Hi! So, I'm really excited to write out these next few chapters. It's a scenario I've always wondered about and it's quite exciting to have the chance to bring it to life. I hope you are all enjoying the new "conflict" and continue to stick with the story. Thank so much! And please read and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or any of its characters.

Sho couldn't believe his eyes. Even when she met his astonished gaze, even when she murmured his name in reply, he still didn't fully comprehend what was going on. It felt as if time had suddenly screeched to a complete halt. But his body acted before he could even think. Unconsciously, his feet took a step forward as he asked in a shaky voice, "What are you doing here?"

Kyoko didn't reply at first. She was waiting for her heart to beat again. It seemed to have stopped dead in her chest. Yet her astonished eyes never left his face. Kyoko hadn't seen him in years. She hadn't thought about him in years. But just one look was enough for her to see that he had completely changed.

His eyes were different than she had last remembered. They were ridden with a seriousness that Kyoko wasn't used to. Sho was still as tall and lean as before, wearing dark navy jeans and a brown leather jacket, but his stance made him appear even more grown up somehow. He was almost unrecognizable.

But remembering he had asked her a question, she smoothly removed her slim sunglasses and replied, "I'm working here."

"By yourself?" Sho answered in alarm.

And just as she was about to reply, an excited voice suddenly called out:

"KYOKO?"

The actress turned her amber eyes towards the voice and saw Shoko approaching her with blatant surprise written all over her face. Even after all these years, Sho's young manager hadn't changed a bit. Shoko even had the same wavy hair style.

"Oh my god," she murmured as she got closer until they stood face to face. "I can't believe it's you! What are you doing here in New York?"

Kyoko smiled and politely bowed her head. "I just started a modeling career here actually. How are you, Shoko-san?"

Gently reaching out a hand for hers, Shoko replied, "I'm well! But Kyoko, you look…great! I mean, you're positively glowing!"

She blushed and shook her head. "It's because you haven't seen me awhile, Shoko-san. I haven't really changed."

"No, no!" Shoko disagreed in earnest. "You look so mature, even more so than before! I almost didn't recognize you there! Right, Sho?"

Shoko turned around and saw that Sho had gotten a couple of steps closer, but the shock was clearly evident in his eyes. They couldn't have been any larger. But even though he looked like he wasn't listening, Sho had actually heard every word; and he couldn't have agreed with Shoko more.

Even now as he stared into her face, Sho could feel this odd trembling in his hands. Kyoko was no longer the girl he remembered from the past. She changed completely. Kyoko wasn't his childhood friend anymore; she was a woman.

He had seen her plenty of times on television from her many dramas and movies. But to see her in person was almost surreal. Her amber gaze was fiery, her hair was longer and smooth, and her complexion was practically like satin. The clothes she wore clearly accentuated her slim figure and the way she held herself made her appear almost queen-like.

Shoko blinked in confusion at the musician's silence. "Sho? What's wr—?"

"OH MY GOD! IS THAT SHO?" a girl suddenly squealed.

"NO WAY!"

"IT'S SHO!"

"AND ISN'T THAT—?"

"WAIT, I SAW HER IN THE CHIC MAGAZINE!"

"IT'S KYOKO!"

"OH MY GOD, IT IS!"

"AHHHH!"

"Oh no," Shoko said with frantic eyes, turning towards the two stars who seemed to be rooted to the spot.

And before the two could even blink, they suddenly felt a firm grip around both of their wrists. Shoko, instantly in protector mode, quickly pulled them down a dark alleyway and towards a black car that was already parked at the end of the road. Hearing the loud footsteps of crazed fans chasing after them, she wrenched open the door and said in a breathless voice, "Inside you two! HURRY!"

Covering her head with his outstretched hand, Sho led a quite unwilling Kyoko inside the vehicle and sat down beside her as Shoko pulled the car door shut with a thud.

Everything happened so fast that Kyoko didn't even have time to voice her vehement refusal for being there. Out of all places to be in the world, sitting in THIS particular car didn't even crack her top one hundred. It was nothing like she could have expected at all. But before she could say anything, the vehicle was already beginning to make its way down the crowded road.

Breathing out heavily, Shoko said with a sheepish smile, "Sorry for dragging you like that, Kyoko. But I figured you didn't want to get caught by them either, right?"

Kyoko forced a strained smile and said, "You're right, Shoko-san, but I really need to get back. My friends are going to be worried."

"Where are they now?" Shoko asked.

