Kaorin71: So I'm back from my vacation and I posted this. I'm still halfway through the other chapter for my other story so I couldn't post it yet (My Cat Princess)… So I hope you guys would R&R still!

Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat…

"The past and the present are two different things that could never be changed. Or are they?" -Kaorin71

● Chapter 4…

Tokyo, Japan. Year 2010, December 11. 2:07 p.m. At the corner block beside LME.

"Yashiro-san?"

Blatant surprise covered Kyoko's face, despite her struggle to keep her façade on. It was almost like seeing a ghost in front of her. For years, she had been grieving for the souls of her important friends. Now, encountering Yashiro seemed surreal.

That man stood there, an expression which looked like confusion was on his face. Did he know this woman? Although, he had to admit, he would really love to know who this elegant and enchanting woman in front of him is.

"Miss, do I know you? From work or somewhere else?" Yashiro asked, trying to clarify things.

Immediately, Kyoko snapped back to the present, putting on a confident look once more. "Ah, no. I'm sorry about that. I was just shocked to see the manager of the famous Tsuruga Ren walking around Tokyo so casually. I just thought maybe the actor was with you."

He just nodded. So the girl was a Tsuruga fan. Too bad, though her knowledge of his name was a surprise. Hardly anyone who's a fan of Ren's cares about him. Most of the time, he seems like a ghost hovering around the actor. Maybe he had some chance with this one.

Quickly, he continued the conversation. "So are you an actress here in LME? Or maybe a hired model for a shoot?"

Kyoko laughed a little. "Me? An actress? Heavens, no. I was only taking a tour around the area. Tokyo is such a sight to see for us country dwellers." She faked a cough, just like what she did with the Akatoki talent scout. "Geez. Hardly anyone pays me any attention in our place. Here, people mistake me for an actress."

"You're not an actress?" Yashiro asked, quite amazed that a girl of this beauty hasn't been scouted by any acting agency.

She shook her head in denial. "I'm just the typical Japanese girl… who happens to look like some whore."

"Oh, no. In fact, you look incredulous in that outfit," he chuckled.

Kyoko froze. Was this person an impostor? Because Ren's manager would never hit on her… oh. She wasn't Kyoko here. This was the past. Here, she exists in another form. She was almost a nobody here if not for her charisma and elegance. Then again, maybe her sophisticated charm had done something to the poor manager, making him like her.

Fumbling with his glasses, Yashiro asked once more, "Are you interested in entering showbiz then?"

You hit the nail on the head, Kyoko thought. Maybe she will flirt with him for a while. "Well, I had been thinking of the possibility. I, honestly, would love to have a try on it. But sadly, I have no money for acting lessons."

"You don't need any of that," he told her. "Just audition for a commercial or a drama role. I'm sure, with your beauty and poise, the judges won't be able to take their eyes off you. And, who knows? Perhaps the president will take interest in you and spare you the acting fees."

"That can happen," she slowly said, waving her hand around. "Though not all things go as planned."

Yashiro shrugged. "There's nothing to lose if you try. Which reminds me. There's an open auditions for a role in an afternoon drama going on right this minute. If we manage to go there now, you can still sneak in."

Kyoko automatically raised her hands up defensively. "That would be nice of you but I don't think it would be fair if I would just barge in at the last minute and demand entry to the audition." And she meant that judging by the firm tone on her voice.

She could see the bewildered expression Yashiro had. Did he really like her that much? Kyoko's skin crawled at the very thought. No way can she date the manager of her sempai - rather, her heart's dear one. Besides, right then she was five whole years older than him. That would be wrong. Way wrong.

Finally, he made a decision. "Fine. How about this: we go over there and I'll show you to the judges and I'll ask them if they'll allow you to compete. If they ask for a demonstration, you should do it. Now, if even one judge decides not to allow you, we'll go away. That's probably fine enough for you. Do you agree to it?"

