Disclaimer: I love Skip Beat!, but that doesn't mean I own it. Pure fan love here.
Story: Various one-shots where Kyoko finds love in unexpected places and unexpected people.
Set all over the place.
Spoilers: Yeeeessss. Yes, yes, yes. Beware?
Warnings: Hm, I need to think about this time.
Pairings: Various/Kyoko
Chapter Plot: Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Yukihito never thought that would apply to him, but ironically here he was –just the blind idiot. He'd always played cheerleader until the lenses shifted suddenly on him, and he realized he should've made himself one of the players. But Kyoko had never been his, and now she never will be.
The Love Me Confessionals
Yashiro Yukihito
"You mean it, sir?" he asked excitedly. At the confirmation, he grinned widely. "Thank you! I will definitely continue to take care of her."
Another minute on the phone with President Lory and then they were hanging up, with Yashiro Yukihito feeling like the world's luckiest and happiest man.
"Yashiro-san?" he heard his current charge ask inquisitively, and he whirled around to face her.
Looking tired but blissful, Mogami Kyoko wasn't someone he'd ever thought would be put under his care, or that he would actually end up working with anyone other than Ren. But after these past few days, he had become proud of the work they'd achieved together and how far she'd gotten, and had felt more than happy with her than he could remember in his life.
It's only been eight days since he'd started working with her, but Ren was already back and he'd worried that he wouldn't be able to continue working with Kyoko, at least for the full two weeks he'd promised her. But to hear from President Lory that he could continue to work as her manager indefinitely and manage both her and Ren…
His grin widened even more impossibly and he gave her an excited look, before he told her the good news. She let out a happy laugh before grabbing his hands, and the two of them ended up twirling around like silly idiots.
"Ugh, what are you two doing?"
"Moko-san!"
Kyoko let go of Yukihito to try to pounce on Kanae, who merely dodged her and kept her annoyed look on her face. To Yukihito's eyes though, he managed to catch the fond twitch of her lips that only lasted a blink.
"I've got a ride," Kanae informed them instead. "So I won't need to be driven back. Thank you again, Yashiro-san. Make sure this dolt arrives back in one piece."
Kyoko, still in bliss (if a little sad that her Moko-san wouldn't be riding back with her), just hmmed while Yukihito nodded and smiled politely. When Kanae left them, he turned to Kyoko.
"Congratulations with your audition, Kyoko. Why don't we go celebrate?"
"Yes! I would like that a lot, Yashiro-san," she ended shyly and he gave her a warm look.
Thoughtlessly, he grabbed her hand and held it, not thinking anything of it. She gave him a surprised look, but she too dismissed the action practically immediately. Together, they headed to his car and then his mind went through a few nearby restaurants.
"Would you like to eat at Cantina's?" he asked as they settled into their seats.
"Un! I've been there before with Kijima-san and they have such wonderful desserts," Kyoko said eagerly.
Yukihito kept smiling, though inwardly he grimaced. He forgot that she and that guy had some sort of strange friendship. At least the playboy actor wasn't attempting to go any further anymore…
"Cantina's then," he pushed that out of his mind and began to drive.
When they got there, he managed to quickly negotiate a table without a reservation, and then the two of them sat across from each other and browsed their menus.
"Yashiro-san," Kyoko whispered, startling him. "I'm…very grateful for your help and support. This audition and these past few days –I don't think I've ever felt so safe and unworried. I thought I'd be a nervous wreck, but you were there and I was confident with myself and in my skills. So…thank you so much."
Touched, he reached across the table and grasped her hand. She looked at him and he gave her the softest smile he could.
"That makes me happy. All I can do and all I want is to support you and help you achieve greatness, like any good manager. Like a good friend," his smile turned into a wry grin for a moment.
She smiled back and Yukihito felt himself warm up from it.
Today, he was back at work with Ren. With Kyoko having a day off and gone to do Love Me assignments in the LME building, it meant that he was reunited with his first charge and that today they could catch up.
"How was the time spent without me?" Ren asked, smirking slightly.
"More exciting than usual –you know, since you're such a boring guy and all," Yukihito snarked, which made Ren laugh.
