Disclaimers Apply. I do not own Skip Beat, only this story plot.

Aberrant Chapter 1

Grabbing Dead Girls On the Go

"Kyouko-chan, dear, you're running a fever again. I don't even know how you're standing. You really should go and rest." The okami-san's kind words were lost on Kyouko, however, as the young girl merely shook her head and stood back up, her hand coming to rest briefly on the corner of the table when she stumbled. The elder woman reached out instantly to steady Kyouko, but it was with a cold shoulder that Kyouko brushed off her help.

A calm smile tilted Kyouko's lips up. "It's quite alright, Okami-san. I've worked through this before." A quick dig through her sleeves and the kimono-wearing girl found her handkerchief. She dabbed the small cloth along her forehead and down the sides and back of her neck before returning the used article into its folds.

Bypassing the Okami's kind protests, Kyouko slipped through the door unobtrusively, flashing a cheerful smile at the Taisho before stepping onto the working floor, quickly gathering used cups and plates.

The customer must not know. The customer is before me, and must never know. Breathe in, straighten your back, and breathe out. You are the perfect hostess.

Her mantra somehow helped Kyouko through her night shift, and it was with an unperceivable sigh that she flipped the OPEN sign to CLOSED. After a quick clean-up and glance over, Kyouko was ready to leave work. She accepted her month's paycheck with a happy smile, changed out of her kimono into her casual clothes, and stepped out into the cold night.

Despite it being April the night still persisted on being chilly, but the bitter breeze felt wonderful on her heated cheeks and forehead. She wiped her palms down her face, yet still felt clammy. The customer was no longer in front of her, and Kyouko wasn't sure she could make it all the way home. If she fell asleep on the subway, she'd probably miss her stop. She couldn't afford a taxi, not at this distance seeing as how her condo was in the higher-end of town and the Daruma-ya was in the suburbs. She hadn't brought her bike with her because its chain had been loose.

With a weary gaze Kyouko eyed the bench situated before a subway station. Should she…?

Shrugging off her reluctance, Kyouko settled into the hard wooden seat and sighed. It felt like her bones were melting into the seat and it felt good.

_-/-_

It was with great reluctance that Ren carried the woman into his apartment. Even though Yashiro had supplied the idea, once Ren began to consider it, it was suddenly the manager's job to vehemently reject it with a variety of reasons. With a heavy heart, Ren found it unbearable to leave the unconscious woman where she had been, so he'd scooped her up, placed her in his car as comfortable as possible, and drove to his apartment, a nagging Yashiro in the passenger seat all the while.

"Ren!" Yashiro screeched quietly. "Be more gentle! You nearly knocked off her head!"

"It's not as if I have tons of experience carrying women through my doorway." Ren replied snidely.

"Even so." The light-haired man sniffed, a cautious eye still trained on the young woman they had picked up. Blast Ren and his kind heart! Yashiro was positive this was going to come back and bite them in the ass.

Ren gently lowered the exhausted girl onto his spare bed, finding it extremely difficult as he tried to maneuver her into the bed while drawing back the sheets at the same time. The actor stretched to his full height afterwards, glancing down briefly and noting something he'd disregarded earlier.

"Those disgusting bastards," Ren growled under his breath as he caught sight of her disassembled clothes. It was one of the main reasons Ren had decided to take her home. He didn't want any more men trying to have their way with her.

He sat down lightly onto the bed next to her, twisting so that he could fix her clothes. At this close range however, he could see her collar bones.

Sorrow enveloped him. "You poor thing," he mumbled, tracing the fine bones with his eyes. Even the flush of her obvious fever could not hide the even more obvious sign of exhaustion in the hollows of her eyes, bruised purple, and the way her cheekbones were beginning to just appear sharp.

Sighing heavily, Ren buttoned up her shirt once more, ignoring the way his knuckles brushed against her soft bra and skin, pulled the sheets up to her chin, and left the room.

Padding barefoot down his hallway, Ren could smell food cooking in his question, and when he walked in he found Yashiro in an apron cooking something in a pot. It smelled nicely, and when he peered in he saw it was congee. Ren smiled. As against it as Yashiro was, he was still too kind.

Suddenly, Ren realized exactly the situation he'd placed himself in, and he groaned deeply, resting against his counters.

"Yashiro, what am I going to do?"

A/N:

This will probably be 5 or so chapters long. Certainly not as long as my other stories in the making. Also, as a heads up, this will mostly be told in Ren/Kuon's point of view. I find far too many fanfictions not told in his POV.

Meant to be a character-development focused story, but expect a lot of fluff. And yes, I believe Sho will make an entrance ;)

Please review, and if you could tell me what you think of this story so far it would be most appreciated!

EDIT: So I just noticed someone posted a story very similar description-wise. I promise I didn't take the idea from them. I saw it right now while checking for my own story to pop up. (close edit)