Chapter Ten

Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat! me writing here should be indication of that already.

Acknowledgment: Bloody_Rose021 for beta-reading as always.

Dedications: To arienrhod,the reviewer who got the closest guess as to Ren's fate. Of course, she's *am I wrong?* missed out on one important detail though. But this is a highly volatile fanfic so... Well... I'm not sure if she's going to be happy to have this chapter dedicated to her.

Kyoko stepped out of the suite on the fourteenth floor, which served as a post-shoot command center for the day.

"Kyoko-chan, are you having problems acting with Tsuruga-kun?" Director Shingai asked.

"N-no!" she lied. But considering that the director was already asking about it, she knew that she'd been found out. "Well, I'm actually playing it by ear right now, depending on Tsuruga-san's pace. At first, everything was going smoothly. But when the one-on-one scenes between Satoshi and Chiaki started… Well, it seems as though Tsuruga-san and I have a totally different approach on how we wanted to act the characters out so it doesn't really seemed synchronized."

She really had to choose her words well that time, she thought as she dragged her feet to the rows of elevators. She couldn't blame Tsuruga-san for acting in a way opposite to her own acting. But even at that point, she didn't want to admit that she was having a hard time with it. It was already stretching the limit of her abilities with that destructive emotion 'love'.

But the scariest words that Director Shingai said were, "You know, Kyoko-chan, even though we're already shooting, it's not unusual for one of the cast members to withdraw in the middle of it. Especially if that cast member and the director do not agree with the vision."

At least she didn't get fired. But what the director said was a thinly veiled warning. Translating to 'Shape up or you're out.'

She sighed as she mechanically entered the elevator. At least tomorrow is her day-off from the Kismet shoot. She'd get the chance to work on her character. In the morning, she had school, then Box "R", then a couple of hours in LME before Kimagure Rock in the early evening.

She'd have some time to think about the character. Maybe… she should call Yashiro-san to get Tsuruga-san's schedule so she can rush wherever he is to talk about how Chiaki and Satoshi should act together so she could finally stop her erratic performance. After all, after being burned, what did she know about the joys of love?

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Aah!" Kyoko yelped in surprise at the question. She turned to him and angrily asked. "What are you doing in my elevator?"

"Hey, I don't see you name anywhere here," Shotaro crossed his arms. "And I was here first. Anyways, you look worried. Anything wrong?"

She glared at him for a second and haughtily answered, "Hmph! If anything was wrong, why should I tell you? So you can gloat?"

"You really are…" He started, but stopped himself. He hadn't expected to see her so soon after that thing that happened at the hotel lobby that afternoon. And when she'd entered the elevator, he really didn't have any intention of talking to her. Even though she was ignoring him and didn't even notice that he was there. But through the mirrored doors of the elevator, she looked so distraught that he panicked.

That was the expression she always had when she was about to cry. The thing that annoyed him was that after the Prisoner shoot, he'd always been so conscious whenever he encountered a girl in tears. He had never been able to comfort the girl he grew up with and knew everything about just because he got uncomfortable about seeing her cry.

And just now when she was about to, he still didn't know what to do. Instead, she lashed out at him and that just really annoyed him.

"Whatever," he scoffed, stepped forward and pressed '3'.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Stu~pid~," he said as he turned to her. "After what happened in the lobby this afternoon, do you really want to be seen getting off the elevator with me after a long trip from the top floors? What will people think? You'll never become a star if there are all sorts of creepy rumors about you."

Ah… The expression on her face said that she'd only realized it now. Really, this idiot still had a long way to go in understanding what it's like to be a celebrity.

The elevator stopped at the third floor, which was a near-empty floor filled with conference and function rooms, he stepped out saying, "Good luck with your movie," he said, trying to sound like he didn't care.

"Hah?"

He pivoted. "You didn't forget that little vow you made, did you? I'll be waiting at the top for you. Just make sure you don't fall for the moves of that 15-inch platform shoe wearing gorge-star."

"Wha-!?" she shouted. "Why would he? There's no reason in this world why he would-" But the elevator doors automatically closed before them.

Sho just stared at the elevator door for a while, dumbfounded. Why would he? Uh… Because Tsuruga is-

Wait a minute. Does that mean that Tsuruga still hasn't done anything yet? Or maybe he lost interest? Maybe he lost the novelty of falling in love with a plain, uncute girl like Kyoko. After all, that *didn't want to say it* is being chased after women far more gorgeous and much sexier than she is.

