Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat!


Paper Puppet Show

ACT II

New Beginnings And A Lot Of Awkwardness

In that mornings news there was nothing about their accident. Well that was a given, Boss was great at concealing things like this after being in showbiz as long as he has. Though there was news about the car they almost crashed into. There was a small article about it on the news site Ren was on, usually he doesn't read articles like this, because they don't interest him, but he read it after recognising the car. It seems that the driver was drunk. Police arrested him when he crashed into a pole few blocks away from where they crashed.

Ren smiled remembering what happened at the hospital after the incident. He was feeling as if he wanted to shout that he loves Kyoko to the whole Tokyo, from the top of his lungs. This sensation was so new to him. Though they decided to keep things secret from everyone for a while. Just until they get used to this feeling. After that they will reveal it to their closest friends.

He was still in bed even though it was well past the time he was usually up. It was almost midday actually. The President called him earlier in the morning to give a month off until his arm heals. He tried arguing, but there was no winning against that man as he only said that Ren was ahead of his schedule anyway and just hang up the phone. It felt a bit weird not needing to rush to the set, after all he never took time off from his job.

He put his smartphone down on the pillow next to him and tried turning on his side. Ren groaned as it turned out to be more than a bit uncomfortable. The cast was such a pain in the ass. Ren decided to stay in earlier position and picked up his phone. He disconnected the WiFi and closed the article before dialing Kyoko's number. Actually that was what Ren wanted to do since he was woken up by Boss' phone call, but because last night was quite eventful he didn't want to wake her up - if she wasn't already awake - and decided to wait for more reasonable time to call.

Ren only had to wait few beeps after pressing 'call' as she was quick to pick up.

"Good morning, Tsuruga-san!" Kyoko's cheerful voice greeted him.

"Good morning, Kyoko. But why is it that you still call me 'Tsuruga-san', weren't we on first name basis?" Ren replied while grinning. He could imagine her face going red. It was a shame that he couldn't see her right now. In these few moments of silence between them while Kyoko was thinking what to say back, he could hear noise in the background as if she was on a busy street.

"Why do you always tease me?" Kyoko finally replied loudly, almost shouting. "...Ren..." His stage name she said so quietly that it was almost a whisper. Not to further her embarrassment Kyoko quickly changed the topic "So how are you feeling?"

They got on with their usual chitchat; Kyoko asking if he has eaten yet, Ren trying to change the subject and failing, being forced to admit that he still hasn't had a meal. Then Kyoko giving a moral for not taking care of himself properly. He was glad that at least their phone conversations weren't awkward as you would expect would be, having just entered the relationship. Well talking in person was a whole different thing and he didn't know if it will go as smoothly, but this was a start.

"Then how about you come and cook something for me?" Ren asked teasingly when Kyoko finished awfully long monolog about the importance of eating healthy.

"Then I will!" She replied not wasting a second, still heated from the discussion she just had with herself. It was too quick for a well thought out answer and Ren thought that she might have only said it on reflex, but even after a while she didn't take back her words.

"So it's a deal." Ren said finally getting out of bed.


It was already noon when Kyoko showed up at his door-step with a bag full of groceries. At first Ren tried helping her with the small things and it didn't take long for her to realise that he was useless in kitchen and only got in her way, so she shooed him out to the living room area asking him to stay put and just watch TV with a promise of at least letting him set the table.

Eye-to-eye encounter was a lot different than their phone call. Kyoko found herself blushing and freezing up from embarrassment more than she expected to. Actually when Ren saw that she can't reach one of the bowls and decided to help by taking it down for her, Kyoko almost dropped the one she was holding in her hands. That was the most important reason why Kyoko chased him out of the kitchen as she was afraid to doze-off and set something accidentally on fire during such collisions. Well not that it helped much since she was still unable to concentrate properly.

And Ren seemed so calm! How could he be so calm when she about to pass-out from this strange feeling?!

Kyoko worked quietly from time to time stopping to murmur something under her breath as Ren pretended to watch TV while actually looking at her all the time. Sometimes she would also glance at him through the corner for her eye, but she never caught him looking at her since he always was quick enough to avert his eyes.

The awkwardness together with it's partner silence didn't leave them through their meal as well. It bothered Kyoko that through those few hours that they spent together they only exchanged few words, but she had no idea what to say so she kept her eyes glued to the TV all through the meal.

"What are you going to do with all that free time we've got?" Ren asked her while they were washing the dishes. It was the longest sentence he said to her since she came to his apartment.

"Hm?" Kyoko said clearly startled.

"With the free month? We could go somewhere..." He replied lifting his eyes up to look at her.

"Oh.. I only have few days off, today and the ones that I would've had anyway. I managed to refuse the President, because I wasn't injured, but it took quite a while." She sighed "Actually when you called me I was going home from LME."

"Huh? So I'm the only one on forced leave." Ren shaked his head with a slight smile on his lips. "Anyway what were you doing at LME? Did Boss call you?"

"No, no." She blushed slightly "I was supposed to work today, so I went there like usual, but after talking with me President shooed me home." Ren started laughing. That was such a typical Kyoko.

After their little talk all the tension magically disappeared. Well at least for the most part, there were still some awkward freeze ups. They spent the evening enjoying each other's company and talking away like there was no tomorrow. Kyoko insisted upon cooking for Ren whenever she could and he agreed, she also tried convincing him in helping with other things, but he politely refused and didn't give in no matter how hard she tried. In the end Kyoko had to give up on the idea.


It was about 10 p.m. when Kyoko decided that she needed to get home.

"Will you come tomorrow at the same time?" Ren asked while walking her to the door.

"I'll try, but I already promised to help out at Darumaya so I can't say for sure if I'll make it." She put on her shoes and unlocked the door. After taking first few steps into the hallway she was startled as Ren gently pulled her into a kiss.

At first her eyes were wide with surprise, but momentarily Kyoko gave into the kiss closing her eyes and kissing Ren back. When Ren pulled away she blushed furiously because the kiss left her wanting for more. She Kyoko hid her face in crook of Ren's neck when she heard him softly whisper into her ear -

"Call me when you get home."

"Ehem" a man made his presence known at the other end of the hallway. Both Kyoko and Ren turned in the direction that the voice came from to see who it was.

"Ya-Yashiro-san..?" Kyoko stuttered "What are you doing here..?"

"Well I thought I'd come and keep Ren company, but I guess he doesn't need me." The manager replied with a mischievous grin on his face.


AN: It's been awhile since I've updated sorry :/ I was busy and got Gangsta. fever so I wasn't able to write more than a sentence for a while :/ I would like to say that I'll write next chapter soon, but it might take a lot longer than it took to write this one since I'm starting new school, but I'll do my best.

Actually I'm not happy with this chapter since it seems too cheesy and OCC to me, so if you think so as well leave it in reviews and I'll rewrite it again :)

I'm really thankful for all the reviews I received, They really make me happy. *hug*

Positive and negative reviews are welcome.