Disclaimer : I don't own Skip Beat!

Chapter 3 : A Look Into The Past and Settle Down

It was six in the morning and Kyouko had woken up from her slumber. She managed to get 2 hours of sleep after she cleaned up her bedroom from the mess. She was still feeling upset that her relationship with Shou had to end in such an unpleasant way. She had never thought he would cheat on her- and with Nanokura Mimori. There had been a rivalry between her and Mimori since they starred together in the Prisoner PV. She was furious at that time since Shou had underestimated her and Mimori clung to him like a leech. To add to the matter, she didn't attend school since she had to work two or three part time jobs to keep the apartment when they were still living together. After they parted ways, she ended up in the same year and same class as Mimori when Lory got her enrolled into the high school.

It was true when she said that Shou was her enemy that time. Their relationship as friends got a bit strained after he rose to his fame as a musician. He started to mock her. He said that she was plain and boring. It made her furious and she got provoked by him, and later she auditioned for LME just to prove to him that she could be a celebrity like him. She never backed off from a challenge that was thrown her way. It was really silly actually. She found her passion in acting, thanks to another silly challenge thrown by an arrogant pop star called Matsunai Ruriko. They were fighting for a role in Ringdoh, but Ruriko got the role in the end, even though the director had wanted to cast Kyouko for the role. It was Sachou's order after all.

Kyouko knew that she should have gone into singing, if she wanted to rival Shou, but she couldn't sing well. In fact, she couldn't sing at all. She even made the flower out of a radish since she didn't know what to do in her first audition. She worked in a restaurant called Daruma-ya for almost three years before she moved out. She met Kanae when she first auditioned and later met her again when Kanae got into the same section as her. Amamiya Chiori, had bullied her when they were co-starring in Box-R, but later she became her friend and she also joined the duo.

They ended up in "Love Me", under the talent section, since they didn't really believe in love. Kanae was sick of her clingy family, Chiori was trying to find back the love for acting and Kyouko was too angry about Shou. Kyouko was infatuated with Shou at that time but his mocking made her turn cold towards him. She even messed up the first episode of Yappa Kimagure Rock by altering the questions in the eggs. She had even played badminton with him as the chicken of the Yappa Kimagure Rock. She almost got fired for the first time, but since the audience loved the chicken, they kept her for two years since she couldn't keep playing the chicken after her debut.

Shou confessed to her when they were in Karuizawa, a great coincidence where Dark Moon crew members and cast, were on location shooting and Shou's recording took place there. As well as this, they also coincidentally stayed in the same hotel. It took him some time to realise his feelings when she confronted him about being beaten down by some beagles. They didn't date immediately since she was afraid that he only confessed on a whim - she knew Shou too well. The valentine incident in the Dark Moon shoot didn't help Shou get her faster either. He deliberately kissed her in front of the other actors and actresses. He even went so far as to congratulate her for being Reino's, the Vie Ghoul's vocalist girlfriend and it irritated her. She gave in to his confession after his countless efforts. That time Yashiro had been assigned as her manager since Lory decided to give her a chance to debut in a movie called "Blind Love". Her performance in Box R had earned her a lot of advert deals and got her into modelling. She was really busy and no longer able to handle her own schedule, thus Yashiro was assigned. There had been no any announcement made of their relationship, there were only their close people knew about that, so the media was silent when they first dated. Now when they had ended their relationship, or exactly she had ended their 3 years relationship one-sidedly, there wasn't any media made a fuss of it. It was good for her since she thought that she wouldn't be able to face the media.

She sighed a lot that night when she thought how she got to her current condition. She couldn't understand why Shou cheated on her. It was true that she wouldn't let him touch her. She thought that if he wanted 'that', and if he really loved her, he should wait. She had been allowing kissing between them since he whined that she had some kissing scenes in her drama, advert and movie, so kissing should be just fine for her. She opposed to that at first since kissing would lead them farther, but she gave in, again. She had been always composed and ready to swat away his hands if he started to touch her inappropriately.

"I guess he doesn't love me at all," she said to herself. Her tears threatened to fall again. She had loved him for these years. Three years of memories wasn't easy to forget. Her feeling for him was once averted by a certain person but she dismissed it, and started to pay attention to Shou again thus she could forgot the other man. She had seen that man as no other than a brother, at least it was what she convinced herself.

She walked out of her room and noticed the red light of her home phone was shining. She pressed the red button.

"You have 10 unread messages."

"Message no 1," and a loud beep was heard. "Kyouko, it's me Shou, please call me when you are home. We need to talk. I can explain. I'm…" the message was cut.

"Message no 2, Kyouko, I mean it. Please don't ignore me!"

Kyouko pressed the button again, not wanting to hear more.

"Message no 3," and Shou's voice was heard again.

She continued to press the button till…

"Message no 8, Kyouko, it's me, Julie. My son stormed off from our house and I couldn't find him in his house as well. I found my torn address book there, and the page that had your name wasn't in it. If he ever goes to your place in Japan, please tell him to call me."