Hah! He thought haughtily. Tough luck on him. He gave up without experiencing time with a girl who can cook like a chef, do things in the most efficient way, be more caring than the most caring thing in the world – all with a cute smile on–

Then he caught himself and got frustrated enough to stomp his foot on the floor. Why on earth was he even thinking about his woman being with Tsuruga?

"You should be very proud of yourself today."

The sarcasm caught his attention and Ren's head snapped towards Kotonami Kanae as he just put his car on park in front of her home. The shoot ended at nine, but he had had another job so they went on their way. It had been a long day – a day he wasn't particularly proud of – and all he wanted to do was have a drink. The surprising statement from Kotonami-san made his voice tread dangerously. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," she flipped her hair. "I realized early on that I didn't want to back out of this assignment because I wanted to see The Great Tsuruga Ren that my best friend puts in such high regard in action.

"You know…" She turned to him and said, "Earlier this afternoon, I really admired the way you acted out Satoshi. It was so believable that I even came to the point of thinking, 'Maybe this guy is really in love with Kyoko.' After the lobby scene, I thought you were horrible."

Her answer surprised him.

"Because the one jerk who had the balls to issue a public challenge against you more than a year ago showed up, you get distracted like your precious image didn't depend on it." She eyed him insultingly. "It's not like Kyoko couldn't have handled that guy on her own. If she ended up being a crumbled heap like how she usually ends up being, I would have come and tore his head off. But you came along, trying to be some kind of gallant knight in her defense like she even needed one. And after your so-called rescue, you choked. I wonder what happened to the Tsuruga Ren who is always so cool under pressure."

Ren's eyes narrowed at the girl but she wasn't even fazed like how Mogami-san would be.

"But no one's going to blame you, right?" she glared at him with an intensity that rivaled his. "Other than Fuwa Sho, who has the balls to stand up to the great Tsuruga Ren anyway? They're going to blame Kyoko because she's not able to deliver. Even if it's you who's been unable to perform."

His eyes widened with shock at her blunt honesty. Why on earth would Mogami-san be blamed for anything that happened in this movie? He's the one having problems. He knew that much.

"Unless you're totally stupid or totally blind, that girl happens to be very talented," she continued. "But if she doesn't pass this last test for the Love Me Section, she'll think that she's worthless and undeserving to be considered an actress that she might give up. I'm getting sick and tired of being told we have deficiencies in certain aspects of entertainment that's why I'm getting out of the Love Me Section. But, I want to take Kyoko along with me."

For the first time in a long time, he actually wished his perky, meddling manager was here. Not this virtual stranger, who honestly, he just got to know today after being acquainted with her for over a year. So he did the only thing he could. "Kotonami-san," he smiled and held out his hand. "Thank you for your hard work today. Can I have your Love Me record book?"

He knew that his non-response to her annoyed her terribly because she grudgingly pulled out and her book and held it out to him. He was just about to reach for it when she deliberately dropped it. He didn't miss out on the insult she just gave him and just picked it up and went on to stamp on her pad and scribbled his notes.

It was intended to be a puff piece.

A publication like Boost Magazine never writes puff pieces. But since Kismet is slated to be biggest love romance of the year, readers have been clamoring for something about it. There's nothing special about it. Big book gets big movie deal with a big budget, a big director with a big actor and a big newbie actress. The only thing that was supposed to make it worthwhile is the five-drink tab that he managed to wring out from management at the super posh Tokyo Imperial Herald Hotel in order to "blend in" with the crowd.

But he never thought that the day would be THAT interesting.

At first, he didn't connect the two. He always thought that the first time he'd seen the lead actress Kyoko was at that softdrink commercial. But he was wrong. He'd seen her months before in the Mountain Plain Hotel with the director and Tsuruga Ren. His memory wouldn't have triggered it if he never saw her walk around in that wig and kimono.

He rummaged through a boxful of photographs he'd taken with a spy camera he was given by the company. He found it! A slightly blurry picture of Kyoko with Tsuruga Ren as he helped her on her feet, crutches on the floor.

Tsuruga Ren… Hah! He's the top actor in show business and has the most boring track record for gossip. Not one scandalous tidbit of information to make him interesting enough. When he was assigned to follow him around (because the women field reporters were useless at it), he was thrilled because a big name star like him would be his ticket to a quick and steady pace up the ladder. But for the two years he's been following him around, nothing was newsworthy enough. That guy really pissed him off.

And Fuwa Sho. He would know better than to annoyingly brush him off and ignore interview requests in the future.

