Disclaimer: I don't own skip beat or any of its characters. It's an AU story.
Warning: This chapter contains violence a little bit.
Soul Mates-Guilt
Chapter-3
Kyoko quickly made her way down the street with a racing heart. Tears of guilt slowly flowed down her cheeks. She'd made a mistake. She shouldn't have confessed. She knew he would never love her. Due to her own stupidity, she'd lost a friend like him. She had let her guard down and let her overflowing feelings get the best of her. Now, he'd avoid her, treating her like a stranger. Her heart stung when he rejected her feelings but she couldn't do anything about it. He had right to choose. Matters of heart couldn't be dealt rashly. Feelings couldn't be forced upon anyone so she'd left with no choice but to leave. She needed some time alone to clear her mind. She needed sometime for herself to think. She regretted her tongue slip deeply but now, she couldn't take back what had already been said. Now, he would think of her like other brainless, inconsiderate girls who could do anything just to hangout with him. He'd think of her badly. He'd feel disappointed, cutting ties with her, treating her nothing more than his employee. She'd ruined everything between them within a second.
The cab was parked down the street. She quickly got in and gave the driver the address of Sho's condo and then she was off.
She needed to collect her things from there. She couldn't afford living with him anymore, not after how violently he had treated her. It was a rape attempt. She was lucky enough to escape before something worst could have happened. Living with her boss was out of the question also. She didn't want to bother him with her troubles. She felt extremely awkward in his presence after he turned her down.
Although, Kyoko was frightened to go back to Sho's apartment but she was left with no choice. Her belongings were there and she had to pick up her stuff to get her life going. She was confident enough about his absence because he only came home once a week so she felt a bit fearless about getting her things out without facing him.
After thirty minutes drive, a familiar condo came into view. It was a place she once called home but now, it was just a memory where she got her heart broken and was physically assaulted by the man who was betrothed to her.
She pushed such thoughts out of her mind and forced herself to look composed and not to get emotional. The driver stopped the cab across the condo, on the opposite street and announced their destination. Kyoko paid him and thanked the driver as she quickly made her way out. She was eager. She just wanted to get her things as soon as possible so that she could leave.
She jogged through the lobby doors and took the elevator to Sho's floor. Walking down the hall, she found herself in front of Sho's apartment door. A feeling of unease twisted her stomach.
She pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation. She herself didn't know what to do. She just wanted to get in and get out as soon as possible but at the same time; she didn't want to go in at all. She was scared but she knew she had nobody to rely on. She needed to learn for survival herself if she wanted to move on with her life. She had to face the fears of her heart bravely. At first, she thought of calling Kanae to tell her everything but the next moment, she dropped the idea. She didn't want to disturb her best friend.
Hesitantly, she knocked at the door lightly and waited for a few minutes. When no one answered, she knocked a little louder but still got no response. She let out a sigh of relief and retrieved the spare key from her bag to unlock the door. She knew she was barging in like a thief and she hated it but she had no choice. She opened the door and peered inside. There was no one in sight, just darkness and silence.
Opening the door wider, she took a cautious step inside and looked around to see if there was any sign of another presence but she found nothing. Fully stepping inside, she closed the door behind her as she walked inside. She looked at the staircase that led to the next floor. She didn't want to go up there but she knew she had to. Wincing at her disturbing thoughts, she tip- toed and made her way upstairs. She didn't even bother to take off her shoes because she wanted to be prepared if she had to run away in emergency.
After what felt like forever, she reached upstairs and checked the bathroom if it was occupied. Once she found it empty, she practically ran to fetch her toothbrush and other things as she quickly left, closing the door just as it was closed before, not leaving any sign of suspicion. Next, she carefully walked in the direction of her room, her former room and tried to be extra quieter
Luckily, it was empty. Sho wasn't home to her delight. She breathed out a loud sigh of relief. She could get her things and be gone without him even knowing that she had come. Walking faster than usual, she grabbed her clothes from the closet and started packing things up in her suitcase.
Walking further into the room, she couldn't help but look around once again. This had been her room, her home for several years and now she had to leave it. She was overcome with a sudden wave of sadness. She was left homeless once again. She didn't know what she'd do but that was something to be dealt with later. She needed to get out of there first. She checked the drawers and everything in the room just to be assured, not to leave anything behind. She packed everything but left the clothes that Sho had bought for her. They didn't belong to her.
