Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat! or any of its character.
Chapter 1
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Mogami Kyoko rushed to pick up her vibrating phone that she placed on top of her dresser upon entering her room after taking her bath. She looked at the small screen to check the caller ID. A big smile formed on her lips when she saw that it's from a private number.
"Moshi moshi" She said enthusiastically.
"Hello Mogami-san." A familiar voice answered. But not the familiar voice she was expecting to hear. Her smile faltered.
"Good evening Sawara-san. How may I help you this evening?" Kyoko as ever politely asked.
"Well, Mogami-san, I forgot to tell you that director Kurosaki called today and scheduled a meeting with you tomorrow at 8:00am in my office regarding a new offer for a CM. I did check your schedule before making the appointment. I hope it hasn't change from this morning till now."
"Nope, It hasn't. Thank you for letting me know. Is there anything else Sawara-san?"
"No, that's all Mogami-san. I'll see tomorrow."
"Hai, I'll see you then Sawara-san. Have a pleasant evening." With that last remark Kyoko put her phone down and resume what she was doing before her phone rang which was reading her script for tomorrows taping.
At half past nine, her phone started vibrating again. A quick check on the screen and a smile on her lips, she answered her phone with an enthusiastic "moshi moshi." This time the voice on the other line didn't disappoint her.
"Good evening Kyoko-chan. How are you today?" A sweet baritone voice asked.
"I'm fine. How about you? Did you just finish your shoot?"
"I'm good too. And no, the photo shoot hasn't finished yet. We're on a 15mins break. It's going to be another hour or so before we can all go home. I wanted to call you before it gets too late."
"I see. Have you had your dinner yet?"
Ren chuckled before answering. "Yes I have. Before you ask, let me answer you already. I did eat something healthy. The company I'm modelling for provided bentos for everyone on the set. And just to let you know I finished my bento. You can even ask Yashiro if you don't believe me."
"Ok Ren-san, I believe you." Ren smiled broadly upon hearing her say his name. It was toward the end of their time together as the Heel siblings when he finally convinced Kyoko to call him by his first name, stating that they spent so much time together that it is just natural for them to start calling each other by their first name. She was hesitant in the beginning but now she's very at ease saying his name. It still gives him thrills hearing her say it.
"You said you start work at 10:30 tomorrow right?" Ren asked. He was planning on asking her to have breakfast with him since he doesn't have work until 11:00. Yashiro didn't schedule anything for him in the morning so he can recuperate from all the late night jobs he has been doing lately, according to Yashiro. But he has his doubt. After all, his ever so reliable manager likes coordinating his schedule with Kyoko's schedule whenever possible. Not that he's complaining. He gets more time to spend with Kyoko that way. But it sometimes frustrate him the way Yashiro pushes him to the girl he loves when she's not ready to accept his feelings yet.
"Well, I was supposed to. But Sawara-san called and informed me about a meeting he scheduled with Director Kurosaki tomorrow at 8. Apparently the Director wants to speak to me about an offer for his new CM. I don't know the details yet, but If it is Director Kurosaki's CM I'm sure it's going to be great. After all, he directed my first CM."
"Is the meeting going to be at LME?"
"Yes"
"Then can I offer you my services to drive you there in the morning?"
"I don't want to inconvenience you Ren-san."
"Kyoko-chan," he said exasperated "I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to do it. Plus tomorrow I have to pick up Yashiro at LME. He said he has to pick up some stuff at his office. So I'll just swing by your place to pick you up. Is that alright?"
"Ok then." Kyoko heard a knock coming from the other end of the line fallowed by the faint voice of Yashiro saying "Ren, It's time to go back."
"I have to go back now. I'll pick you up tomorrow at 7:30."
"Ok. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Ren-san, and drive carefully on the way home."
"Goodnight Kyoko-chan. Sweet dreams" He answered "I love you." He whispered really softly, and then kissed his phone silently before disconnecting the call.
Kyoko stared at her phone for a few more minutes. 'Did he say I Love You?' Kyoko thought. 'No, it couldn't have been that. I must be hearing things.' She dismissed those alarming thoughts. She went to lie down on her futon, ready to go to sleep, when she started thinking about how easy and comfortable her conversations with Ren lately. A few months ago, if someone told her that she'd be talking to Ren like old friends, she would have told them they're crazy. But now it feels weirder when she does hear his voice before going to bed. It's just part of her daily routine now. Her day wouldn't be complete without saying goodnight to her beloved Senpai. How did that happened? Kyoko thought back, just after finishing her 'dangerous mission' as Satsu Heel she started feeling empty. She supposed that she got used to having Ren around so much after spending months with him as his sister. She started missing their time together. She missed how they'd say goodnight to each other just before going to bed, how he'd be the last person she sees before closing her eyes at night and the first person she sees in the morning. Cooking him breakfast and watching him enjoy what she made. She missed their argument when they disagree on some things, his puppy dog eyes when he's trying to win an argument. Their conversations about anything and everything. She even missed the way he spoiled her. All the clothes he had bought her during that time are neatly hanging in her small closet. He insisted that she kept them after or else they would all go to waste. He argued that he won't be wearing them. Not wanting to waste money she reluctantly accepted the gifts. She still wears most of them. She just had to dress them down a bit to suit Mogami Kyoko's style.
The week following the end of their time together Kyoko was feeling incomplete, until Ren phoned her. After a week of not hearing his voice and not seeing his face, Kyoko welcomed the relief and comfort she felt upon hearing his voice again. Then and there Kyoko realised and accepted that Ren is very special to her. Though she would not accept and admit to herself that she's really in love with him, because every time she loves someone she ended up losing them. And Ren is far more important to her and she believes that she won't be able to live on if ever she loses him.