But, unable to help himself, he began to talk about his time with Kyoko, probably sounding like he was gushing a bit. He couldn't help it; he had such a good time managing her that he wanted to share it with someone, especially with Ren who he knew held a very special soft spot for the girl and who would appreciate it more than others.
Ren began peppering him with questions, wanting to know more, and he asked about how Kyoko was doing and what had happened with her and her audition. From there though, Ren began to talk fondly and eagerly about Kyoko, and Yukihito was surprised and confused to feel a deep ache in his chest. He didn't know why or what for, and he didn't understand it at all. So he pushed the feeling down and ignored it, focusing on Ren and giving encouraging smiles and nods.
He didn't have time to analyze the strange feeling. He didn't…want to look deeper into it.
A part of him felt scared of what he might find.
For the rest of the day, Yukihito accompanied Ren to all of the appointments he had to go to, even though the actor had just gotten back and hadn't been expected to be back for some time. Somehow or other though, with others finding out he was back already, Ren's schedule had filled up for at least that day. Which led to why Yukihito was carting him around, letting Ren talk and charm his way through everything.
At one point though, his phone rang and he excused himself to a quiet area while Ren was onstage for some TV spot. Placing on a glove quickly, he looked at the Caller ID and he found himself smiling as he realized it was Kyoko who had called him.
"Kyoko?" he immediately answered.
"Hi, Yashiro-san," she greeted him happily.
He felt himself just relax in contentment at the sound of her voice. "Kyoko-chan, is there anything you need me to do for you?"
"N-no. I just got really used to talking to you every day, so it felt weird not to hear or see you. I hope you don't mind me calling? Ah! You must be busy. I'm sorry! I just called you and it was so thoughtless of me and –"
"Kyoko, Kyoko," he said soothingly, trying to calm her down. "Don't worry. I wasn't busy. And you can call me anytime. I won't mind at all, no matter what." And that was true. He didn't think he could ever get mad at her for calling him or wanting to talk to him.
But that she did want to talk to him…
The smile on his face couldn't get any bigger or happier.
For a moment, she stayed quiet and he wondered what was on her mind or if something was bothering her.
"Yashiro-san, you really are the best. T-tomorrow, when we work together again, I'm going to make you a bento for you to have! Please enjoy it!"
He felt happy all over. "Thank you, Kyoko," he said appreciatively.
They talked a little bit of little things, just whatever came up and whatever tangents that they thought of. It was idle talk, but it was relaxing and he found that he didn't want to hang up or stop talking to her. Eventually, he looked at the time and noticed that he had been on the phone and away from Ren for almost too long. Reluctantly, he began to say his goodbyes.
"I really enjoyed talking to you, Kyoko. At least I'll see you tomorrow, huh?" he said softly.
"Yes, that's true. Thank you for talking with me, Yashiro-san. Bye…"
"Bye," he reluctantly echoed and then he hung up.
He looked at his phone morosely before mentally shaking himself out of it and putting away his phone. He made his way back to where Ren had been and luckily saw that he was just leaving the stage.
"Hey, ready to go?" Yukihito asked him.
"Yeah, we should be set to go," Ren agreed. "I don't think they need me any longer."
"Let's double check, and then we'll head to the car."
Once they finished there, they did head to Yukihito's car, where they settled in.
"I can't believe you can drive now," Ren chuckled and Yukihito grinned.
"I know, right?"
He started the car and had been about to put it into drive when Ren asked him something that brought him up short.
"You left a little earlier. Was something the matter?" he asked curiously.
Yukihito paused. "I had to take a call," he said simply, before he set the car to drive.
He didn't know why, but he hadn't wanted to mention anything about Kyoko calling him to Ren.
The day was finally over and Yukihito felt relieved. He'd been feeling off that day and had been bothered by strange feelings, which he had done his best to ignore. But now, after having dropped off Ren, he had nothing else to distract him and was feeling uneasy as he drove home.
Hoping the radio would help to continue to distract him, he turned it on and prayed that no Fuwa Sho music was playing. He just knew, with his current strange mood, that he would throw a fit, especially with his ill feelings towards the singer.
Flipping through the channels, he ended up on a channel playing American music. He couldn't speak it, but he had started to learn it and could understand quite a bit through Kyoko's help.