"They're back at the Mark hotel."

"Well that isn't far at all. We'll drop you off," she insisted with a friendly smile.

Hating to impose and wanting nothing more than to get out of the car, Kyoko answered with a shake of her head, "It's okay, Shoko-san. I'll just walk. It's really hard to get close to the Mark Hotel and the walk isn't that far anyway."

"You want us to drop you off here?" Sho retorted, peering at her out of the corner of his eye. "With those hordes of people after you?"

Kyoko glared at his condescending tone. "I know how to take care of myself."

"Obviously you don't if you think walking back to the hotel is the safest option."

"Sho's right, Kyoko," Shoko cut in as she saw the actress angrily open her mouth. "It's not such a good idea to go on your own. People will recognize you in an instant now that you have been spotted."

"But I—!"

"Stop arguing," Sho interrupted. "You're being annoying. Besides, letting you off here means risking my neck and I don't need to be mobbed again."

Kyoko could feel the anger rolling off of her like waves—an anger she hadn't felt in a while. It was as if she suddenly went back in time, when no one but Sho could elicit such an irritation from her. He spoke to her as if she was some sort of child and it bothered her immensely.

"Since when do you make my choices for me?" Kyoko countered with hard eyes, trying to keep the frustration to a minimum.

"Since you were reckless enough to think a pair of sunglasses is enough as a disguise."

"THEY RECOGNIZED YOU FIRST!" she yelled hotly.

Sho snorted. "Then obviously I'm the bigger star."

"EXCUSE ME?"

"Kyoko!" Shoko jumped in nervously as she saw her familiar black aura begin to swirl in the small car. "I think what Sho means is that we're going to pass by the Mark Hotel anyway and that it's really no trouble to drop you off."

Breathing in deeply, Kyoko turned to face Shoko and said in a calmer voice, "I don't want to owe him any favors, Shoko-san."

"Then don't owe me any," Sho replied as he crossed his long legs.

Kyoko turned to him with annoyed eyes. "What?"

"Don't owe me," he repeated. "There are plenty of ways to pay me back."

"What? You want money?"

He scoffed and shook his head. "I don't need something like that. I got plenty of money on my own. Why would I take yours?"

"Then what do you want?" Kyoko snapped angrily.

Sho suddenly leaned forward and touched his fingertips together. His lips were turned downward, as if there was something he was seriously contemplating. And just as Kyoko was going to demand an answer, his eyes slowly turned and met hers.

Kyoko froze in surprise.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" he asked in a low voice.

Raising an eyebrow at the odd inquiry, she replied reluctantly, "Why do you want to know?"

"Just answer the damn question," Sho said in exasperation. "It's not that hard."

And oddly feeling challenged by his belittling tone, Kyoko said in an angrier voice than intended, "I have a meeting tomorrow with the CHIC editor."

"CHIC?" Shoko repeated. "Isn't that a fashion industry?"

Kyoko turned to her with surprise. "You know the company, Shoko-san?"

"Yes! I love their styles! Their clothes are not only affordable, but also really sophisticated. I didn't know you work there. What do you do, Kyoko?"

Smiling sheepishly, she ran a hand through her smooth hair and replied, "I model."

Shoko's jaw dropped open. "YOU MODEL?"

Sho's eyes instantly whipped to Kyoko, surprise pouring through his frozen veins. He practically looked like a deer caught in headlights.

Kyoko, who hadn't noticed Sho's stunned reaction, laughed nervously at his manager's outright disbelief. "Yeah, I had a hard time believing it too," she answered with flushed cheeks.

Shoko shook her head in awe as she breathed, "Wow, that's amazing, Kyoko! Being a model must be really hard! Although, I have to admit, I'm not too surprised."

"What do you mean?" she asked curiously.

Shoko suddenly laughed with a flail of her hand. "I guess you really don't see it, do you, Kyoko?"

She furrowed her eyebrows.

Laughing again, the manager replied with a smile, "Let's just say you're certainly model material."

Kyoko blushed profusely at her easy-going compliment and gave a tiny shake of her head. "Shoko-san, this is only a trial run. I'm not REALLY a model."

"But the fact that you're meeting with the editor of the magazine tomorrow means you're quite a big deal, doesn't it?"

"Well, it's not only me," Kyoko corrected in earnest. "The other models will be there as well."

"And what about afterwards?" Sho suddenly asked as he leaned back against the leather seat.

Kyoko's smile fell.

