let out worriedly.

"Tsuruga-san? What happened?" Kanae asked with concern but no one got any answer from the man who was standing there completely unresponsive, with tears rolling down his face.

"We were lucky enough to save her in time as the cut wasn't deep but you have to be extra careful Mr. Tsuruga, because if this goes on then she'll need counseling and a psychiatrist for her treatment. She's only a kid after all. What could be so depressive for her to take the step of suicide attempt? It's your responsibility to protect her from harm as a father. Please don't let this incident repeat itself" Doctor advised Ren as he patted his shoulder in attempt to console the broken father before him.

Ren lower his eyes as tears fell down from his eyes and cursed himself mentally.

"I'm such a failure! I couldn't be good in anything!" Ren was drowned in self-loath.

"Can I see my daughter?" Ren pleaded.

The doctor shook his head.

"We have kept her under observation for a while. You'll have to wait until she's ready for visitors" Doctor looked at Ren apologetically and excused himself as he left, leaving Ren behind broken who stayed outside the ICU waiting for his turn to see his daughter.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I couldn't be a good father. I couldn't understand you. I distanced myself from you when I should have acted both as a mother and a father for you. I couldn't be a good husband. I took your mother's life. I couldn't be a good son, I left my parents behind, I couldn't meet anyone's expectations. I'm horrible! I failed in everything." Ren sat down on the bench outside the ICU, cursing himself and crying hopelessly then he felt someone's hand on his shoulder.

He looked up with his tear-streaked face and found his new wife sitting beside him.

"Don't cry Mr. Tsuruga" she gently wiped away his tears with her thumb.

He broke down even more as he clenched his hands into tight balls.

"I'm such a failure. I have ruined her life. I have ruined your life. I shouldn't have married you. I'm sorry. She needed mother's affection and no one else could give her selfless mother's love except you but I guess, she won't accept you easily. I have made your life difficult. I'm so sorry" He apologized while crying hardly as he hung his head.

My daughter is going to hate me even more. I don't know what to do. I shouldn't have agreed to Lory's proposal. Now I have ruined two lives. How am I going to compensate the loss?

Kyoko shook her head as she smiled weakly at him.

"It's not your fault. She's just a child Mr. Tsuruga. Heart of a child is pure like an angel. I'm sure she'll open up to you gradually and accept me eventually but if she doesn't then we can always try to win her over till we succeed. It's worth to try." She smiled as she tried to console him but he wasn't convinced.

"I don't think so Kyoko-san, I have ruined everything. She's going to hate me even more than before, I know it. I just didn't know how to talk to her and approach her after her mother's death so I kept my distance but it caused great damage to my relationship with my own daughter. She doesn't even stand the sight of me anymore and now this…" he held his head in his hands in dismay.

Kyoko rubbed his back for comfort.

"No, you are wrong Mr. Tsuruga, she loves you. It's just that she doesn't know how to talk to you anymore. She wants your love and attention more than anything. A child's heart is pure from hatred and animosity. It'll melt away in no time. We'll just have to keep on trying."

Ren looked at her with guilty eyes.

"Are you sure? Will she really forgive me?" He asked, well more like begged.

Kyoko nodded.

"She isn't angry with you. She's just hurt and wants her father's affection. You are the most important person for her. She relies and wishes for your love only" She reassured him gently.

Ren's throbbing heart felt a bit peace.

He looked at her with eyes filled with gratitude.

"Don't worry Mr. Tsuruga, from now on, Aika-chan is my own daughter. I may not be her biological real mother but she will never feel the bitterness of a step mother in me. I'll always keep her close to my heart. I promise" she said as she squeezed his larger hand lightly.

A shocking expression appeared on his face then it was replaced by small smile.

"Thank you" he whispered, comforting his heart to stop being so restless for his daughter's health. "She'll be alright. Nothing's going to happen to her. She's out of danger now" he reassured himself over and over again.

Mogami Saena was extremely happy. She was practically on cloud nine. She'd finally done it. Sitting in the lawn of her vast Mansion, she sipped her tea while enjoying each passing moment of her victory.

"Kyoko, it's my revenge on you. You must be in tears right now. At last, I won. You'll never find your sweetheart again. I have managed to break you two apart. You are married to a man who's four years elder than you. A widower who already has a child. Why would a broken man like him pay any attention to you? You'll suffer till death, craving for his love, your Sho-chan's love but you won't be able to find any. You'll suffer just like I did. Your tears are my happiness, your wounds are my healing, the more you cry, the more I feel better, you useless child! You deserve every bit of pain!" Saena growled with disgust as her eyes went dark with hatred.

Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Have a happy reading! Till next time…