Thank you to everyone that has helped me with the first chapter, your insight is appreciated. Here is the next section for your approval.
Note: I don't own Skip Beat!
Kyoko just finished up the last of the papers she was filing when her new manager walked through the door. She still wore the nice business suit and dark heels, but it was covered over with a long black London Fog trench coat. Kyoko found this odd since the days had become somewhat warm out. She also carried a small paper shopping bag. Kyoko stood and greeted her.
"Hello Saunders-san. I am done here so we can get ready to leave." Kyoko said formally to her.
"Please, call me Kat. I'm American and haven't been able to get use to the formal use of last names here." Catherine confessed to Kyoko. "I would like us to be friends." She held out the bag to Kyoko. "Here, this is for you. A gift from Kuu and Julie, they asked me to bring it to you." Kyoko took the bag and looked inside. She pulled out a velvet box and opened it, and gasped as she pulled out a gold charm bracelet with movie themed charms attached. There was space for more charms along the delicate chain. "They said it was to congratulate you on your first manager." Catherine looked down and blushed a little knowing they referred to her. Kyoko jumped up and hugged the manager in her joy. Catherine hugged her back in surprise. Kyoko pulled away in horror as she realized what she had just done. Catherine released the girl as she started to apologize for her outburst.
"Please, there is no need for that," Catherine pulled the girl to her feet and turned to walk out. "Come on, don't you have another job tonight?"
"Oh yes!" Kyoko grab she stuff and headed out behind her new manager. She still had to go play Bo. "I have to go change first." She led Catherine to the LoveMe Section locker room just in time to meet up with Kotonami Kanae. "MOKO-SAN!" Kyoko screeched and leapt at the young talent as soon as she was inside. Catherine stopped just inside the door not wanting to interrupt the two young girls' moment. Kanae avoided her with practiced movements and Kyoko landed on the couch instead. "Moko-san! Why did you avoid me?" Kyoko whined.
"Kyoko-chan, you can't do those things in public. What would people say!" Kanae fussed at her. "Who is your friend?" She turned to look suspiciously at the tall foreign women that had followed her best friend into the room. Kyoko realized that Catherine was standing in the doorway smiling at them. She has forgotten about her in her excitement for Kanae.
"I would like for you to meet my new manager, Miss Catherine Saunders." Kyoko introduced her. Catherine stepped fully into the room and extended her hand to the young talent. "Kat-san this is my best friend Kotonami Kanae." Kanae took the women's hand and sized her up.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Kotonami-san." Catherine said as Kanae shook and released her hand. Catherine bowed to the girl. "Please forgive my intrusion," she exclaimed in true Japanese fashion. Kanae was impressed that the foreign woman would use the local custom well.
"The pleasure is mine," Kanae responded with a return bow. "So, you are Kyoko's new manager?" Kanae asked in disbelief, the jealousy just barely covered in her voice. How could her friend be so much higher that she needed a dedicated manager? Catherine saw the emotion in her eyes before she could recover completely.
"It is true. I am Kyoko's new manager, her body guard, and newest member of the LoveMe section." Catherine smiled as she walked over and opened a locker to reveal another LoveMe jumpsuit and stamp set. "I am to accompany Kyoko in everything." The woman sighed as the two girls took in the horror of what she said. They both looked at her with softened eyes as she shut her torture back into the locker. She turned back to Kyoko and looked at her watch. "Sorry to cut this short, but we really need to be going if we are to make it to your next job in time." Kyoko looked at the clock and eeked. She changed her clothing, grabbed her things, and stammered a goodbye to Kanae. Catherine turned to bow to the older girl and left quietly. Kanae was impressed with the calm way the new manager held herself with everything she was being put through. She was also happy to know that Kyoko would have the protection she needed.
Catherine and Kyoko chatted as they walked to the TV studio for the filming of Totally Wild Rock. Before they reached their destination, Kyoko turned to the taller woman and pleaded with her not to tell anyone about what the job was. Catherine agreed with her, worried that the director may be doing something slightly illegal with the young girl. She followed Kyoko into the prop room where she saw the costume set out for her arrival. Reassured by the oversized chicken Kyoko was struggling into, Catherine excused herself to find some refreshments. She was sure Kyoko would need water inside that hot suit.
Catherine found her way to the green room where Bridge Rock was waiting for everything to begin. The Ishibashis brothers turned and looked at the unknown lady when she walked into the room. She stopped at the sight of the three young men and looked around.
"Can I help you find something?" Hikaru asked as she paused in her search. "You seem to be lost."
"No. I am just looking for some water for a talent working tonight," Catherine responded to the young man. He picked up a bottle and delivered it to her.
"And whose manager are you? There should have been water in the guest's dressing rooms." Hikaru asked. He was going to have to say something to the staff about this over sight. They were usually very good.
"Oh, I am not here with one of the guests," She smiled at the young man. "I am here with one of the main characters. Thank you." She bowed, turned, and walked out of the room. The three brothers looked at each other, curiosity burning inside them.
Catherine returned to Kyoko and watched from just off stage during the rest of the filming. Once Kyoko returned to the prop room, Catherine helped her out of the costume. Just a hint of a smile showed on Catherine's face as the young girl shed per chicken persona.
"I can see why you wouldn't want anyone to know you played a chicken on TV." Catherine commented to her as Kyoko finished packing the costume for return to wardrobe. Kyoko blushed furiously.
"No there are other reasons I don't want this information getting out." The young actress proclaimed. "There are two people that would be very mad at me it they ever found out!"
"Your secret is safe with me," Catherine reassured her. This was turning out to be a very interesting assignment, nothing like that last brat she had taken care of. As far as she could tell, Kyoko was a very kind and loving young lady. Why had Lory placed her in a section as embarrassing as LoveMe?
"You did a really great job out there, and your costars are really nice young men." Catherine remarked as she handed the water to Kyoko.
"They are very good to me," Kyoko told her as she finished the entire bottle. That suit was really hot. "They are always doing nice things for me." Catherine had watched the way the boys took care of her during the filming. It was obvious to her that the shortest one really liked her. Catherine and Kyoko were joined by the brothers as they came out to take Bo back. The boys stared at the stranger walking with Kyoko.
"Oh hey guys, let me introduce to you my new manager Miss Catherine Saunders. LME has just assigned her to me," Kyoko introduced here to Bridge Rock. The boys greeted her properly this time. "Hizuri Kuu-san asked her to come from America to keep me safe." Kyoko continued as just a hint of red bloomed on her cheeks. Yusei and Shinchi looked at each other skeptically. They had been worried about the rumors that had been circling about the young starlet. How could this delicate looking foreign woman help Kyoko with the trials before her? Why had such a major star sent someone to help Kyoko? There were just too many questions to ask so they let them go for now. Catherine gave off an air of mystery that the boys were apprehensive to investigate. They would ask Kyoko about it when the woman in question was not listening.
"It was a pleasure to meet you all. I look forward to working with you in the future." Catherine bid farewell to the young stars after they delivered Bo to the costume department. She wondered if Kyoko would be bombarded with questions the next time she saw the young men.
That night Catherine escorted Kyoko home and left here at the door of The Darumaya. She told Kyoko that she would be here to pick her up tomorrow morning. As Catherine left, Kyoko could not help but wonder what type of woman her Otousan had sent to her. She had not shared much about herself that day, leaving the young actress worried about how this lady was going to protect her. Kyoko went in and went to bed thinking about what was to come the next day.