"What about it?" she asked, facing him.

"Are you free?"

"For what?"

"Lunch."

Her eyes widen. She must have heard wrong, but the look on Sho's face didn't change. He was dead serious.

"You…want to have—lunch?"

"Consider it the favor you owe me," Sho replied, linking his hands behind his head.

Kyoko didn't answer.

And seeing her obvious disinclination, he added under his breath, "Unless, of course, you want to go back on your word."

Her jaw tightened. Kyoko was never one to ignore a debt. For someone with so much pride, not fulfilling an owed favor was literally impossible. She was and always will be a woman of her word, no matter who she owed. And it was clear that this time around she had no other choice. There was no way out of this rut.

So with a stiff and resigned sigh, Kyoko asked, "Where?"

"I'll pick you up. I'm done by 11 o'clock right, Shoko?"

The manager, who was frozen with alarm at the sudden turn of events, nodded vigorously, replying in earnest, "Yes! You're free after that."

"Then it's settled," Sho said with a casual stretch of his arms, "I'll pick you up here—"

The vehicle pulled up to the Mark Hotel.

"—at 11:30. Is that good?"

Kyoko gave a curt nod, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.

Then quickly blinking her eyes to clear the questions racing through her mind, Kyoko turned back towards Shoko and smiled. "It was great seeing you, Shoko-san."

"You too, Kyoko! Do your best tomorrow and have a good night."

"Thank you, you too."

And with one last look thrown over her shoulder at a stoic-looking Sho, Kyoko mumbled, "Tomorrow."

"Yeah," he answered.

Then with a soft thud of the door, Kyoko stepped onto the cold concrete floor and watched the black car drive away. She didn't move for quite a while until the tower clock over head began to chime. Instinctively, she took her phone out of her purse and realized that she had received 42 missed calls in the last ten minutes. Her fifteen minute walk had already turned into thirty minutes.

But as she walked inside the hotel, Kyoko couldn't stop thinking about what just happened. It all flashed by in such a blur that a part of her didn't even believe it. Seeing Sho again was something she would have never predicted, let alone seeing him in New York. Yet that wasn't what bothered her the most. The strangest thing that kept prickling in the back of her mind was the tension she felt from him every time he looked at her, as if there was something he wanted to say to her, but didn't have the courage to.

Kyoko warily leaned back against the wall as the golden elevator began to ascend. She had never felt so confused in her life. But if there was one thing she was sure of, it was that tomorrow's lunch wasn't going to be good.

"Tsuruga-kun, may I have a word?" Director Hanata called to the young actor who had just stepped out of the theater.

Turning around to his senior's voice, Ren obediently bowed his head and replied politely, "Of course, sir."

Walking over to a more secluded area, Director Hanata led Ren behind a tall pillar and smiled warmly. "I just wanted to congratulate you on your phenomenal work in this movie. You certainly brought my vision to life and I couldn't have done it without your brilliant acting."

Touched, but also in slight disagreement with his praise, Ren replied with a shake of his head, "Director, it was your plot that allowed me to play such an invigorating character. I can't tell you how deeply I appreciate the opportunity to have a part in your film."

"Well," he began with a deep chuckle and a strong clap of the actor's shoulder, "I hope you don't think that this will be the last project we have together. I already have another movie in mind."

Ren laughed. "You're always thinking, even when you're on a break."

Grinning widely, he answered, "It's the curse of being a director. Hearing the great success of FUGITIVE has certainly given me quite an energy boost to go farther. So I would like you to consider being a part of this next film as well, Tsuruga-kun."

"I would be honored sir," he replied humbly.

"Great! Then I'll send you the script as soon as I can and you can tell me what you think about the role."

Ren nodded. "Of course, sir. Thank you."

"So will you be going to the after-party with the cast later?" Director Hanata asked curiously.

Shaking his head with a sheepish smile, Ren answered, "I don't think so. I'm feeling a little worn out and I think it would be best to go home."

He nodded in understanding. "It's been a pretty hectic month for you, hasn't it?"

"Yes, but it was all worth it," Ren said with a laugh.

Director Hanata smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, Tsuruga-kun," he replied. "Well, I won't keep you. I know you probably want to go straight home before people start holding you captive."

Ren laughed and nodded. "Thank you, director. And congratulations on your movie."

"You too, Tsuruga-kun! You too!"

