'When did Kyoko become close enough to hassle about Ren's eating habits?'
Ren couldn't help but give a small chuckle at how easy it had been to get Kyoko to agree to come to lunch with him and Yashiro earlier on in the day – although he must admit, that he is semi-regretting it, because the comment was going to earn him a month of intensified nagging as Kyoko's resolve that he didn't have a clue on what qualified as a good meal was strengthened.
The smell of dinner wafted over to the couch the incredibly long bodied actor was slumped on, making his lips quirk up into a smile to think that Kyoko was once again back in his kitchen cooking, it was very clear that that area of the apartment was claimed and sectioned off as hers.
Ren didn't mind the invasion – in fact the idea that she owned a part of his home made something bubble deep within him with happiness… what he was upset about though was that he was kicked out due to his ability to be able to burn an ingredient just be looking at it in the pan; which meant Ren wasn't able to watch his Kyoko at work. To watch how her body moved with ease as she manipulated the ingredients into something edible and royalty worthy (well his father was considered royalty – at least in the acting world, and he boasted the cooking – but then again his father did eat anything and everything…)
So Kyoko's flushed face popped out from behind the wall dividing the kitchen and the living room.
"uh.. Ren-senpai…"
Ren cringed at the attached title – but at least it was a start
"Could you please get the plates for me?"
The actor's breath hitched as she looked up from under her lashes in embarrassment, recalling what had happened the last time she had tried to reach for the plates back when Ren had been trying to find his own, unique Katsuke during Dark Moon.
Thinking about this incident caused Kyoko to blush even more as she thought about the reason why she was in Ren's apartment, cooking dinner this night. Before she could ponder on this for too long though, Ren stood up, throwing her the smile that burnt all of her precious grudges with it's bright light.
"Of Course Kyoko"
Kyoko's eyes widened at his lack of honorific's and ease at speaking her name so casually (and she had to admit a little that she liked the way it came from him)
"See how I did that Kyoko? Now I would like you to try that…"
Confused the teen mumbled "Of course, Kyoko?"
The actor just sighed and shook his head in disbelief, instead of pushing the issue he went to retrieve the plates and start serving their meals because knowing Kyoko she would be standing in the living room in a whirlwind of confusion for another several minutes.
Shaking the girl Ren brings her back to the present and indicates that the meal is ready on the table to be eaten. Apologizing profusely for going into her own world, Kyoko completely forgets the reason why she had lost focus.
After finishing the meal, Ren decided that it was best to find out why exactly she had offered to come over and cook dinner for him that night – not the he was complaining or anything – but he knew she hated to put people out, even if it was to ensure that Ren was eating a decent meal.
"So Kyoko… I assume there is a reason for your request to cook dinner tonight, besides the obvious and normal debate?"
Blushing, Kyoko manages to stutter out a yes. Instead of asking her to evaluate Ren just looks at her with his full attention and an encouraging smile on his face.
Feeling fluttery from the look, Kyoko clears her throat and bravely begins her request.
"Uhmmm… Ren-Senpai"
"Ren"
Startled by the interruption Kyoko just looks at her mentor with wide doe eyes.
"earlier I asked you to do what I did with Kyoko… so it should be Ren, not Tsuruga-san, not Ren-Senpai, not even Ren-san… just plain Ren"
Swallowing nervously, Kyoko just timidly nods her head and starts again.
"Uhmm.. so Ren"
She looks at her senpai for approval and he gives her a quirk of a smile
"I don't want to inconvenience you because you help me with so much already as it is… but I was hoping that maybe you ?"
Ren's mind did a double take. She had said it so quickly so he wasn't sure he had heard right, plus if it was what he thought she said – the likely hood of her ever asking him for that kind of help had always seemed to farfetched. Either way he was going to have to ask her to repeat that again just to ensure that he had heard right (then again looking at her blushing cheeks he must have heard right)
"ok… let me get this right – because you spoke so quickly I would like to double check"
Ren looks to Kyoko for approval to go on and she gives a quick and jerky nod
"You want me to help you with the romance scenes?"
"Y…ye…yess" Kyoko's shaky voice managed to produce.
Leaning back in his chair, Ren can't help but smile as he replies with a simple "Sure" although his insides were jumping and shaking with the joy of being able to 'act' his feelings for Kyoko but also with the nervousness that if he doesn't keep some kind of control over his reactions he could surely scare her away and lose all hope of ever being able to tell her the one thing he aches to tell her the most.
Across town there was another young woman thinking about the romantic scenes that were going to be taking place between the actress and Fuwa Sho.
She had no doubt the blooming actress would be the stunning example of a professional but after the last P.V. Sho had shot with her, she wasn't so sure that the Visual Kei singer would be able to handle it, to be able to separate Kyoko's acting abilities with reality.