"Ah…" Kuon's gasp was heard.

Kyouko turned and saw Kuon's dishevelled appearance. He looked shocked.

"Seems like your mother knew where you might go, Kuon-san," said Kyouko. "Good morning, did you sleep well?"

Another beep was heard, "Kyouko, it's me Chiori. I heard from Kanae-chan. Let's meet up later today, if you've got time. Call me!"

"Message no 10, Kyouko, it's me Shouko. I heard about IT. Did he call you? Is your mobile phone turned off? I couldn't get to you last night."

"You have 0 unheard messages. If you wish to repeat the messages, press 1. Beep!"

"I know that you don't want your mother know that you're here. I can't lie to her forever, so take your time, Kuon-san," said Kyouko. "Let's have breakfast then! I'll fix something quick. What do you usually eat?"

"I don't usually eat breakfast."

"You can't skip breakfast," Kyouko said with a stern look.

"There's nothing wrong with the…"

"My house my rules, when I said you have to eat, you eat." Kyouko turned away and walked to the kitchen with a bounce on her steps.

He smiled at her antics and he turned his attention to the ringing phone. The answering machine was still on and then he heard, "Kyouko. It's me Shou. Where are you? Please call me back!"

When it was finished, he noticed another buzzing voice on the living room table. Kyouko's mobile phone? He thought. He couldn't read the name written on the screen since it was all in Kanji. Out of curiosity, he picked up the phone, and waited, "Kyouko? Is that you?" The very same voice as the person that just left a message on the phone was heard.

He kept silent and Shou continued, "I know you're angry. I shouldn't have done that. I can explain. Please, say something!"

"Kuon-san, was my phone ringing just now?" asked Kyouko when she saw him holding her mobile phone.

"Hello? You aren't Kyouko?" Shou snapped from the other line. He heard Kyouko's rather distant voice asking that to someone whose name was Kuon.

"Sorry, Kyouko-chan. It's from Shou, I think? Do you want to…?" Before he could finish his words, Kyouko took over the mobile phone and pressed the disconnect button. "And he left a message on your home phone too," he dared himself to continue.

She flashed a fake smile to him and said with her syrupy sweet voice, "Now, don't worry about it! Let's eat!"

Kuon stiffened at her tone. She reminded him of his own mother. I can see that mother was rubbing on her. Whenever she got angry, she always smiles like that, the more she got angry the creepier the smile will be. What did you teach Kyouko, Mom? I wonder what had happened to her and that man? He thought but he dismissed it since it wasn't really his business.

Yashiro stared at the man on the sofa in Kyouko's condo suspiciously, and he saw the man stared back at him. He had no idea who the man was. He was already worried about her when he heard what had happened from Shouko. He just had to make sure from Kanae's side of story, since Kanae must have heard it from Kyouko. Now here he was, staring at a completely foreign man in her living room and even though the man didn't give off any malicious aura, he still got suspicious of the man.

"Yashiro-san, it's rude to stare at him like that." said Kyouko with a stern voice.

"Who's this, Kyouko-chan?" asked Yashiro with a jolt when he saw his charge walked over to them. She seems ready to leave for today's schedules.

"Kuon-san, this is my manager, Yashiro Yukihito. Yashiro-san, this is Hizuri Kuon, my friend."

Both men shook hands and Yashiro frowned deeper.

Kyouko heaved a deep sigh. She knew that she had to explain the whole problems in the easiest way that wouldn't get Yashiro reject to help. She contemplated for a while and said, "Um, actually, he got lost yesterday when he tried to find my house. He was robbed too apparently. He lives in nearby hotel. New Canary Hotel. I would like you to accompany him to US Embassy, police and the hotel. He'll move into my condo. I will be fine on my own today."

"Wait! I can see why he needs to go to the US embassy, but he will move in here? Are you out of your mind? What will people think if they knew you're living together with a man? Moreover, he's a gaijin. The Kyouko is living with a foreigner guy? It won't do your image any good, Kyouko-chan."

"Yashiro-san. He's my friend. I don't see why not? And it is a secure building. If you, I and Kuon shut up, there won't be anyone who knows about it."

"He's your friend? How well do you know him?" Yashiro snapped. "It is indeed a secure building, but why do you have to go so far? There's still any possibility someone will find out about this."

Kyouko was irritated at how Yashiro replied her. Why is Yashiro so opposed of it?

Kuon saw her irritated face and decided to help lighten the matters since it concerned him as well. "Ehm, Kyouko-chan. I think that I…" Kuon tried to said something but cut down by Kyouko, "It is fine, Kuon-san! Don't worry!" she said again and with that creepy smile of her plastered in her face gave off the eerie dazzling aura.

She sighed and said, "Yashiro-san, Kuon is Julie-san's son." She decided to tell him the truth.