"Beauty queen of only eighteen, she had some trouble with herself. He was always there to help her; she always belonged to someone else~"
He closed his eyes before opening them mind-numbingly, continuing to drive.
"I drove for miles and miles and wound up at your door. I've had you so many times but somehow I want more."
He had the urge to drive to Kyoko's home, but he stopped himself. Instead, he continued to head to his home, finding that he was starting to understand himself that day.
"Tap on my window, knock on my door. I want to make you feel beautiful."
Hopeless. He realized his situation was hopeless. He felt incredibly stupid and slow.
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Yukihito never thought that would apply to him, but ironically here he was –just the blind idiot. He'd always played cheerleader until the lenses shifted suddenly on him, and he realized he should've made himself one of the players. But Kyoko had never been his, and now she never will be.
It was such a painful realization, something that he had never really let himself see. It was supposed to be Ren and Kyoko, and he'd staunchly supported them. Because Kyoko had always been funny and sweet and cute and…and…so kind and beautiful to him, and he'd wanted Ren to see that.
Until he really had and somehow it was already a for sure thing between the two, and Yukihito didn't realize he would regret it until he saw himself in a metaphorical mirror and understanding that maybe he'd been projecting a little bit. And he hadn't known until it was too late and Ren saw what he did.
Or maybe he was just a dumb idiot who didn't see things clearly until now, but now was too late.
"Ask her if she wants to stay awhile and she will be loved~"
Whether or not he'd always been in love with Kyoko, or whether having spent time with her (just him and her) so closely, it didn't really matter.
He was too late and he couldn't have more.
The next morning, Yukihito plastered on a smile and knocked on Kyoko's bedroom door. When she opened it, he looked at her happily and was glad to see she echoed it back.
But if a tinged of resignation was in his eyes, then it was all the better that Kyoko didn't noticed it.
He just wanted to enjoy being by her side and let himself have at least this.
Started 8/8/17 – Completed 8/8/17
A/n: I find it's easier to write unhappy chapters (at least for the first go around) XD Or maybe I listen to all the wrong music when I write, haha. Anyway, I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter and yet felt miserable as Yashiro when reading, lol. Please remember to review!
Quick Points:
1. Comae Berenicids Falling on Winter: If you haven't checked out already, this is a new Skip Beat! story from me, based on my Kyoko/Kuu one-shot in "The Love Me Confessionals". Read and review please!
2. (Still, still hoping...) Request: So I'd gotten back into this fandom because one day I felt like rewatching the anime and seeing certain arcs again, and then I thought about the manga and went to its wikia and ran across the wiki profiles of Kuresaki and Koga, which interested me enough to go and read the newest arc of Skip Beat! (and henceforth skipped all the chapters since I last read the manga), and then end up rewatching the anime for real and then read the manga from where I left off on the anime. I loved the new arc so much I really got back into Skip Beat!, but I was disappointed to come back and find practically no variation of stories with Kyoko other than pairing her with Ren! It's frustrating and part of the reason why I lacked any interest in this fandom before, so I would like to request a story, even if it's a one-shot, pairing her with either Kuresaki, Koga, Director Shingai, Yashiro, Matsushima (the Head of LME's acting department), Nakazawa (the Head of LME's singing department), Kuu, or even anyone not mentioned that is practically NEVER paired with Kyoko. In fact, I'll call this the Rare Kyoko Love Fest Challenge!
Please answer this challenge and do your best to write it!
3. Playlist: (You guys can even go back and read the chapters while listening to the songs, if you want)
Chapter Matsushima:
Love You Like I'm Going to Lose You by Eric Chou (John Legend/Meghan Trainor cover)
Chapter President Lory:
Today Was a Fairytale by Taylor Swift
Chapter Kuresaki Yuki:
The Chairman's Waltz by John Williams
Chapter Kuu Hizuri:
Cold by Aqualung
Chapter Nakazawa:
Impossible by Jocelyn Shonfield (Shontelle cover, James Arthur version)
Impossible by James Arthur (acoustic)
Chapter Koga Hiromune:
Believer by Imagine Dragons
Chapter Yashiro Yukihito:
She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5