"Well…" Hell, why was she acting like she doesn't want to when she's all itching to go? "Sure. Why not."

Delight crossed the man's features. Whether to be happy or appalled, Kyoko didn't know. And she didn't dwell on this, either. Her mind was focused on one thing: to get ready for her act. It almost made her laugh just feeling how nervous she was. Why was the number one actress of future Japan nervous about an amateur contest? She hypothesized that it was another effect of time traveling.

Yashiro eagerly led her to the building. Actually, he even held her hand. He thought about the trouble that would happen if she ever got lost inside the establishment. And who would want to get separated with this awfully sexy woman?

Kyoko made no attempts to squirm away from his hold because she knew the reason why he did. Getting lost, however, was impossible for her. Because of all those odd jobs in the past, she practically knows the whole place like the back of her hand.

They made their way through LME. Heads turned and mouths dropped as the actress walked by. They stood gaping at her, too stunned to even move. The men who were chatting freely earlier had stopped and froze in their places as Kyoko cascaded by. Others froze in midstride just to watch her pass. The girls, however, observed her like a disgusting lab rat. Fame has its price, they say.

They took the stairway upstairs. Either Yashiro just got impatient of waiting for the elevator or the auditions were about to finish. It didn't matter to Kyoko anyway. All she thought about was how she'd annihilate all the other contestants.

Gasping, he led her to another hallway. Then, they quickly turned, entering one of the rooms. Kyoko instantly took notice of it all.

The room was alright, not too big, not too cramped. The contestants, consisting of females, were gathered at the right side of the room, nervously chatting with each other. All of them had pretty faces. Too bad looks doesn't matter to the president.

Kyoko's gaze swept around the area until she saw three men seated in front of a long, wooden table at the center of the place. They had their backs to them, not noticing their entrance. All gazes were on the girl on the platform who was playing her flute.

Kyoko considered the girl. She looked like she was around sixteen to eighteen years old and around 5'2 in height. Her golden brown hair swept all over her body, shimmering against the stage lights. When Kyoko squinted to take a better look, she saw that her eyes were of emerald green in color. With her fair complexion to match it all, she seemed awfully gorgeous.

A sweet harmony began to fill Kyoko's ears as the girl continued playing her flute. The girl was pretty talented with the flute. Her fair face was placid, somehow contributing to the soft, melancholic theme of her melody. It was a sad tune yet she managed to make it sound pleasing.

When her playing ended, everyone in the room clapped their hands for her. Even Kyoko. The tune earlier made her recall some precious memories she had shared with her loved ones. The judges clapped louder than the rest, clearly impressed with her remarkable show of talent.

One man stood up. He was the judge in the middle of the other two. "This is the end of the preliminary round. Next -"

"Wait," declared Yashiro as he approached the men. He cleared his throat as if to prepare for a lengthily speech. "I'm sorry for this sudden disturbance but could you allow one more contender? She's a country girl who's here in Tokyo for a visit. She saw the ad for the auditions so she wanted to try out. But, unfortunately, being relatively new to the place, she found herself lost. I happened to bump into her and escort her here."

The three judges looked at each other. The one on the left asked, "Where's the girl?"

As if on cue, Yashiro directly pointed a finger at Kyoko. Everyone's attention turned to her. Their eyes widened as they saw her and, if possible, widened even more as they saw her dress. She made a mental note to buy some decent clothing later on.

Yashiro turned to the judge on the left. "What do you say, Nakano-san? Is it alright or not?"

The man, who Yashiro identified as Nakano, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It wouldn't be fair for the other contestants if we do that. Plus, it's clearly stated on the rules that no late contenders will be entertained. But…" He nodded at the other two judges and they nodded back. He gave both a look of approval. "We can't waste the opportunity to see what this girl can do. We'll let you perform but it has to be good."

Eager to get started, Kyoko nodded in acknowledgement.