And with one last hand-shake, Ren made his way through the crowd, quietly bidding farewell and only smiling politely in reply when people started to complain about his early exit. Within a few feet from the front door, he was just about to smoothly step through when a hand suddenly reached out for his wrist.

Ren quickly turned around and saw Yukari looking at him with narrowed eyes.

"And where do you think you're going, Mr. Superstar?"

Chuckling, he replied, "I'm going home, Yukari-san."

"Now?" she asked in surprise, stepping closer to him. "We still have the party to go to, Ren. You can't leave. As the main star, how can you not show up for the movie celebration?"

"I think you are more than enough to represent the film, Yukari-san. You don't need me there."

Her eyes hardened. "Ren, you can't just leave me. We came here together, didn't we?"

"The other cast members will be there, Yukari-san. You don't need me," Ren assured.

Unconvinced and more than determined to make him stay, Yukari wrapped her arm around his and said in a firm tone, "I want my co-star there with me. You and I play love interests in the movie, Ren. Don't you think it's odd for me to be there and not you?"

Ren stared at her stern expression for a while, his face completely devoid of all emotion. But even in his silence, Yukari didn't back down. She knew that in time Ren was going to give into her. He was too much of a gentleman to turn down a girl, especially a girl he knew.

But then to her alarm, he suddenly removed his arm from hers.

Yukari's eyes widen.

"It's as you say, Yukari-san," Ren murmured gently. "We do play love interests in the movie."

His eyes darkened. "But I'm not Takeishi."

As soon as the statement left his lips, she unwillingly took a step back, feeling as if a barrier was suddenly placed in between them. She had no idea why, but right at that moment, Yukari felt as if he had completely pushed her away. He wasn't the gentle person she thought knew at all. The look in his eyes belonged to someone else entirely, someone who was undeniably more frightening. Ren had never looked more intimidating or so far out of reach.

But with a nervous laugh to conceal her quite blatant alarm, Yukari replied, "I know that, Ren. You're being so silly. I'm not asking you to stay as Takeishi. I want you, as Ren, to be here."

"If so, then I'm afraid I have to decline," he said softly with a shake of his head. "There's somewhere else I want to be."

She fell silent, his response cutting deep. Yukari knew exactly what he meant, but it didn't make the rejection any easier to handle. It nearly crippled her ability to speak.

But refusing to give up so easily, she murmured under her breath, "Going home won't make it better. It's not like she'll be there."

Ren smiled sadly. "I know, but being here won't help at all."

"Ren, you have me! I can—!"

"Yukari-san."

She stopped.

"Please do not ask me to choose between you and my wife."

That was it.

Yukari's breath completely escaped her. He said nothing out of the ordinary. His comment wasn't even remotely rude, but his distinction was as sharp and clear as the pain that rippled through her. She didn't have the voice to say anything anymore. How could she respond to something that explained so plainly how futile her efforts were?

Yukari wasn't stupid. She knew she was standing on thin ice from the very beginning, but her prospects were never nonexistent. There was still always a chance.

But as she helplessly stared into his hard brown eyes, Yukari knew in an instant that she wasn't standing anymore. The ice around her had full melted and Ren wasn't going to be the one to save her.

Hurt, the actress turned away from him and mumbled, "Right..."

Ren's gaze softened. It was something he didn't want to say, but at the same time realized that he had to. He couldn't put it off any more. Every minute he let pass, he was allowing Yukari to fall deeper into a delusion that would only hurt her in the end. But quietly stepping forward, he placed a warm hand over hers which naturally pulled her attention to his face.

He smiled gently and replied in a quiet voice, "Thank you, Yukari-san."

She nodded.

And with one last smile, Ren turned around and walked out the double doors, feeling oddly exhausted and quite drained. Somehow, it felt as if everything that had happened this past month had crashed into him all at once. His head had suddenly felt so heavy.

Once inside the empty lobby, he was just about to step outside into the cool air when he saw his manager casually standing at the opposite wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

Yashiro warily shook his head at Ren's confused expression with a small smile at the corner of his lips.

Ren automatically approached him, his eyebrows furrowed with puzzlement.

"You finally did something about her," Yashiro pointed out with a nod at his silent question. "Took you long enough."

Ren sighed heavily, not even bothering to criticize him for spying. "I didn't do anything about her. I just explained why I couldn't accompany her to the party."

Rolling his eyes, Yashiro took a step forward and said, "Fine, say it however you want. I'm just satisfied that she got the message."