Rolling her suitcase behind her, she quickly made her way down the hall towards the staircase.
"Good bye Fuwa Sho" Kyoko whispered as a tear streaked down her cheek. With a heavy heart and bitter feeling coursing through her chest, she stepped downstairs. She could feel her eyes stinging with tears. What she would do next? Where to go?
Shaking her head once again, she decided to let her fate lead the way. She had some money with her. She could spend the day looking for an apartment. She was still employed so she could afford the rent. She just needed to check her bank account and withdraw some more money then everything would be fine. Her life would be back on track once again.
As Kyoko rolled the suitcase towards the front door, she stopped dead in her track. She could have sworn she heard something. Sound of footsteps… yes that was it but she hopped to be wrong. She walked closer to the door desperate to get out but her footsteps felt heavy like they weighted a ton.
Kyoko's expression turned from shocked to horrified as the door knob twisted and the door was pushed open.
"No…!" her heart screamed in terror.
Sho came in view and stared at her wide eyed as Kyoko stood there frozen in place. The way he looked at her made it clear that he was pissed.
Oh No…
"What have I done? She just bowed to me and left, without even giving me a chance to explain. I didn't mean to reject her so bluntly. She's loving and caring but I don't deserve her, not when I am still not over Maya yet. She's still there in a corner of my heart. I didn't want to use her as Maya's substitute. I couldn't afford doing such awful thing to her. I couldn't take advantage of her to get over my ex-lover. How am I going to face her now? Knowing her, she'd avoid talking to me for the rest of her life. What if she resigned and left the job as well, completely shutting me off? I've lost such a good friend. I've broken her heart. She'd never come near me again. I didn't know she loved a man like me. When did it happen anyway?" Kuon talked to himself sadly.
He slapped his forehead in fury.
Where could she have gone? She's nowhere to go.
He stood up hastily, abandoning his unfinished meal as he took long steps to fetch his phone.
He fumbled with the device as he speed dialed Kyoko's number but it went straight to voice mail. Cursing himself, he hung up after the phone went unanswered for the third time.
His chest tightened when he recalled the look on her face. She'd smiled at him but he knew she was torn inside, managing to mask a composed face before him. She'd taken his rejection bravely. She didn't even ask the reason of his rejection. She just smiled, stood up and took her leave, leaving him behind in guilt.
"What if he's gone to Fuwa's again? Yes, of course, she must have gone there to grab her things. I should go check on her and bring her back before anything bad happens to her again. That man is senseless. He even tried to rape her before. I don't know what he would do if he saw her again." Kuon thought and without wasting a single moment, he grabbed his keys and wallet and dashed out of his apartment.
"Kyoko, so you are finally back after spending the night with your lover? What a shameless creature you are. And you are leaving with you things? Have you finally become his mistress?" said Sho with malice-filled eyes as closed the door and took a step closer.
His words stung her already wounded heart even more.
She balled her hands as rage took over her but she didn't want to mess with a foul-mouth like him. He was nobody to judge her character or disgrace her in anyway. She was the owner of her life and had the right to spend it the way she wanted and with whomever she wanted. She didn't need lectures from a filth-bag like him who didn't even think twice before assaulting her out of jealousy.
"I… I just wanted to get my things…" she mustered the courage to let out in a small voice as she took a step back from him.
Sho smirked and it made her feel sick. She wanted to wipe that filthy smirk off his face. It felt disgusting.
"So you did spend the night with him. You went flying into his arms after I kicked you out. Tch, you are such a slut. I didn't know you were like that. You could have asked me to satisfy your needs. I am not that bad in bed you know. I have a lot of experience with my manager." He berated her and smiled in triumph when her eyes widened in pure shock and detest meant for him.
It felt like a poisoned arrow, directly aimed at her fragile heart. He had been cheating on her with his manager and she had no clue. He had purposely kept her in dark to play with her. He was never faithful to her from the start. He was never hers.
She felt as if her surroundings had started to spin around in circle. He had played with her feelings and emotions. He had betrayed her but it didn't matter anymore. She had nothing to do with him. It was better for her to set him free to do whatever he pleased. He didn't owe her anything.
"I'll take my leave now" Kyoko said as she gripped her suitcase tightly and walked passed him. She didn't want to waste another minute in his company but her wish didn't come true. He blocked her way and smacked her across the face, leaving a red mark behind.