"Oh, you're back," his editor startled him. "How was the Kismet shoot? I want the article in two hours. We have to have everything in the presses in three hours for tomorrow's release." When he grinned, the editor's expression changed. "Lemme guess… 'Sordid Love Affair On The Kismet Set'?"

He shook his head. "Too boring. You're the editor, you know how many sordid love affair stories we have for tomorrow's issue?"

He nodded. "Five. So it is… 'Scandalous Love Triangle On The Kismet Set'? If it is, I want who know who the third party is."

"He he…" he smiled evilly. "Something much, much more interesting than that." He eyed the profile of the sweet-looking little actress. "Sorry for ignoring you all this time, dear. But you're going to serve your purpose now."

"Then what? If you make it worth my while, I will put it on front page."

What the hell did she just do?

Kanae leaned against the door as let her heart slow down.

She'd just insulted Tsuruga Ren! The best actor in Japan. A senpai in LME. The person her best friend looks up to. She had just ruined her career in show business. She didn't even get to consider those things when she jumped to the defense of her best friend. What the hell!? If her life in show business ends because of this, she'll never forgive Kyoko!

In her anger over what happened at the lobby and the disastrous results after, she stalked the hotel for a while looking for that little trouble-making freak, Fuwa Sho. But she couldn't find him. She was furious and she lashed out at the next person to blame for the day: Tsuruga Ren.

But… it's not like she didn't say the truth. Tsuruga-san would only prove to be shallow and superficial if he couldn't accept the truth of her words. She wouldn't have been so pissed off if he at least showed a little bit of remorse. When they finished the shoot, he just dragged her along to the next job like nothing happened. And even to go as far as say in a late-night talk show that everything all good in everything he's working on - including Kismet.

"Senpai my butt," she muttered.

Her career was over.

"Mo!" she angrily threw her bag on the floor and several things fell off including the heart-shaped book that recorded her progress in LME and her eye caught the latest entry.

Temporary Manager:

100 points. Excellent work.

Shows dedication, hard work, fairness, honesty and strong loyalty.

Kanae's hand shook as she picked up the record book. That guy… he complimented her? After everything she told him? Slowly, a smile formed on her face.

But her smile quickly disappeared when her eye caught the upper right corner of the heart-shaped book where she read:

-10 points. Very bad.

Needs to work on her temper.

-10 points. Very bad.

Skipped lunch.

Total Score = 80 points

~ Tsuruga Ren

Wha-what the hell is this?

Kyoko was right… Kanae thought as she slowly felt her spirit leave her body as Tsuruga Ren's final blow struck. Once you cross Tsuruga Ren, he'll bully you for as long as you live… That damn man! If he was just going to give her 80 points, he should have just used the 80-point stamp!

And what the hell is this whole 'skipped lunch' thing? He's a pro, isn't he? He should know how to diet since his cheeks are obviously filling out.

The President leaned on his side as Seiji ended his story. "And…?"

"And that's it," Seiji sighed. "Incredible talent but very, very troublesome. Working on the scenes with the ensemble is great. But a great ensemble will not work for a movie that centers around two people. If the chemistry between Satoshi and Chiaki's not right, this movie will be a failure. And right now, it's just plain awful. I always thought that because they get along with each other well, there shouldn't be any problem. But if one fails to get into character, they're only dragging the other person down."

"What would you recommend?"

Seiji met the man in the eye. He's risking it, but no matter how much that person is a favorite of President Takarada, he's always been a fair judge. "You said before that after the favor I accomplished with Ruriko-chan that if I get to work with LME again, I will have free reign on the actors I work with," he reminded him of their agreement made long ago. "If Kyoko-chan can produce a livelier interaction with a total acting novice like Fuwa Sho, I expected more in an interaction with an actor like Tsuruga-kun. President Takarada," He met his eyes. "I recommend to have Tsuruga Ren fired from the Kismet production effective immediately."

Chapter Notes:

- No, Shingai does NOT have a deal with Lory. I just made that part up, especially since getting Ruriko for Ring Doh has no benefit for Shingai, there must be a big pay-off for him in the future, right? Anyway, that part always bothered me because Shingai is described to be a perfectionist. Yes, he still bows down to Lory's power as the most powerful man in the business, but he's a generous guy. I'm sure Shingai will have something in it for him.

- Ren always gets pwned by Kanae. It's time for him to return the favor. ^^;;;

- What? Don't tell me you thought that it was a build-up for Kyoko to get fired? Shingai is more astute than that!

- Anyway, please review! I seriously love getting them. I really like to know what you think about the story. ^^ Anyway, next chapter up by early next week XD