I do not own Skip Beat! Thank yous to Nakamura Yoshiki for all of your inspiration and creativity.

Rogue

Rogue: a person whose behavior one disapproves of but who is nonetheless likable or attractive


Chapter 1

Never in a million years did he believe he would be interested in a girl his age, but this particular one was an exception to the rule. She was humble, modest, stunningly beautiful, talented and passionate. She was everything he had ever dreamed that the perfect girl for him would be. Yuuto Takahashi was completely smitten when those gold eyes turned his way. Her soft shy voice caressed his ears and her gentle scent wrapped around his mind and left him in a haze.

There had been rumors that he'd heard throughout the past year or, so. Rumors that she was dating Ren Tsuruga, but Yuuto just didn't see that. Sure... when he started on this project with her, she had been a little sullen and distant, but over the weeks she had gradually cheered up. Yuuto smiled and waved, she returned the gesture. Besides, apparently Ren Tsuruga was gone and it was rumored that he wouldn't be returning to Japan. He had snagged a part in Hollywood. Yuuto decided that if he ever had a woman like Kyoko in his life, he definitely wouldn't leave her to the wolves like Tsuruga possibly did. He would be sure to have her firmly in his grasp before he left. No second guessing by others, she would clearly be his.

"Hi Yuuto-san." Her sweet voice quenched his daily thirst for her and a light dusting of pink colored her cheeks.

He smiled with lips and eyes. "Good morning Kyoko-chan. I always look forward to seeing you."

Her blush went a shade darker. "Umm... a-and I, you." She stuttered. "Have you eaten breakfast?" Her eyes narrowed at him.

He laughed. He had discovered that she was a big supporter of three square meals a day and a very vocal advocate of healthy nutrition. "Not yet, would you like to join me for lunch later?" He knew he had to trick her into dates. He just didn't call them that. He was sure she would eventually figure it out, probably when it was too late and he already had her in his grasp.

She looked up at the 183 cm, raven-haired, sapphire-eyed 18 year old. "Yuuto-san..." Her voice dropped a very sexy octave lower. "A growing young man such as yourself cannot afford to be skipping meals. Men do not stop growing until they are 25 and you are still only 18. You could stunt your growth. Of course I will be joining you for lunch and I will make sure that you eat nutritiously." She scolded.

He smiled slyly. "Well... then I look forward to lunch with you and your tutelage on proper nutrition Kyoko-sensei." He chuckled and beamed inwardly with pride regarding his sly maneuver.

He wondered as she walked away towards her dressing room if it would be too much if he got her a birthday gift. He had heard her discussing plans with her friend Kotonami-san a few days ago. He decided instantly it would be perfect. He smirked at the thought. He knew exactly what he wanted to give her. Her little forays into the land of fairy tales gave him an infinite wellspring of ideas, all centered around her love of fairies. Possibly even a little invite to the theater to see A Midsummer Night's Dream. Yes, he would definitely have his manager look into it for him.


He tried to keep up with news of her and everyday he fought with the desire to run back to Japan and sweep her into his arms, begging her forgiveness, but he just couldn't do that until he met his final goal. His goal to soar above the achievements of his father, Kuu Hizuri. Lory had warned him that this goal may cost him great sacrifices. He had asked him if the success was worth spending his life alone. What good was it, if you have no one to share it with? He had told him that now... It would quite possibly be a hollow victory.

He didn't believe it at first, but the more time he had spent away from her, the more he felt the soul crushing emptiness of his life. He asked himself every morning the same question... "Why am I really doing this?". The image in the mirror never had a good answer.

Throughout the day his thoughts would wander to the woman of his dreams in Japan that he was allowing to slowly slip through his fingers, willingly. What was she doing right now? How was she feeling? Was she smiling for someone else? Was she happy? He could never answer these questions and their phone calls had tapered off considerably since last month. In their last conversation she sounded sad and distant. She had told him everything was fine and that she would do her best not to disappoint him. That's not what he wanted. He wanted her to tell him the truth. He became irritated and without thinking of the consequences, told her not to call unless she was going to tell him what was actually bothering her. That he didn't have time for pettiness. God...that had been a huge mistake. Not only did the calls taper off... to his horror, they stopped altogether. Why the hell did he do that?! Why?! Why couldn't he just come out and say it? Tell her he loved her more than life itself and drop this idiotic, never-ending, worthless, childish quest? He needed her with every fiber of his being.

"Yukihito... I need next month off." He sighed deeply. "I need a break." He told him finally.

Yashiro raised an eyebrow and cast an interesting side glance at him, then sighed. "For business or, pleasure?" He asked.

He gritted his teeth. He needed to tell him but, didn't want the lecture that came with it. "I think a bit of both. Although, I don't believe it will be very pleasurable." He told him.

Yashiro flipped through the entertainment magazine in his possession and caught sight of an adorable little golden-eyed blonde on a date with a blue-eyed raven-haired male. He quickly closed the magazine and tossed it on the coffee table as if it had burned him.

Ren noticed the quick and worry filled reaction, then picked up the magazine to find what he had been looking at. As his eyes fell on the page of the Japanese Entertainment magazine that Yashiro wanted to avoid, all of the color drained from his face and his body felt chilled to the bone.

"Ren... You know how these magazines always make things look and you know Kyoko-chan. She is in the LoveMe Section." Yashiro reminded him, attempting to placate his fears.

"Yuki... I need to go home." He told him with desperation in his voice as he left his dressing room with the open magazine on the table.

Japan's No. 1 Sweetheart, Off The Market?

The title and photo spread that spanned many pages, that the men in America had missed, displayed Yuuto and Kyoko's photos of their many 'dates' and outings. One of them dining at a restaurant, another as they walked through the park. There was one on another page that made it appear as though they were kissing under his umbrella in the rain. The photographic evidence was pretty convincing to the unknowing eye or, was it exactly what it seemed?

The article, had either of the men read it, stated the name of her beau and that they had just started dating or, that's what had been guessed by all of their peers. Any man's guess was as good as the next, after all the same could have been said about her and Ren at any given moment. The only difference this time was that there were no statements or, denials coming from LME. No questions from televised interviews like he had to endure. What exactly was the truth and why had she just cut him off? Was it really because he told her not to call or, was it more?