Ren smiled warily. Then with hopeful eyes, he fully turned to his manager and asked in a surprisingly quiet tone, "Any word from her?"

Yashiro shook his head sympathetically. "No, I didn't get anything, but that's probably because she assumes you're at the after-party celebration. Isn't that what you normally do after a premiere?"

Realizing that Yashiro was right, Ren nodded and replied, "That's true. She would never call me if she knew I was busy."

"Exactly, but I'm sure if you call her, she'll pick up."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you comfortable with raising my expectations so high without any guarantee whatsoever?"

Chuckling and leading the young actor out the private back exit, Yashiro said with ease, "It's fine. Knowing Kyoko-chan, she's probably waiting for your call right now."

Ren smiled, feeling better already.

"But you should probably call her when you're at home," Yashiro advised as he opened the metallic door. "The more privacy, the better."

Ren agreed with a nod of his head.

"Then I'll tell the valet to call a taxi."

So after returning Ren his cell phone, Yashiro walked in the other direction and left the young actor standing at the back door. He flipped the device open and felt a strong urge to call his wife right then. As he stared down at her name, Ren realized that there was no way he was going to last another two months without her. He was crumbling fast.

But just as he flipped his cell phone shut, it suddenly vibrated.

Adrenaline rushing through his veins like flooding water, Ren quickly brought the device to his ear without looking at the screen and answered in earnest, "Kyoko?"

"No. Daddy."

Ren blinked in surprise before letting out a wary exhale as it finally hit him who just answered. Running a hand through his hair, he mumbled in an unintentionally miserable voice, "Hi Father."

"And what's with that tone?" Kuu answered with narrowed eyes. "I took time to call you and that's how you answer me? I knew I should have called Kyoko first."

"No, no," Ren replied with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I'm glad you called, really. I was just expecting to hear from her."

Kuu chuckled, oddly touched by the longing in his son's voice. So with an amused smile, he asked casually, "How are you holding up anyway?"

No response.

Laughing louder, Kuu reassured gently, "I figured. Your mother warned me this would happen."

"How's mother?"

"She's well," Kuu said with a bright smile. "She's not home right now, but I think she'll call you when she gets back."

Ren nodded. "Alright."

"So now that the premiere of your movie is done—congrats by the way—when are you planning on flying to New York?"

Ren leaned back against the wall and replied in a thoughtful voice, "I was hoping sometime by the end of next week. I have a couple more appointments lined up, but after that I'll be free. And Kyoko has told me she wanted to come see you and Mother for a while too so I think both of us will stop by then."

Clicking his tongue in agreement and his mood easily lifted froom seeing his children, Kuu replied happily, "Good, I like the sound of that plan. Your mother and I had actually wanted to go see Kyoko sometime earlier this month, but we figured she would be swamped with her modeling jobs and would stretch herself out pretty thin to accommodate us."

"From what she's told me, she does sound busy," Ren answered.

"Well, that just means she's doing well. She's probably making it big already. And you know Kuon, now that I think about it, being in New York is a good change for Kyoko."

Ren glared.

And knowing full well what his son's response will be (angry and irritated for toying with his vulnerable state), Kuu added with a hearty laugh, "Now now, Kuon, I'm not saying it's good for her to be away from you. What I mean is that New York has a lot of important people she can meet. It will be a good way for her to break out of Japan. Eventually, all celebrities try to make it to New York at least once in their life."

Sighing in defeat, he replied calmly, "You're right. It will be good for her career."

"Exactly! I've already met quite a few Japanese actors here, you know."

Ren raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yes, they were telling me about their new projects. They all seem to be adapting well. Still, it's not only actors and actresses who come to New York," Kuu explained.

"Who else?" Ren asked with a curious expression.

Kuu fluidly sat down on his couch and suddenly picked up a thin piece of paper, raising it to his blue eyes. "Well for instance, today, while I was walking on set, I saw an ad for a musical concert this upcoming weekend. And to my surprise, it was featuring a Japanese musician!"

Kuu shook his head in wonder and leaned back against the leather seat.

"I can't say I recognize his name," he continued on thoughtfully, "but I have to admit I was quite surprised. He looked so young to be performing on such a big stage. I guess he's pretty famous back home, right Kuon?"

…

"Kuon? Is everything alright?"

"What was his name?" Ren murmured quietly.

"Hmm?"

"His name."

"Oh!" Kuu replied in surprise, puzzled by his son's odd interest.

"I think it was something along the lines of…Fuwa Sho."