At first Ren only called twice a week. Then gradually it increased to three times a week. Then every other day. Eventually the calls came everyday. Even on days that they see each other, he still calls at night to say goodnight. Or on nights that he drives her home, he calls as soon as he gets home just to let her know that he got home safely.
Kyoko drifted into a restless sleep dreaming of all the people she loved and left her in return. It start with Corn, her fairy prince. She loved him and still love him even if they just spent a little time together, but he left. Though it's not his fault that he has to go back to his world but the point is she loved him and he's not with her anymore. Then her Okaa-san. She tried her best to please her because she loved her but nothing she ever did was good enough and in the end she left her. Then Sho, who she thought was her prince. She gave her whole heart to him on a silver platter but he crushed it into pieces and threw her away.
She woke-up to the sound of her alarm. Kyoko sat up and thought about her dream. She would not let that happen again. Not with Ren. 'I'll just be happy having him as my special friend.' She thought. "I'm not ganna fall in love with him" she said out loud strengthening her resolution. She got up to get ready before her ride comes.
It's 7:25 when Ren stopped in from of Daruma-ya, where Kyoko is currently staying. He got out of his car and knocked on the door. The Okami-san answered it.
"Ohayou Gozaimasu Tsuruga-san"
"Ohayou Gozaimasu Okami-san" Ren greeted the elder woman with a little bow. "I'm here to pick Kyoko-chan this morning."
"Ah yes. She just went back up stairs to get her bag. She should be down in a minute." As if on cue Kyoko appeared on top of the stairs and started descending gracefully.
She gave Ren a one of her dazzling smile as soon as she saw him. And she was rewarded with one of his own bright smile in return.
"Good morning Kyoko-chan. You look lovely today." He said. And she does look lovely wearing a simple, yellow summer dress that stop just above her knee. Her hair was held behind her ears by two hair pins each side. She was holding her white ballet flats in her left hand and her white shoulder bag on her right.
"Thank you Ren-san" A faint blush spread across her cheeks making her look radiant. 'At least she's learning how to take compliment.' Ren thought.
"We should get going Kyoko-chan if you don't want to be late."
"Ok. Bye Okami-san. I'll see you tonight." With a bow and a wave they left the Daruma-ya.
In the car they started talking about the new job Kyoko was about to be offered, playing a guessing game of what the CM will be about.
"Maybe a new perfume? Or make-up?" Ren said.
"A new drink again?" Kyoko guess.
"A new food chain? I had to film one a while back. I had to eat 4 burgers before the director was satisfied with my expression" Wrinkling his nose. "I'll never want to do that again."
Kyoko squinted her eyes at Ren and then asked "Speaking of food. Have you had your breakfast yet?"
Ren slightly grimaced 'Uh-oh' he thought 'Now I've done it. I shouldn't have mention food in front of her.'
She didn't need hear his answer, judging by his expression and his silence, the answer is no.
"Reeennn" she sighed exasperated. She was so disconcerted that she forgot to add the Honorific at the end of his name. She started he lecture about the importance of eating breakfast.
Ren on the other hand was thrilled that she left out the honorific from his name. He was thinking how he love to hear her say his name again with that tone. He didn't hear the rest of what she was saying until se said "Stop right there!" Huh? What happened why does she want him to stop?
"Kyoko-chan? Why did you want me to stop?"
"You weren't listening to me, we you Ren?" She glared at him.
There, she said it again, his name without honorific. Ahhh music to his ears. She was still glaring at him, so he gave her a sheepish smile and said "Sorry Kyoko-chan I was concentrating on driving. What were you saying again?"
"Concentrating. Yeah right." She said under her breath. Then she added "I said we should stop right there." She pointed at a cafe nearby. "So we can buy you breakfast."
He looked at the clock on his dashboard and said "Sorry my dear but we just don't have time to stop right now if you want to make it to your appointment."
Kyoko looked down at her wrist watch and saw that it is already 7:45. Dejected, she had to admit that Ren was right but she's not about to give up. She's going to make Ren eat breakfast no matter what.
"Fine" she said. "But as soon as we get to LME, you're marching straight to L.A. hearts and getting yourself a decent breakfast. I don't care if you eat western style or Japanese style but you're eating something." She commanded. Ren was amused by her tone. But she wasn't finish yet. "And just to make sure that you did buy something I want you to take a picture of what you bought and send it to me. Then take another picture of the plate after you eat and send that to me too."
Ren was shocked at her determination to make sure he eats. But he still want to spend more time with her and he can use this to his advantage. So made another suggestion.
"Kyoko-chan, what if I wait for you to finish your meeting then we can go together to one of the cafes nearby."
"But, don't you have to a job to do this morning?"
"I do. But I don't have to start until 11." He said calmly.
"But if you don't have to start until 11 then what are you doing out now?"
"Driving you to LME." He answer.
"Ren- san?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you lie to me about picking up Yashiro-san at LME?" She asked while gritting her teeth.
"No, I really do have to pick up Yashiro at LME. He'll be there at 9. Come on Kyoko-Chan come with me to have breakfast. Please?" Ren unleashing his ultimate weapon, his puppy dog eyes.
"Please?" he said again.
"Oh, alright!" She finally agreed. Who can resist that look?
They arrived at LME with 10 mins to spare before her appointed meeting.
A/N: This is bit a long chapter and probably a bit boring. I just want to establish the progress of Kyoko and Ren's relationship. It is essential for the readers to understand how close Kyoko and Ren had become for me to build up the story from there.
Next chapter: Kyoko will meet her brother for the first time.
Thank you to all the people who started reading my story. I await you review and comments. May it be good or bad, I can always learn from guys.