"Now, just to be clear, this is what you need to do," Nakano told her, holding a script in one hand. "The role you are auditioning for is a very melancholic and musical girl. She was orphaned at the age of eighteen after her parents got into a horrible vehicular accident. She is the shy and silent type. You will have to act these characteristics out. You need to depict a shy and quiet girl grieving over the pain of losing her parents."

Kyoko was about to reply but Nakano continued. "As I have told you, your role is a girl inclined to sad music. Therefore, in order to pass the auditions you need to demonstrate any musical talent you possess."

Yashiro instantly froze. He looked at the man's hard face then to Kyoko's soft one. Did this country girl know anything about modern music? Moreover, she should have some musical talent. What if she doesn't? Then his dream of always being with her is ruined.

"Are you in for it?" Nakano asked the actress.

Kyoko lowered her head then closed her eyes. She clenched her fists tightly as she tried to concentrate. Her chest heaved as she inhaled and exhaled. For her, acting was second nature. Singing was her other self. To act and sing at the same time… that's a whole new level for her. A whole new challenge to conquer.

"Uhm, are you alright?" they asked her, worried. "If you can't, then -"

Suddenly, she raised her head up, having eye contact with the judge. Nakano twitched as he saw the determined blaze shown in her eyes. Her expression was firm but also exhibited the exquisite softness she had earlier. Her whole body relaxed as she straightened her back, making her curves stand out even more.

Nakano froze in place, gaping at the sudden transformation of the girl. Is she really a country girl? He asked silently. Nothing in her movements and in her looks gave that sort of conclusion. Plus, she looks unique and more enticing than the other girls in this room. The way she carries herself is astonishing. The burning feeling he got from her made him realize that she was not just an ordinary Japanese woman. Not at all.

Kyoko gazed at the people in the room. "I'm alright. I won't back down. I'll do it."

Nakano nodded towards the stage, hinting for her to perform. Kyoko smiled as she made her way across the room. At the edge of her view, she saw the girl who played the flute observe her. This action made Kyoko smile even more. The girl had the guts, she'll give her that. But, she also needs to have the discipline to be an actress. Later, when her turn ends, she'll see to that.

Her hips swayed as she climbed on the stage. Once at the center, she faced the audience. Except the flute girl, all the other contestants looked scared and defeated. She almost frowned. Those who don't believe in themselves don't deserve a place in that industry.

"Okay," Nakano said, signaling for her to start. "You may begin."

She muttered a polite thank you to the man. Then she cleared her throat to make sure she wouldn't make any mistakes on the high notes. For a second, she closed her eyes once more. When she opened them, she began to sing softly.

Yashiro's mouth dropped open. The three judges' eyes widened. Completely shocked that this angelic singing voice was coming from a girl raised in the countryside. The other contestants' faces were filled with awe - and jealousy.

As Kyoko got to the chorus of her song, everyone in the area turned their undivided attention to her. And they were, if possible, shocked all the more at the perfect tones and pitches she used. She sung with great feelings and with dignity. Her body swayed with the melody, her arms sweeping around as she sung her heart away. The tears in her eyes added to the impact she left on the audience.

When she had finished, silence enveloped the room. Then, Yashiro applauded, his jaws still hanging open. The judges also started clapping for her. Even the contestants who envied her performance acknowledged her talent.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the flute girl stare at her in frustration. She dropped her flute, glared at her for one more time then hurriedly went out of the room. Only Kyoko seemed to have noticed her leave. The others were too busy gazing at her.

A loud coughing sound silenced them all. Nakano stood up, his eyes still on Kyoko. From the looks of it, she seemed to have totally captured him with her performance. "That was an exquisite performance from…"

"Hime," she told them before they could even ask. "Hime Sawajiri."

"Right, Sawajiri-san." He coughed again. "And, we're pleased to say that we have already chosen someone for the role."

He gestured for the judge on his right to stand up. He did and Nakano, on the other hand, sat down. The man looked at everyone in the room as he said, "The contestant that we have picked is Sawajiri Hime."

