The Course of Nature
Thexz09
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Skip Beat! or any of the characters. :D
A/N: Hey there everyone! I'm kind of back in writing stories now, and I'm sorry for those who read Time is Gold – I don't think I'd be able to continue writing it for some time, because I forgot what I wanted to do with my story. Don't worry, though, because once I figure out what to do, I'll continue it. I'm sorry once again for those who are inconvenienced.
About the title of this story, I just want everyone to know that it has nothing to do with the band, "The Course of Nature". I just really thought that the title, in some way, is good for my story.
Have fun reading!
Chapter 1:
On a very peaceful and quiet day in LME, there was a girl with short, auburn hair in a very eye-catching pink jumpsuit that was walking aimlessly in one of the hallways, seemingly deep in thought, unaware of her surroundings, and mumbling to herself. The people that are passing by try their best to avoid the young girl – scared that something might happen to them.
'I don't know what to doooo! I need to make a decision by todaaay!' she thought, panicking. 'What's the right decision? Do I accept it or not? But what happens if I do? It might ruin more of my chances, but if I decline, I might not get the same chance again!…'. Her thoughts were interrupted when Sawara-san spotted her and got her attention.
"Ah! Mogami-kun! It's a good thing I saw you out here." Sawara-san said in his usual business-like voice. "The president wants to see you in his office. I think it was about the job offer I told you about this morning."
"Oh Sawara- san. Good morning. Thank you for informing me." Kyoko said with a grateful smile and a bow.
"It's no problem Mogami-kun." He replied. "Also, I needed to tell you that you have a new LoveMe assignment. You'll become Tsuruga-san's manager for a while; some problems kind of showed up."
Kyoko looked confused for a moment, and then asked, "Why? Is there something wrong with Yashiro-san?"
"I think he has some sort of family emergency at the moment, so he won't be able to accompany Ren." Sawara-san seemed thoughtful for a moment then said, "Yashiro-san actually specifically asked for you to be his manager for the moment, and I think he said it was because you were the only one who can handle his eating habits." He chuckled.
Kyoko scowled, and then mumbled something along the lines of "unable to take care of his body" and "convenient store onigiris".
"Well then, I think I'll take my leave now. You'll start being Tsuruga-san's temporary manager in two days until Yashiro-san comes back after three days. I don't think that you're schedule requires you to be on any set for those three days, so it won't interfere with your acting jobs."
Kyoko snapped back to attention and replied. "Hai! I'll do my best! Have a nice day!" Kyoko said, and then bowed respectfully, and she made her way towards the president's office. 'Ugh! I still don't know what to do! I wonder what the president's going to tell me. He'll probably ask me what my decision is. I really hope he'll help me, though…' she sighed. 'Still, I don't think I should get my hopes up. This is something I should decide on my own'. She greeted the receptionist and was that the president was expecting her. She opened the door to the president's office, and stepped inside.
What she saw wasn't really something unusual, especially since it concerns the president, but since it's Kyoko, she admired every design in the office. His office was decorated with swords and armors that looked like it was from the Meiji era. They were old-looking, but still looked very valuable and precious. The two chairs in front of the president's desk looked like the thrones in a kingdom made of mahogany wood, made comfy with red cushions. The gigantic windows were decorated with red curtains, lined with golden threads. The floor was covered with red, expensive carpets decorated in the middle with an intricate design that looked somewhat similar to an Islamic art. The president was wearing what looked like a ninja-getup. He was wearing an all black outfit and has a sword at his side. Half of his face is covered, with only his black eyes showing.
Kyoko sighed happily, 'I wish I can live in a place like this' then she giggled. The president noticed her presence and called out to her.
"Ah! Mogami-kun, please take a seat. I need to talk to you." He said in his usual booming and cheery voice. When Kyoko took a seat, he continued, "As you may have already been informed, you have been offered a female lead in one of Director Hirotaka's movie, Stars From Afar. It is a very big opportunity for you, since you have only started to become an actress three years ago, and though, you have already become very successful, Director Hirotaka is very well-known and can help you boost your popularity even more, and you might not only become popular here, but also in America." He smiled at his protégé, very proud of her accomplishment in the last three years.
After her Box-R project, she was offered a lead role in a movie called, Burning Dreams. She played a girl who lived two lives – one as a quiet, cute, cheerful, innocent, and responsible student, and the other as a hot, crazy, seductress with a thirst for revenge on all males. This movie became a hit, and the directors discovered Kyoko's versatility in portraying; she had a potential to not only be the malicious character in a story, but also as the cute and innocent one. They were also amazed on how drastic her appearance can change, so she was offered more and more roles, until she became very popular, although she was still not able to graduate from the LoveMe section, and she is still being managed by Sawara-san.
"Yes. I am well aware about that, but president, won't it have consequences in my career when I leave to go to America for four months? I mean, I only started to become popular, and won't that make them, kind of, forget about me? Also, what about Moko-san and the others? I will miss them so much." Kyoko asked, starting to feel a bit sad at the prospect of leaving her best friend.
"Well, everything comes with a price, Mogami-kun, but this is a great opportunity to widen your horizons and you can't just let it pass; I'm sure that Kotonami-san will understand your situation. Plus, you can still mail each other once in a while, and talk to each other on the phone. And about your career, I don't think your popularity will be damaged, considering that you'll be filming one of the most awaited movies of the year. Your fans will truly be happy for you, I'm sure." He said and smiled, 'She really has grown into such a mature and great actress.'