"What?" Yashiro stared at the young man in shock. "You're Kuu and Julie's son?"

Kuon nodded. "But… I'll appreciate it if you don't say it to anyone."

"What? Are you running away from home then?"

He flashed his own version of a lying gentlemanly smile, that immediately made Kyouko and Yashiro shiver. His version was way more powerful than Kyouko's.

They left with a bam minutes later after they managed to recover from the powerful smile.

Kyouko dropped them in the New Canary Hotel and left her key in Kuon's hand, since she would be home very later today. They'd proceeded with the check-out, much with Yashiro's help. Kuon hadn't brought much. He only had a small suitcase and a backpack. They'd reported the stolen car after that and then proceeded to the US Embassy.

When they were finished, the sun had already set. They'd been in the US Embassy for most of the day.

"You need to eat properly, Hizuri-san," said Yashiro when he noticed that Kuon didn't touch his food. They were at Kyouko's favourite restaurant. Kyouko said that she would join them for the dinner before heading back to the studio to resume her drama shoot. "Kyouko-chan won't be happy if she sees you like this."

"Just call me Kuon, Yashiro-san!" He smiled. "She's so particular about food. Why is…?" His question was cut by Kyouko's abrupt appearance in the booth they were in.

"Yashiro-san, Kuon-san, have you two been waiting long?" asked Kyouko. She panted hard.

"Whoa, easy there, Kyouko-chan. What happened?" Yashiro asked.

"No, just trying to get rid of the fans. You weren't there as usual." She pouted and took her place beside Kuon.

"It was you who said that you'll be fine on your own today." Yashiro smirked.

"Fine…You win! You're right though," said Kyouko and turned her attention to the menu book, "I'd like hamburger with eggs. And please give me green tea." She said with a smile. The waitress wrote down her order. Most waitresses there knew she always ordered the same thing when she came to their store. "So, how's it? Kuon-san, why aren't you eating? Eh, you ordered hamburger with eggs too?"

"All done, don't worry!" Yashiro answered for him.

"Great!" said Kyouko and turned back her attention to Kuon. "Kuon-san, you need to eat. If not, how do you take care of yourself? I'll call your mother."

"No, please! I'll eat!" He tried to force down the food and choked on it. Some of the hamburger sauce was smeared in his right cheek.

Kyouko laughed. "Gee, you're such a kid," said Kyouko with a gentle smile and wiped his mouth with her bare hand.

Yashiro frowned at this but smiled at the same time since it was the first time he saw her smile truthfully since yesterday especially after he confirmed the story from Kanae. He was sure that she was devastated yesterday. She seems back to her energetic side, thought Yashiro.

"I'm not a kid, Kyouko." Kuon blushed and slapped away her hand softly.

"It's Kyouko-chan, Kuon-san." She smiled that creepy smile of hers again.

"Sorry… I mean…"

"That's okay." Kyouko smiled joyously when she noticed the waitress was bringing her hamburger.

Both men watched her in awe when she ate the hamburger with the happiest smile. She looked like a child with a new doll. Yashiro knew that she loved hamburgers, but he never saw her wear a childlike expression like this. Kyouko was always composed no matter what the situation was. It had been easy for him working with a mature charge like her. His previous charge was a spoilt actor and really got on his nerves. He was happy when LME assigned him as Kyouko's manager. He instantly looked at Kuon. He noticed that Kuon watched Kyouko with a serene expression. He sighed inwardly. Is it really a good idea letting this man live with her? He asked himself.

"Welcome home, Kyouko-sama!" Kuon knelt down in front of the door.

Kyouko blinked. "What's got into you, Kuon-san?" Kyouko looked at her watch. "It's 11.30pm. Why haven't you go to sleep yet? I told you that I'd have the building management open the door for me, right? You don't have to wait for me!" She knelt down and patted his head. "Thank you though."

He took her hands and smiled gently, "Thanks for letting me stay with you."

Too bright! She cursed inwardly. "No problem! It's late. And don't call me with –sama. I'm younger than you."

"Okay, Kyouko-chan." His hand still enveloped hers. "I like it when you patted my head. I felt loved."

The room temperature dropped down a few degrees upon hearing the 'L' word from his mouth. "Can you please refrain from saying that 'L' word? You'll make people misunderstand you." She got up and walked past him.

He tilted his head and frowned. He did not understand why she got so angry about it. He got up and followed her.

"Go to sleep! It's late. We'll talk again tomorrow. Good night, Kuon-san!" Kyouko waved her hands without turning back to him and closed her bedroom's door.

"Good Night, Kyouko-chan."

A/N : Now, the lying gentlemanly smile was on again. The last one I made him doing something just like in Kimi wa Petto, but I would not go to the extend to have him acted like a dog as Momo did. He's just Kuon here. Ah, I hope I answered how she started acting and how she dates Shou in the first place well in this chapter.

Beta-ed by lozipozivanillabean. Thanks lat-san.