AN: Believe it or not, this particular Skip Beat idea has been floating around my brain for a few months now. I hope that you guys enjoy it 😊 This chapter is a little shorter than others will be.

Food and Life TV

Chapter One – The Setup

It seemed rather unfair actually. After having fallen in love with Ren when she was sixteen and starting to date Kuon when she was eighteen, he had been diagnosed with an illness that she would never wish upon even her most hated enemies. She knew that he still wanted to work but she was worried about what that might mean for him health wise. She had wanted a beautiful life with him and now he was acting distant with her again.

As he got out of the bath, she walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him despite him only wearing a robe. Since they had started living together she had gotten used to his body. She hadn't yet become accustomed to the weight loss that he had gone through.

"Are you sure that you want to do this?" she asked as she let her hand go through his thinning hair. "I mean, I know that they said that you could stop at the hospital without the other man knowing but Kuon, this isn't something that's usually…"

"I'm fine," Kuon whispered, "This is a project that I can be proud of. It might be the last one of my acting career."

Kyoko felt her heart beat painfully in her chest, twisting as it did so. She knew that only she and the president knew about his illness and he had made the president promise that he would let Kuon tell his parents. Yashiro had suspicions but Kyoko knew that Kuon hadn't told anybody else.

"You promise me that you'll go to the doctor if anything hurts or you're worried about anything," she said with a hand to her hip. Kuon looked to her as he nodded and then managed to get the medical files into a folder. He sighed.

"I'll be back tonight," he told her and Kyoko nodded.

"But you're leaving tomorrow morning," she commented, "and you don't even know who you're working with. What if it's someone like Shotaro?" she asked him and Kuon chuckled.

"I don't think that it would be," he told her before kissing the top of her head and she put a hand to his chest before softly pressing her cheek to his chest. She didn't want for him to leave but this program would focus on a road trip around Japan and she wanted him to experience everything that he could. She knew that if he were given a longer life expectancy that in the future they would get engaged and then get married. They'd just have to enjoy what little time together that they had.

…..

…..

Ren drove by himself to the studio. He didn't know who he would be meeting but this project was supposed to take six weeks and the most he wanted was to have an empathetic and understanding costar who didn't mind him having to check in with a doctor. The actor was supposed to be a senior actor and someone well respected and Ren was hoping that he wouldn't be a diva with an ego problem.

As he got to the studio and to the room to meet with the producer, he checked his phone. He was earlier than expected and knocked on the door. The producer opened it and grinned.

"Good morning, Tsuruga-san. I wasn't sure which one of you would be first," he stated and Ren laughed weakly. He wasn't sure that he should be doing it but it seemed fun and it felt better than just waiting for doctors appointments and therapies and hopefully an operation if his condition got a little better.

Ren bowed, "I'm glad that I'm early," he said with a smile. "Are we expecting him soon?"

"Very soon," the producer said before coughing and Ren tilted his head to the side. "I'm sorry to trouble you like this, Tsuruga-san," he said as Ren hummed, "but would you mind getting me a bottle of water. I forgot to bring one with me."

"Of course," Ren nodded before walking out, knowing where he could purchase things like this. He walked off not knowing that the other star would arrive at the room without knowing about Ren's presence.

As the producer waited, he heard another knock on the door and excitedly jumped up to greet the mega star. As he opened the door he saw the still cool and attractive Kuu Hizuri with a leather jacket, designer clothes, and sunglasses on. His blond hair was pushed back as if he had just left the set of a modelling shoot. "Hizuri-san, it's an honor to meet with you," he said and Kuu removed his sunglasses before bowing as well.

Kuu had been told that he had been paired up with a younger actor so that they could get different perspectives on what was going on within the areas they'd be travelling to. He was eager to meet someone new in the industry but whereas he was expecting a Koga or a Taira, he wasn't expecting to be working with Ren.

"So, is he here? My costar?" he asked and the producer smiled.

"I asked him to fetch me a bottle of water," he said before gesturing to a chair in the room. "If you wanted to take a seat, when he returns, I'll fill both of you in on the plans for the show," he told him and Kuu nodded before sitting down. He heard the door open again and then turned around to see his son staring at him with wide eyes. "Ah, so you're a Kuu fan too, Tsuruga-san," he said as Kuu turned to him but avoided eye contact.

He was secretly thrilled that he'd be getting to do this with his son but he wondered how Kuon was feeling at this moment.

"I'm sorry, I might have to rethink this," Ren said as he put the water bottle in front of the producer.

"What?" the producer asked as Kuu sighed with a sad smile. "Is this about your illness?" he asked and Kuu's eyes snapped open for a moment but his back was turned to the producer and he was looking at the ground. That word wasn't one that came to mind.

"Yeah, a little," Ren said weakly feeling guilty that he hadn't informed his own parents.

"What…kind of illness?" Kuu said slowly and Ren stared at him. He'd get the information from Lory or Kyoko anyway. Was it really worth lying to him? Ren took a deep breath in before he turned to the side feeling guilty. He had only told the producer on paper and that's because it was necessary for him to take the role. Kyoko didn't know that a third party knew.

"Just over a month ago, I had a doctor's appointment and they told me that I had a rare form of…brain cancer," he said as he saw Kuu's eyes widen even more as if he was that dog with eyes as big as saucers. Kuu looked at him in shock and Ren turned to the side. He should have told his dad weeks ago.

"However, Ren has let me know that he has it under control," he said as Kuu nodded shakily, "He might have to take some time at doctor's appointments if he feels bad. I know that you'll be respectful of this," he told Kuu. He saw the older actor turn incredibly pale and Ren attempted to avoid eye contact with him. The producer didn't know about their link. He thought that it was a senior actor learning that the top actor in Japan had a rare illness, he didn't know that it was a father being told that his son was terminally ill.

"Yes," Kuu nodded before looking away, "I'm sorry to hear that Tsuruga-san," he said weakly before standing up. "I'm sorry, I need a moment to process this." He turned and walked out and Ren sighed, looking after him. He should have told his dad before this moment happened.

"Should he not have known?" the producer asked and Ren shook his head, feeling extremely guilty.

"No. It's best that he knows," he whispered and then looked towards the door. "I think maybe another explanation is needed. I hope to return with him soon," he said and walked out of the room. He looked down the hallway and saw Kuu sitting on a bench staring at the ground as if he were the one who had been told about this happening to.

Ren walked over to him and Kuu could only stare at his shoes. "I would have told you," he said as he looked side to side to make sure that nobody could hear the conversation. "I felt that I had six months to tell you," he said again and Kuu continued to stare at his shoes.

"That's the life expectancy they told you?" Kuu asked as he felt unable to meet his son's eyes. He felt that he was kicked numerous times in the gut. "Six months?"

"Unless they can perform an operation, yes" Ren nodded and Kuu put a hand over his stomach. This wasn't how he should find out. "Do you think we should do this show together?" he asked and Kuu sat there silently.

"You promise me that you'll go and see a doctor if anything feels strange?" he asked.

"Yes," he nodded and Kuu continued to look away from him.

"And if I'm worried about you, I can decide to stop the show even if only a few episodes have been filmed?" he asked and Ren once again agreed. Kuu nodded as he stood up, his entire body pale and uneasy. Kuon knew that he wanted to stop but this project might be his last one in the acting world and at least he'd get to spend some time with his hero.

End of Chapter One

Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated