Disclaimer: i don't own any of Skip Beat or anything by Yoshiki Nakamura.

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Chapter 2:

The Photo shoot for his new movie, Race to End, was the last job of the day. Finishing early was a surprise considering how packed the morning and afternoon schedule had been. He and his manager, Yashiro Yukihito had planned to go out and celebrate the success of "Race to End" with his managers wife, Ayane Yukihito, who was 7 months pregnant. The couple had been married for 3 years and yet still acted like newlyweds. Ayane is a makeup artist. She and Yashiro had met on the set of one of his movies three years ago and instantly clicked off. 3 months later, they got married. He was happy for his friend, he truly was, but sometimes he couldn't help but feel a little jealous. . .

Oh to heck with it! He was insanely jealous!

With much effort, he had been able to hide his emotions for years. He didn't want to ruin Yashiros happiness just because he couldn't have his happiness. . . Or rather, he couldn't find her.

"Siiiiiigh~" 'Not again...' He leaned his head on the steering wheel of his car and closed his eyes, resting his throbbing head. He just couldn't understand why 9 years was still not long enough to forget... Why it didn't lessen the hurt... within those 9 years he had had many relationships but no matter how beautiful or perfect they were, there has always been one problem... They weren't her. He had kept comparing his partners to that one girl... The voice, smile, body movements... her weird quirks and hobbies. Ren, with eyes closed and head still leaning on the steering wheel, laughed... An actual, genuine laugh which he hadn't done in a very very long time. All of a sudden his chest felt lighter and the tension he had felt disappeared as his body loosened up. He opened his eyes and leaned back on the chair, looking straight through the front glass of his car.

'Good god!' his mind screamed 'If this keeps up, I'll never get married' Shaking his head, he got out of his car. He had parked in the parking lot of the restaurant he, Yashiro and Ayane would be celebrating.

"Siiiiigh~" It was time to put his mask on.

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Kanaes P.O.V.

kanae was in a daze. One moment she was rattling Kyouko for answers, the next she was already sitting with Kyouko and her daughter, ordering the food. From the first moment to the next, her body had been on auto mode LITERALY! It was like she had been possessed! She couldn't move nor talk. Something was controlling her. Kanae was not unfamiliar with this feeling, in fact, it was all too familiar. It was a feeling she had always felt whenever kyouko was angry or depressed.

'Urgh! Damn it! Why can't I move?'

"-Aunt?"

"… Eh?" She turned her head to the little girl who sat between her and Kyouko.

"I said would you like to join my mommy and me to a picnic tomorrow at the beach" The little girl said, starring at her with big sparkling innocent eyes. Kanae couldn't help but be impressed, Kyouko never seems to notice just how good an actor her daughter is. Karina knew she was not an outdoor type of person. She dislikes dirt and plants or anything that could dirty her expensive cloths.

'This little demon~'

She was about to say no when she made the mistake looking at Kyouko. The woman was staring at her with so much expectation that she immediately clamp her mouth shut. With twitching eyes, she looked at Karina once more who was now Smiling angelically at her, the radiance of the smile was blinding her. This child would not allow her to say no. There was only one other person she knew on planet earth who could trapped any victim it wished to a position it wanted with a just a smile.

'Oh my god, Tsuruga, your daughter is a carbon copy of you!' Frustrated, Kanae gave in and gave a little nod at Kyouko's direction. Her bestfriend face glowed with joy, just then the waiter came with their food. It was only when they started eating when Kanae noticed that she can able to move again. She exhaled in relief, feeling her body warm up again, and continued eating.

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Kyouko P.O.V.

She was so glad that Kanae agreed to come with them to the beach tomorrow, considering how her friend disliked the outdoors, she was a bit surprised when Kanae said yes.

'It must mean she wants to spend more time with her!' Kyouko was smiling goofily.

'This is how it sould be, Karina is happy this way … Right?' She glanced at her daughter who was eating happily and felt a pang of guild.

'Am I really going to make my daughter fatherless for the rest of her life because she was afraid?!' what had happened to her fighting spirit?! Where was the strength she had years ago when she had been determined to make Shotaru Fowa pay? Some sort of force was keeping her demons in check. Was it her daughter? Impossible! Such an angel will never notice the demonic aura, her daughter was just too pure to even sense such dark energy.

With that calming her mind a bit, Kyouko started enjoying her meal.

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Karinas P.O.V.

Karina was careful to keep her smiling face on while eating. When her mommy came to join her at the table, she was surprise to see her dear aunt Kanae completely wrapped by her mommys mini-demons. Whatever the two talked about had made her mommy very very uncomfortable. She didn't mean to be mean by giving her poor aunt her angelic/demonic smile but it was the only way to get rid of her mommys mini-demons… well, one of the few ways anyway.

"Um, mommy, I have to use the bathroom"

"Okay sweaty, be careful'

"Yes mommy"

"And don't talk to strangers"

"Yes mommy" with that, she got of of her chair fled to the bathroom.

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Renhad excused himself to use the mens room… That was exactly what it was, an excuse. Everything was going just fine until Ayane felt a kick on her belly and she had asked Ren if he had wanted to feel it. Had felt light headed and had made his excuse. Ayane bought it but Yashiro, who was frowning, obviously didn't. He just knew his manager was going to grill him later, but for now, he needed to breath. He was so distracted by his thoughts that he failed to see the small figure in front of him.

Bump!

Thud!

?

Blink Blink

What was that? Did he bump into someone? He looked left and right, no one was there. He was sure he felt someone-

"Excuse me" A tiny voice said coming from the direction bellow. Ren looked down to see a pretty little girl with blond hair sitting Indian style, arms crossed, starring at him with Big sharp eyes.

"Isn't it only proper to apologies when you bump into someone, and help them up when they fall down?" the little girl said softly. Snapping out of his trance he smiled apologetically at the little girl and extended a hand to her.

"I'm sorry, I was distracted. And you are right. Anyone who bumps into someone should apologies. " The little girl accepted the hand and stood up.

"Thank you" Ren felt a bit awkward when the little girl just stood there, starring at him.

"Um… So, If everything is alright now-"

"You are Ren Tsuruga, The famous actor, am I right?" Feeling a tug on his lips at how politely the little girl spoke, he nodded.

"Yes I am that Ren Tsuruga, It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms."

"Mogami" The little girl flashed a smile "Karina Mogami, and the pleasure is all mine good sir" The little girl curtsied adorably. Ren was motionless for a second. The worlds seemed to have stopped. Slowly, his mind started to function again.

"I…I'm sorry, could- could you tell me your name again?" He asked, smile still plastered on his face

The little girl smiled, not minding that she was asked to repeat herself.

"My name is Karina Mogami, I am 8 years old. It is very good to meet you sir" she curtsied once more then continued to speak.

"My mommy is a very big fan of yours Mr. Tsuruga, although she never admits it. She is always happy when she watches your shows, and she had watched them all. So I'm happy to have met the man that always puts a smile on my mommys face"

His throat, completely dried now. He forced his voice out one more time.

"A- and who… what is your mothers name?" He had never felt so nervous in his life. He was leaning on the wall now. He was afraid he might have a heart attack. He was sure the little girl could hear his heart beat. He forced his heart to calm down so that he can hear what the girl will say… Whatever she will say might very well change his life forever.

"My mommys name is-" it was strange, everything the little girl said was in slow motion. He strained his ears to listen, making sure he hears every single thing she will say. And then it happened.

Armagedon

"-Kyouko Mogami"

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I was listening to Broken by Evanescence while I started writing chapter 2 and it gave me inspiration on how Tsuruga should feel, I hope it was okay. :D