She had already encountered the many temper changes in her client – and if it weren't for the fact that she knew it was Kyoko influencing these moods, Shoko would have been concerned that maybe the musician had taken a liking to drugs.
As it was, the manager was currently taking stock of the broken lamps that would need replacing and the amount of overturned chairs and tables that were littering the male teen's apartment at that very moment. Clearly he had been bothered by the meeting earlier in the day, everytime she looked back on the events she couldn't help but cringe at the way that whatever Sho's plan had been – it certaintly wasn't going the way he had hoped.
When Shoko had first seen Tsuruga Ren enter the meeting room, a distinct chill ran down her spine as she immediately thought of how her charge was going to react to his presence during this project. It further disturbed her when she saw how comfortable the male and coming actress seemed to be in each other's company. Kyoko had sure gone a long way from despising the actor (purely to his rival status to Sho) to being asked by said actor to refer to him with such a casual and intimate basis.
Then there was that carefree way in which Kyoko responded to the mans eating habits and the way the guy seemed to know exactly how to get the responses he wanted from her, the way when he just said her name he could get her to stop her rampage upon her declared 'mortal enemy'.
It also hadn't escaped her notice how the manager of the dark haired handsome man seemed to be overly pleased with the glimpses of intimate moments that happened throughout the morning and the way he would nervously glance over at his charge whenever a topic came up that put the actress and the singer together.
Sighing, Shoko began the clean-up of the apartment, dreading what events would surface tomorrow, hoping that maybe her charge will be able to reign in his emotions and act like the professional he claims himself to be.
Sho could hear his manager start to clean up the mess he had made in his apartment. He would like to think that if he wasn't so emotionally spent and exhausted that he would have helped her – but well, he had never helped her (or Kyoko) to clean up before… what would make this time any different?
Closing his eyes, the singer knocks back the rest of the bottle of beer that was resting in his hand and lies back against his bed thinking about what exactly had happened in the meeting that morning.
He had thought he would have complete control of the situation, over Kyoko.
He had planned every little reaction he wanted to evoke from her; every expression he wanted her face to make; every little position he wanted her body to move in.
He imagined he would walk into the room and she would give him her fiercest glare for being late and yell some insult at him before crossing her arms and looking the other way – feigning ignorance of his presence.
What he hadn't expected was to walk into the room to find his absolute rival completely captivating the girls attention and to be left completely ignored without even a glare in his direction.
The worst part of all was the way that Ren guy managed to control her down all with one word! Not even shouting it. He calmed her down completely and then just CONVINCED HER TO WALK OUT THE ROOM WITH HIM AND HIS MANAGER TO LUNCH!
IT WAS HER JOB TO CARE ABOUT WHAT HE WAS EATING – SHE WAS SUPOSSED TO BE MAKING HIM BENTO BOXES FOR LUNCH WITH FOODS THAT WEREN'T TOO SWEETENED (cause that's how he liked them) AND THEN BE WAITING WITH HIS (secret but…) FAVOURITE PUDDING SITTING IN THE FRIDGE FOR WHEN HE CAME HOME!
Taking several breaths Sho attempted to control himself again – getting out of control was not going to make his situation any better. He had the upper hand when it came to the scenes – because he got to have all of the romantic ones. Although it did irk him the way the director planned his scenarios more carefully , implying that his acting wasn't good enough to have complete reign over the scenes like Kyoko and that two-bit talentless actor could.
Tomorrow – Sho will take complete control of the situation. The know-it-all jerk may be an actor… but essentially he was on Sho's turf now – let's see how well he can handle it and keep a hold of Kyoko at the same time.
With a smirk Sho drifted off to sleep thinking about the different situations he could create that would be put the two back into the palms of his hands to play with as he pleases.
Ahhh! sorry - to stop the Ren and Kyoko bit there! please don't hate me - just think of it as something to look forward to in the next chapter... maybe (hehehehehehe)
Once again want to thank everyone for their gracious support of this story - it's had the most enthusiastic response out of all my fics - so it makes me really happy and inspired to keep writing.
many thanks to Naito-sama who sent a very inspiring personal message - the next chapter will be dedicated to you (for the Tsuragami-ness =D)
Once again - if anyone has any ideas that they would like to see for situations to be shot in the promo - give me a buzz and I'll see what I can do with it.
Also I have failed to disclaim that I do not own Skip Beat! although considering this is a fanfiction site I hardly doubt I would be on here writing stories if I owned it... I would be realeasing more manga volumes if that were the case - and well Kyoko would possibly not be such a hard-headed dolt when it comes to love - lol!
I would also like to point out the fact that there is actually a song called 'My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend'... it's by a band called Relient K... I thoroughly suggest that you check it out =)
anyways... please keep up the reviews - I love to hear your thoughts... and I hope you keep enjoying the story