Kyoko seemed thoughtful for a while, 'Hmm… I guess the president has a point. I can always send letters to Moko-san while I'm away, and it's not like I'm going away forever, right? I can come back after filming, and everything will be okay! The plot is good, too.' She smiled. 'Okay! I've made my decision!' With a determined expression she looked at the president and said, "Okay. I'll accept the offer! This is something that I should use to improve my acting skills".
Already expecting this to be her answer, the president smiled at her brightly and said "Wonderful, Mogami-kun! I'll inform Director Hirotaka and Sawara-san right away. You can go back to your work now. You'll leave in two and a half months. Have a nice day!"
"Have a nice day as well. Goodbye." She bowed and took her leave. 'Plus I'm sure Otou-san will be disappointed in me if I reject this offer. As well as Tsuruga-san...' Then it hit her. 'Wait! What about Tsuruga-san? I guess I can still call him and send him letters, but what if it bothers him?' She then had a depressed aura around her. 'I wonder if it's alright with him. I guess I can ask him the next time I see him.' With that decision in mind, she headed for the LoveMe room to talk to Moko-san about her new role.
Meanwhile…
'Hmmm… I wonder if Sawara-san already told her. I hope she's not busy.' Yashiro-san's phone suddenly vibrated, so he wore his latex gloves, and opened his phone. He grinned, 'Speaking of the devil'
"Moshi moshi? Sawara-san?"
"Yashiro-san. I've just informed Mogami-kun of the request and I have already checked her schedule, so she'll be able to accept," Sawara-san replied.
Yashiro grinned wider. "Oh. Good. At least now I can be assured about Ren's health." 'And love life,' he mentally added. "Thank you, Sawara-san."
"No problem." Then they hung up.
Yashiro started to laugh girlishly and smiled like an idiot. He was already visualizing the outcome of this new matchmaking plan. 'I'm sure their relationship will improve this time! But just in case, I have another plan up my sleeve.' He smiled wider.
"And CUT! Good job, everyone! Let's take a twenty-minute break, everyone!" the director yelled, happy with the results of today's filming. 'heh. Time to inform Ren… '
Ren went to a chair near his manager and reached for the water bottle. He drank the water and was about to go to his dressing room and change when Yashiro suddenly called him.
"Ren!"
He turned around. "What is it, Yashiro-san?" he asked, with an inquiring look.
'He's definitely going to like this news! I know it! –insert fan girl laugh here – he is surely going to thank me for this'. He smiled inwardly and tried to compose his face. "I'm going to be gone, two days from now. I have to take care of something at home. It's kind of an emergency. Don't worry, I've sent someone to look over you for those three days that I'm gone," he paused, trying to calm himself down when his fan-girl instincts started to kick in.
"Oh? It's not really necessary to send someone, Yashiro-san; I can take care of myself. You can go ahead and ta-".
"Kyoko-chan's going to be my replacement for a while". Yashiro interrupted, staring intently at Ren, gauging for his reaction. He could see different emotions pass through Ren's eyes: shock, longing, a hint of annoyance and anger, and happiness. 'Ha! I knew he'd be happy!' If he wasn't paying a lot of attention he would've missed the cracks in his mask. He grinned.
Ren inwardly sighed, 'I should've known it would turn out like this'. He smiled his gentlemanly smile at Yashiro and said, "Yashiro-san, I don't think it will be necessary. On top of that, I think Mogami-san is quite busy nowadays, with her being very popular now. I doubt she'll have time for the request. I don't want to inconvenience her." 'Although I'd love to have her company' he mentally added.
Yashiro flinched when he saw the gentlemanly smile, but continued to hold his ground. 'I know you want to, Ren. I just saw you slip,' he grinned inwardly. "Kyoko-chan won't be busy for those three days. I was already informed by Sawara-san. She already accepted the request. I don't think it will bother her at all," he paused, "but seeing as you don't want her to be your temporary manager, you should be the one to tell her." He waited for Ren to reply, and smiled triumphantly when he just sighed and walked away.
'Oh well, I might as well be thankful to Yashiro. I haven't been seeing her much nowadays.' Ren thought with a smile as he proceeded to go to his dressing room. 'I should just hope that my control would stay intact.'
Back at LME…
"… and so Moko-san, I'm going to leave for four months to go to America. I'm really going to miss yooouu!" Kyoko said with tears in her eyes and tried to embrace Moko, but she avoided it just in time.
"Mo! We can always call each other! This is a great opportunity for you! Don't waste it! It's a good thing you accepted the offer. I would've gotten mad if you rejected an offer like that." She said with a bit of annoyance.
Kyoko looked at her friend, and asked, a bit sad, "Aren't you going to miss me, Moko-san?"
"Mo! Why would I-" then she stopped herself as she saw the tears that are now threatening to escape the young actress' eyes. She sighed, 'Ugh! Why do I have to put up with this?'. She turned her head in the other direction and blushed as she said, "Who in the world would not miss her best friend?".
When Kyoko heard what her friend said, she suddenly brightened up and hugged Kanae. And, for once, her best friend didn't try to push her away…
Hmm… This time I won't make any promises, since I'm not sure when I'll be able to update. Still, I would try to write more on this story.
Please review!
Constructive criticisms are very welcome! :D
-have a nice day-
-thexz09-