Okay, here is chapter 4! I apologize for the lateness xD Life sucks really...I don't know when I can update again but I'll try :S
I do not own Skip Beat bcos if I did, the scene in chapter 181 would be a whole lot different ;)
Chapter 4: Beauty for Money
"Well, Miss, with just a cut and a dye, your entire look has changed! I bet you didn't think you could change this much, right?" The hairdresser asked enthusiastically to the young girl in front of her. The girl barely nodded before standing up as the hairdresser dusted her off. They both then walked to the cashier. As the girl handed the money over, the hairdresser looked the girl up and down. "I must say I really love your outfit! The black leather jacket really goes well with the dark red miniskirt plus those knee-high boots are to die for!" The hairdresser swooned as she counted out the change to be given. When she held out the money for the girl to take, the girl swatted it away. "Keep it. After all, beauty cannot be bought without money." With that said, the girl walked out of the salon leaving the hairdresser speechless.
Lory Takarada was overly shocked when he saw the girl enter his office a little past afternoon. "K-Kyoko?" He asked in disbelief as he stood up from behind his desk. The girl nodded her head slowly and kept her eyes down. Lory couldn't believe his eyes. The Kyoko in front of him was entirely different. Instead of the long orange hair she had before, now she had short layered dark blue hair. He almost didn't recognize her. "You look really different!" Lory commented as he walked towards the girl. She looked up at him briefly before looking away. "Is that bad?" Kyoko asked in a small voice. Lory immediately shook his head. "No, I didn't mean it in that way! I think you look beautiful!" He said with a big smile. When Kyoko saw his expression she managed the tiniest and shortest of smiles. Lory opened his arms wide inviting her in for a hug which she hesitantly accepted.
"You should smile more. It makes your whole face light up." Lory said while smoothing down her hair with his hand. Kyoko was still quite tense in his arms. The concept of body touching body was new to Kyoko. She had never been shown this sort of intimate gesture her whole life. Even with Sho, he never touched her.
"I've never felt this before..." Kyoko whispered against Lory's chest. His eyes widened in surprise at her confession. "Y-You mean you have never been hugged before?" He asked in disbelief as he pulled back slightly from her. Kyoko turned her eyes away and nodded shyly. Lory felt his heart ache for the girl. He gently pulled her back into him. "Then I have a lot to show you." He said enthusiastically.
After a few moments, they pulled apart. "Tell me Kyoko, what do you like to do in your free time?" Lory asked as he clasped his hands behind his back. Kyoko became thoughtful before shaking her head sadly. "I...do not have free time. Most of my time is spent working different jobs or..." Her voice faded at the end. She was about to say his name but it brought another wave of pain. Lory struggled to keep his smile in place. "Well then, what is your interest? It can be anything!" Lory said with a smile. Kyoko looked up into his eyes briefly before looking away. "I like singing...and playing music." She said shyly.
Lory clapped his hands happily. "That's wonderful!" He exclaimed before his eyes widened as an idea came to him. "There is somewhere I would like to bring you to. Will you come?" Lory asked as he extended his hand. Kyoko looked at it for awhile before hesitantly placing her hand with his. He smiled at her and led her out of his office.
"Yashiro, what is my schedule for the rest of the day?"
Yashiro quickly fumbled in his suitcase before taking out a diary. He flipped through it, stopping on a page. "Hmm, well Ren, you have a magazine interview in two hours then a photo shoot straight after." Yashiro went on and on but Ren was no longer listening for he had just heard the most heavenly sound. He stopped walking while Yashiro just continued on seemingly not realizing that Ren was no longer beside him.
You look so dumb right now
Standing outside my house
Trying to apologize
You're so ugly when you cry
Please, just cut it out...
Ren made his way to where he heard the voice. He opened the door quietly to one of the studios and stepped inside. There he saw a girl with short dark blue hair sitting at the black piano and singing. He cautiously stepped towards the dark glass knowing that she could not see him. He found himself mesmerized by her voice. Never had he heard such a beautiful voice...
Don't tell me you're sorry 'cause you're not
Baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught
But you put on quite a show
Really had me going
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closing
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
Go on and take a bow...
As the last note faded, a lone tear dropped from her eyes. She was still playing but no longer singing. Ren had never seen someone so...broken. For some reason, the girl looked familiar though he was sure he had never seen her before in his life. The girl soon stood up and pulled the cover down onto the piano softly before walking towards the door to the room where Ren was located. He didn't bother to hide as she came into sight. Her eyes widened in surprise and he saw a fleeting glance of panic and fear. "You have a very beautiful voice." Ren said gently with a smile. The girl stared at him for a few moments before turning away shyly. "What is your name?" He asked, taking a few steps towards her. She immediately moved away from him and hesitated. "Kyoko..." She paused and sighed. "Mogami..." She said glancing briefly up at Ren before looking away again.
