Chapter 7: T-minus 3 hours

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Skip Beat, for if I did, Sho would have been placed on LME's stalker list a long time ago.

The fighting was brutal, it was a good thing the enemy had begun to retreat because her strength was waning. Even through her exhausted haze, Momiji sensed an enemy from behind. He had an arrow nocked and aimed directly at Shizuma. She screamed to get her Master's attention as she ran towards him. He couldn't hear her over the chaos surrounding them.

As if time stood still, all Momiji could hear was her labored breathing as she tried to reach her Master. Mid dash, she released a kunai at the archer but she watched in horror as the arrow was released just as her knife sank into the side of the man's neck. She threw herself in front of Shizuma to protect him. The arrow pierced her so deeply that it actually went through her and lodged itself into Shizuma's shoulder. She coughed up blood, indicating a vital spot was hit.

Shizuma screamed out in anguish as he took in the limp girl attached to him. By then the fighting had ceased.

"Somebody help me," he screamed, as his men surrounded him to form a protective barrier. They dislodged the girl from him but there was little they could do.

Gathering her in his arms, Shizuma said, his voice breaking as tears slid down his face, "You baka, you were supposed to stay away and be safe." Momiji reached up and tried to wipe his tears away instead she smeared blood on his face. She had a small smile on her face, reassured that he was ok.

Chidori fell by her other side and grabbed Momiji's hand. She too was in tears, despite their differences, Chidori was fond of Momiji. She was beautiful, brave, and loyal; everything she wished to be. Momiji looked at her, "Promise me you will take care of him." With difficulty speaking, she started listing all of his bad habits that Chidori had to look out for.

Shizuma let out a melancholy laugh, "My sweet Momiji, forgive me." He kissed her forehead. Momiji reached her hand to caress his cheek one last time, "I'm glad I was able to fulfill my mission" she said as she took her last breath. A lifetime of memories flooded through his mind, different stages of her life with him, always calling out to him "Shizuma-sama!" He felt a piece of his heart die that night.

Director Morizumi yells "CUT!" The room erupted in applause.

Sho had quietly slipped inside the large room as the scene unfolded. He watched as Kyoko flung herself in front of Koga to protect him from some unseen arrow. He was in awe at the imagination that these actors and actresses had for just a script reading. It had to be difficult to pull off the raw emotion required for the scene without a proper set or even props.

His heart constricted as he saw, Kyoko's face pale and contort in pain as the "arrow" pierced her heart. He felt the anguish radiating from Koga as he held the dying girl in his arms. When the director had yelled "cut" he realized he was holding his breath and his eyes were slightly moist.

He laughed, a little embarrassed. He saw that the other people in the room felt the same way. He couldn't believe his childhood friend could pull off such a scene. He observed her in the crowd bowing politely to everyone, thanking them for their hard work. He hardly recognized her. She was smiling and radiated confidence. She's changed, he thought.

He overheard some other guys talking about how cute she was. "Who's cute? This boring, no sex appeal woman?" Sho rolled his eyes at the men that needed to obviously get their eyes checked.

A tiny thought at the back of his mind came forth. He suddenly felt that she was suddenly out of his league. He quickly dismissed that thought, all he needed to do was remind her of how much she hated him and he'll have the old Kyoko back.

This plain, no talent girl could never beat him. He was Fuwa Sho, Japan's top selling musician. Tokyo Dome was within his grasp. Soon he would be too high for her to even reach. She would feel lucky if he even looked her way.

He watched as she walked over to a man in a suit wearing glasses. "That's that platform wearing bastard's manager. Why is he here?" He looked suddenly around for Ren. He was relieved when he saw he wasn't there. Could he now be her manager? Sho dismissed that idea quickly,"there's no way an elite manager like him will ever represent a talent-less newbie like her."

Director Morizumi announced, "Before we leave, I want to introduce Japan's top artist Fuwa Sho. He will be working with the Music Director for the sound track of this drama. He will also be writing the theme song, so you will be seeing him around the set for a bit."

Kyoko inwardly groaned when she heard the director mention Shotaro's name. She watched as he made his way to the front with a smug smile. He had cut his hair shorter.

The Okami-san mentioned he had stopped by the Darumaya yesterday. Good thing she wasn't home then, she was in no shape to deal with him with all her mixed emotions. In her state, she probably would have done something regrettable, like killed him.

For some reason her grudges weren't swirling around her like usual. In the past, the mere mention of his name or anything connected to him would send her on a rampage.

The last time she saw Shotaro was when she kicked him in the shin for once again stealing a kiss from her. In his own way he was trying to help her after the incident with her mother but she just couldn't forgive him. Thinking of that kiss, however, got her grudges fired up.

Yashiro let out a yelp, suddenly scared of his charge. He thought he was in the clear when she didn't really respond to Fuwa being there. He wondered at the delayed response. He had to keep that singer away from Kyoko. He had no business messing with her after what he'd done to her and keeps doing to her.

The director told them that was a wrap but that they still had the photo shoot immediately afterwards for the main cast. Kyoko and Yashiro took their leave so Kyoko could change into costume and go to hair and make-up.