Kyoko fell to the ground, wincing in pain.
"How dare you ignore me! I'm not finished yet! When I say something, you are supposed to answer me back wench!" he spat at her.
She lay there covering her bruised cheek with her hand.
She hated it. She hated how violently he'd always treated her. Her eyes started to pool with tears. How could he call himself a successful artist when he didn't even know how to behave with women?
She tried to get up from her current position on the floor, only to be pushed back down.
He got on top of her, clenching her throat, letting his nail dig into her soft flesh. She yelped loudly.
Kyoko whimpered under his strong grip. She tried to push him away and wiggle herself out of his hold but he was too strong. She cried out in pain as she gasped for air.
Sho glared daggers at her. "I was right. You were with him weren't you? What did he do to you? Spill it out woman! How dare you to come back here after spending the night with another guy? You were secretly messing with him weren't you? If I'm bad then you aren't pure either but you are such a bother. I am sick of you. You are nothing but a toy. I can toss you aside whenever I want to have a new one. You are nothing special. Even for your beloved boss, you mean nothing but a one-night stand. He'd never love you. Nobody would. You'd spend your life in solitude because you are a bad omen. If it weren't for my parents, you would have been spending your life as a street-beggar after your parents' death. You owe your life to me. You are indebted to my family so surrender and be submissive. How dare you to love another man? You are supposed to marry me! Instead of apologizing and begging me to take you back, you shamelessly come back here to take your things? You are really ungrateful, you low life nerd!" He barked out with so much intensity that for a moment Kyoko thought her hearing ability had disabled.
Kyoko's eyes started to roll back as his grip tightened on her. She coughed and struggled to break herself free but his tangled legs around her and strong hand held her in place.
"Let… go…." Kyoko pleaded with tears. She tried to fight back but it was all in vain.
He glared at her and Kyoko feared what would come next. "Stop struggling and ANSWER ME! What is he to you?! WHAT NOW?! Cat got your tongue?!" His voice roared into her ears, draining her blood. His eyes were filled with ire. He looked like he would murder her any moment. When Kyoko couldn't bring herself to speak because of his tight hold on her, Sho lost his mind as lifelessness took over his eyes completely.
He kicked her hard in the stomach, letting his inner poison come out. It knocked the air out of her. She cried out in pain with her face totally soaked in tears.
Kyoko coughed hard as he kicked her once again. She tried desperately to catch her breath but it seemed like the more she breathed in, the less air she actually got. Her mind started to turn blank and her vision started to get blurry as she struggled to breath.
Kyoko clenched her stomach panting harshly. "L-Let go… I…. I can't b…breath" she gasped out.
Just then, the front door loudly burst open and none other than Hizuri Kuon walked inside.
He quickly adjusted his eyes to the scene playing before him. Anger spread through his body when he witnessed the pure violent scene happening in front of him. Without wasting another second, he punched Sho off of Kyoko, knocking the air out of him, sending him unconscious to the ground.
"Oh, No!" Kuon rushed to her side. His heart sank at the sight of the pale girl as he took her in his arms.
"Mogami-san!" He called out worriedly as he shook her slightly to get any response but she had already fainted.
It's my fault. I shouldn't have let her go. It's my fault she's in this state right now. I did this to her.
He looked around in panic but nothing came to his mind. Fear swept through his body.
He quickly picked up her luggage and went out running to toss it into his car and then came rushing back to pick her up in order to take her to the hospital.
"Please be okay Mogami-san. Please hang in there. I am sorry. I am so sorry. I swear if anything happened to you, I'd kill Fuwa with my own hands. I'm not done with him yet but first I need to get you to the hospital. Please stay with me. Please be okay" Kuon pleaded and prayed in his heart as he got in and drove away, breaking the speed limits.
That's it. Please let me know what you think. Who's Maya? Read 2nd chapter to find out if you don't know or if you are a new reader. I usually write AU stories because I can't keep up with the original author of skip beat. AU means that the story contains writer's own flavor and there can be little bit OOCs as AU stories don't follow the original plot of the anime or manga series. I hope you like the chapter. Thank you everyone for your time for reading and reviewing the previous chapter. If you are still confused about Kuon's rejection then wait for the next chapter. Everything will be cleared to you in upcoming chapters. I don't like Sho's character in manga. He makes me really mad so this story is definitely not for Sho's fans.
See you soon. Love you all XD
Take Care