Ren nodded and smiled. When he gently placed a hand on Kyoko's shoulder, she screamed and jerked away from him against the wall crying. "I'm not going to hurt you." Ren quickly said raising his palms up and taking a step backwards. "I-I'm sorry..." Kyoko said between sobs. She kept repeating those words as she slumped down towards the floor. Ren hesitated for he had no idea what to do. He cautiously stepped towards her and bent down. She immediately stiffened at his close proximity. "I'm not going to hurt you, Kyoko..." Ren whispered in a soft voice. She stared at him intently before nodding her head ever so slightly as she relaxed. Ren gently and very carefully placed a hand on her shoulder. His touch was feather light yet Kyoko still tensed.
After a few minutes, she gave in to his touch and started sobbing again. Ren moved his hand to her back and rubbed it soothingly. Suddenly the door to the studio opened and revealed Lory who was wearing a turban along with baggy pants and a shirt. Aladdin... Ren rolled his eyes at the president's antics. Lory's smile was wide when he entered but as soon as he caught sight of Kyoko crying with Ren comforting her, it disappeared. He quickly ran to her side. "What happened?" Lory asked, looking to Ren for a second before looking back at Kyoko.
Ren shook his head. "I don't know...I just placed my hand on her shoulder and this happened..." He said continuing rubbing Kyoko's shoulder. Lory rolled his eyes and gave Ren a smack on the back of the head causing him to give a yelp of pain. "You are such an idiot!" Lory exclaimed just as Kyoko finally looked up from her arms as Ren's hand moved from her back to rub his head. Upon seeing Lory, Kyoko's eyes widened. He smiled gently at her before opening his arms to which she immediately rushed into. He rubbed her back gently while mouthing the word 'idiot' at Ren who was glaring at him.
"Who is that girl?" Ren asked as he took a seat on one of the long couches in Lory's office after coaxing Kyoko to sleep a few hours ago. Ren had called Yashiro to cancel his schedule for the day. Lory sighed and sat down opposite Ren. "She was a girl I saw on the street." Ren's eyes widened. "Are you a paedophile or what? Picking girls off the street..." Ren shook his head in mock disgust. Lory glared at him. "She was outside of L.M.E when I saw her! If I just left her there, it would go against my nature!" He exclaimed. There were a few moments of silence before Ren spoke. "What happened to her?" He asked softly.
Lory shook his head. "I do not really know. She has not told me anything but I can say that she is physically and mentally broken." He said in a sad voice. Ren's expression changed to one of surprise and he felt anger inside of him. "Where are her parents?" He asked again with a frown. Surely they would know of their daughter's predicament. Before Lory could answer, the shuffling of feet caught the attention of the two men. They turned around to see Kyoko walking towards them. Her appearance surprised them. She was now wearing her pyjamas which consisted of a shirt and shorts. The parts of her body that were bare, revealed dark bruises which stood out in comparison with her pale skin. She looked even more frail and small.
Her eyes were focused on the ground as she took a seat on the armchair between the two men. "I never knew my father." She started before taking a brief glance up at Lory. "Mother never said anything about him. I've lived with my mother ever since young." Kyoko paused as she looked down at her bruises and felt tears well up in her eyes at the memories. Ren moved his hand forward to place it on her hand but a look from Lory stopped him. "These scars and bruises...were by her hand." Kyoko took a deep breath and let it out. "I came to Tokyo to run away from her. Of course, I did not come alone..." She said, closing her eyes and related her story.
Ren was angry. Oh yes, he was furious. The name Fuwa Sho did not ring a bell but Ren hated the guy's guts already. What a disgrace to all men! How could he treat a girl like that? He could tell the president felt the same as he saw the dark expression on his face. However they kept their anger intact for the sake of the young girl in front of them. Silent tears were falling down her cheek.
Ren cautiously made his way towards her and crouched down. He opened his arms and prepared to comfort her but stopped when he remembered her reaction earlier. He hesitated and was bringing his arms back when Kyoko suddenly flung herself into his lap and started crying uncontrollably. Ren turned to Lory with a helpless expression and the president sighed.
After a few minutes, the sobs gradually subsided to be replaced with soft breathing. As gently as he could, Ren picked up Kyoko bridal-style and walked towards her bedroom with Lory behind him. It shocked Ren just how light the girl felt in his arms, almost like there was nothing there. Lory opened the door to the room for him as he gently placed her on the bed and pulled the covers on top of her. She immediately curled into them and turned on her side.
Ren was just about to exit the room when he accidentally caused a notebook on the side table to fall to the ground open. He bent down to pick it up but stopped at what he saw. It was a sketch of a man that looked almost realistic and it had rips through it as if someone was scratching at it.
Ren picked up the notebook gently and flipped through the notebook. There were numerous drawings and most of them were of the same guy. All the pictures that had the guy in it were all ripped and Ren knew immediately who it was. Fuwa Sho...
Please review! I love your feedback :D Hope you enjoyed it :)
P.S The song in this chapter is Rihanna - Take a Bow