She really didn't want to deal with Shotaro today of all days, she'd have plenty of time for that bastard since apparently he would be working on the music for this drama. She decided that she would be professional about everything.


Later, on the other side of Tokyo, Ren entered the building for his taped interview. It would be aired in two days. Although it was being recorded, there would still be a live audience.

On his way to the studio he bumped into Kijima. "Yo Ren, how are things going? You're looking good; lighter, airier, dare I say relaxed. Better than the way you looked the other day. Soooo did anything good happen between you and Kana-san?"

Ren looked aghast, he had forgotten all about Kana-san. Kijima laughed, "I guess that's a hard no, poor Kana-san. So if it's not Kana-san, things must be progressing with you and Kyoko chan, eh."

In order to make sure Kijima knew where he stood, Ren told him that he had a date with her tonight so he hoped for a favorable outcome. Kijima clapped him on the back and gave him a good natured squeeze as he probed Ren for details.

Ren gave him his most polite smile giving Kijima the hint that he needed to stop asking questions. Kijima raised his hands in mocked defense and wished him luck as he took his leave thinking that guy was so easy to read these days. He was obviously smitten by Kyoko so why couldn't he just be honest.

Kijima thought as he walked away that he needed to find a girlfriend for himself.

Ren's run in with Kijima, reminded him about one more thing he needed to tell Kyoko. He didn't want her to misunderstand the situation.

Thinking of his kiss with Kana-san brought his thoughts back to the photo of Kyoko and Fuwa. He didn't put much stock into that photo. Look what happened to him with Kana-san and he was a grown man. He felt sexually harassed.

He really should have unleashed Kuon on her when she kissed him so she would think twice next time about pulling a stunt like that. His Tsuruga Ren persona was too damn gentle for his own good.

He would bet money that bastard kissed her again without her permission. She was alone and extremely distraught when he found her in the park. His heart was telling him that nothing happened further there...he hoped.

Regardless, for his sake he needed to ask her plainly if there were any reciprocrated feelings towards Fuwa. Not that it really mattered because he planned on filling her head and heart with only him. He hoped she was ready because he had waited patiently for so long for her to finally heal.

Ren made it to the studio and was shown to the green room by an assistant. He asked if what he was wearing was fine. The Producer assured him that it was perfect. Ren didn't put much thought into what he wore today. He was wearing a pair of black slacks, black dress shoes, and a dark blue button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

The Producer liked the look, it was dressy but casual at the same time. He looked sexy none the less and that's all that mattered. He thought, cursing the Gods for being cruel and unfair, "Tsuruga-kun could wear a paper bag and make it look sexy."

Ren was called on stage and bowed to the host. They exchanged the usual pleasantries and talked about his upcoming work. The host asked if he was dating any one? Ren didn't confirm or deny it with his answer.

They had a segment for people of the audience to ask questions. What was his favorite color? Ren answered without hesitation, "amber" thinking of Kyoko's eyes. He could stare into them forever, he thought dreamily.

The host had to clear his throat to get Ren's attention which had the audience giggling when he snapped out of it. The host took a mental note of this behavior, there was definitely something different about him.

Another audience member asked him about his ideal woman. Ren replied that she had to have a beautiful soul, smart, kind, selfless, nurturing, strong, independent, a good cook, a huge imagination, a lover of fairy tales, not afraid to show her emotions, able to scold him properly without being intimidated, he continued on and on wondering if he was giving himself away.

Later, those close to the two watching this interview, would pick up on the traits he listed and link them to Kyoko, noting that he was getting serious.

The interview ended without too much of a hitch and Ren made his way back to LME to pick up his car.

Once home, Ren texted Kyoko, "I'm home. I hope your day is going well. Please ask Yashiro for the key I gave him and let yourself up when you arrive. See you soon!" He included another heart emoji and hit send.

He was suddenly nervous, he decided to fix himself a drink. He hit the remote to turn on his sound system and music filled the room. He groaned at the song "When you try your best but you don't succeed, When you get what you want buy not what you need..."

Ren moved to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of cognac to loosen up his nerves. He went back to the living room with his drink and sagged into the couch listening to the song.

"Fate has definitely got a hold of my playlist," he thought. He had been listening to more English songs ever since his time as Cain Heel especially on Guam. Although the local people have their own native language, English was the main language there since they were a territory of the United States. It was easy to slip back into his American ways there even as the British man Cain.

When the song ended and he gulped down the rest of his drink, Ren got up to take a shower and prepare dinner. It was almost show time, she should be here in about three hours.

AN: Thank you everyone for sticking with me! I appreciate all the feedback from last chapter. BTW I just discovered that line break button in the toolbar...lol...I'm such a noob. I should really be doing my job since I have a deadline on a spec, but I've always been a procrastinator...lol

The song Ren was listening to was Cold Play's "Fix You." This song could apply to either Ren's or Kyoko's POV. For some reason I can't picture Ren listening to like Rap or Hip Hop.