The girls furrowed their eyebrows, protesting to the man. "That's not fair! She got here late! We were on time."

The man acted defensively. "She was late, yes. But Yashiro-san here clarified that the reason for her tardiness was not of intention. Therefore, she is still legible to be picked. Besides, she has the talent for it."

All of them continued to protest against the decision. But they knew that they have lost. The girls just grumbled a bit, threw some dirty looks at Kyoko and stormed out of the room. Kyoko smirked at their foolish reactions.

"Sawajiri-san," Nakano spoke up, glancing at the actress. "Your drama will start next week. Your role as Nikki is important although you are only to play support. If you need a copy of the script, just head upstairs and look for director Kira."

Kyoko gently hopped down from the stage. It was probbably a meter high but her martial arts training made her body hard as steel. "Thank you for the approval, Nakano-san. I will definitely work my hardest at the drama."

I'm sure you will, Nakano thought, smiling at the actress. "That would be our pleasure, Sawajiri-san."

"I prefer to be called Hime-chan. It's quite cute to hear."

Chuckling, Nakano picked his things up and at the two men to follow him out. "Okay, if that's what you want. I'll be glad to call you Hime-chan. But just to tell you, you still look cute even without the name." And with that, he disappeared from sight.

Yashiro, who had been standing at the side, walked up to her. "That was amazing. I thought you wouldn't be able to do it because, you know, people from the countryside hardly know any modern songs. At least, that's what I have heard."

Thinking up of another excuse, she smiled, "I had a friend back in our place who was inclined to modern music."

The manager nodded. Before he could even speak up, his phone rang. Fumbling with his gloves, he finally put them on, reached into his pockets and took out the device. Several marks on it gave Kyoko the idea that the phone has been broken a lot of times already.

Yashiro pushed a button and pressed the phone against his ear. "Hello?"

"Yashiro," the voice on the other line said. "Where are you?"

"I'm just walking around," he lied. No way will he tell Ren that he's been out with one of his gorgeous fans. "I bumped into someone and I ended up here at Nakano's auditions. You know, that role for director Kira's show."

At the opposite line, Ren nodded. He was at the studio. They had told him to go there for an interview. Now, it was two in the afternoon and still he hasn't eaten. He was used to skipping his meals but this time he could actually feel his body weakening from lack of nutrition. "Hurry up and go back here. My next job is still by the next hour so I can finally eat."

"Did you say eat?" his manager excitedly asked. That means he can set Ren and Kyoko up again. Then he can leave them be and stick with that woman for a while longer. Or… Yashiro grinned as he thought of another plan. "Fine. I'll be there in a moment."

"Okay, I'll wait. But if you get here late, find someone else to drive you home."

He murmured some more words then he turned his phone off. He placed it back in his coat pocket then removed the gloves. Turning to future Kyoko, he asked, "Do you have some more things to take care of, Sawajiri-san?"

Kyoko, a.k.a. Hime Sawajiri, blinked twice. Now what? Was he going to ask her to date him? If she continues to flirt with him, next thing she'll know he would propose to her. "Ah, no. Nothing else except this one."

"Great. Then you can come with me and Ren," he said. "We're going to have some late lunch and if you would like, you can come with."

Meeting with Ren? Suddenly, Kyoko had this sick feeling in her stomach. Facing the person she loved the most after fourteen years is surely stressing. But she knew sooner or later she'll have to talk to the actor if she plans to avoid the accident.

I guess I have no other option to choose from, Kyoko thought, sighing silently. "Sure. I would love to go."

Notes: I seem to be inclined with the name 'Hime' 'cause I keep using it in my stories. And by the way, I got Kyoko's new surname from the actress who played Aya in One Liter of Tears (I think). Her name is Erika Sawajiri, as I recall. I'm not sure but I know that I just got the name from a Japanese actress. So, other than that, R&R!