Disclaimer: I love Skip Beat!, but that doesn't mean I own it. Pure fan love here.
Story: Kijima was just looking for a little fun. And somehow, it all turned into a learning experience and he wasn't quite sure he qualified as a teacher. And yet, Kyoko on the other hand, seems to be an eager student.
Set somewhere after chapter 101, with some previous scenes beforehand being switched in time.
Spoilers: Yeeeessss. Yes, yes, yes. Beware?
Warnings: Hm, I need to think about this time.
Pairings: Kijima/Kyoko, side-Kyoren, side-(very downplayed XD) Kyosho, one-sided Hikaru/Kyoko….and we can't ignore one-sidedness from strange Reino, eh?

An Education
Chapter Ten: Androgynous Prince

Kyoko felt like a weight had lifted from her shoulders, and she admitted it had felt so good to just unload everything on Kijima, who was sweet and supporting. He, on the other hand, was happy to be so supporting…but he was so fucking pissed at Fuwa Sho, it wasn't even funny. He'd never really felt violent before, but this time he felt like making an exception.

That night, he stewed over the whole thing in a quiet rage, though he felt calmer as Kyoko snuggled up to him.

The next morning, she was to start the day as Kuon, and she was going to leave early. She'd told him her plans, and he wished her luck. He wasn't sure how she could cook anything that was bad, having tasted her cooking himself on a near daily basis, but he silently also wished luck on Kuu if it was successfully as bad as Kyoko had made it sound it would be.

He made his own way to work, meeting up with his manager for the TV spot he had to do that day. While waiting, he put his headphones into his ears, listening to English songs. His favorite band Journey playing in his ears, he had just about been close to relaxing while he flipped through the program brochure. His fingers stilled and he stopped flipping.

Fuwa Sho.

Oh, he wanted to get out of his dressing room and stomped into that little brat's, and deliver the ass whopping of a lifetime. That being said (and he grimaced at this), he refrained for the sole reason as he had work to do and he was professional.

That didn't mean he couldn't do a few things to make that shit's life hell for the day.

He was a veteran at this stuff, so he knew exactly where everything was supposed to be. He slipped out of his dressing room, located the refreshments set aside for the guests, and found the ones set aside for Fuwa. He grabbed them and emptied them into the sink, watching the drinks go down the drain gleefully.

His next stop was the wardrobe, where he found Fuwa's still there, not yet to be put aside. Whistling cheerfully, he located Fuwa's pants and easily found the correct seam. Grinning wildly, he used the scissors he brought with him from his dressing room, and slit the pants a certain way. He also found Fuwa's fruit basket, and cheerfully took a few bites of most of the fruits and then turning them a certain way into the basket to hide the bites.

Inwardly cackling, he strutted back to his room. On his way there, he heard Fuwa's stupid voice singing smugly in a hallway crossing his path. Kijima froze and felt himself immediately tensed up, the singer's voice grating his ears as he felt like growling and rushing to the bastard, with a punch at the ready. He took a deep breath to calm himself, and took another just in case.

Then he said to hell with it and jammed his sunglasses on, mussing up his hair as he sneered, rushing towards the direction of the voice. He saw Fuwa immediately and dove right in, marching up to the singer and snatching the front of his shirt, bodily picking him up and slamming him rather roughly against the wall.

"What the –Who the hell are you?! Get your fucking hands off me!" Fuwa snarled at him.

Kijima sneered. "Shut it, you little shit," he growled, aware that his voice was much deeper due to his irritation and newfound hatred of the guy. "I have one thing to say to you –you're a miserable little asshole who deserves to be thrown to the wolves and lose every little penny, fame, and misplaced admiration you've got. This is for my girl," and he decked Fuwa right in his pretty, little face.

He hoped this bastard's makeup artist had trouble covering up the bruise.

Kijima marched away without another word, ignoring the cursing and yells from the dyed blond (and he knew that ass's hair wasn't real, Kyoko told him it was dyed) singer. He finally reached his dressing room and took a few moments to try to calm himself down, and was startled when his manager popped his head in and asked if he needed anything. He gave him a strained smile and shook his head, running a hand through his hair and trying to fix it back to normal.

He changed clothes, not wanting to be recognized by Fuwa in any way, and give Kyoko any grief. When he was done, it was time for him to head through to makeup and then go for his interview. He plastered on a smile, inwardly still calming himself from the incident.

Afterwards, he was getting ready to leave when he once again was faced with Fuwa. Confident on not being recognized, he marched up to the irritated singer, who was yelling at the poor assistant assigned to him by the studio. He was making quite the spectacle…

With an easy-going grin on his face, he strode over to them.

"My, my, what's all this ruckus?" he made his tone friendly. "Love, don't cry. A pretty face like yours doesn't need the tears," he winked at the sniffling girl, who blushed and gave him a small smile. He turned to Fuwa. "And Fuwa-san, you look like quite the bad guy, don't you?" Kijima practically purred. "You should calm your temper. Doesn't seem right in front of all these people, hm? Good performance though, Fuwa-san."

He didn't want to admit that, but it had been pretty good. However, he still could care less about this jerk in front of him, and was happier with the double entendre his compliment came out like.

Kijima clapped Fuwa's back good-naturedly before smoothly walking away from the embarrassed and startled singer, tossing a friendly grin at the others around, all of whom gave him friendly grins back.

"Ah, Kijima-san is so nice," he heard one of them whisper to another.

"He is, especially compared to Fuwa-san's behavior right now."

Kijima crowed in triumph in his head. Score for Team Kyoki and none for Fuwa-kusotare!

He took his phone out and glanced at it, amazed to see a bunch of messages from Kyoko. He flicked through a few, deciding he'd look more thoroughly through them later. He grinned and gained a slight blush as he saw the pictures of Kyoko's Kuon.

He laughed lightly to himself. Goddamnit, Kyoko was the only one who could make him feel attracted to boys. Even as a boy, Kijima was attracted to that vixen of a girl.

He sent a quick text to her.

I might be gay for the day.

She was quick to respond back, sending him a picture of Kuon smirking and giving him a victory sign to the phone camera. He rolled his eyes and pocketed his phone.

Kijima started whistling again as he headed over to his car, grinning in anticipation. He needed to do some shopping for tonight, before he had to head over to the Dark Moon set, in celebration for Kyoko for a successful completion of her assignment and day as Kuon.

How did you make a Cinderella again? That's right, 3 ounces of lemon juice, 3 ounces of orange juice, and 3 ounces of pineapple juice –and you have a virgin cocktail. Perfect for Kyoko, to its name and down to its non-alcohol nature and sweetness. Mix it up and serve with ice, and very probably a karumeyaki to top it off.

Kijima had to think very carefully on where to get the brown sugar cake though. The karumeyaki had to be perfect for today…

After all, a little party never killed anyone.

When the day started, Kuu wasn't sure how to take it. He woke up, believing his son was truly there. Kyoko's act of Kuon was so spot on it was scary. It was really good too. She had talent, this girl.

Breakfast seemed so normal, as if he really was having breakfast with his son. This bright, talented girl version of his son seemed so much different than the depressed zombie corpse from yesterday, and seeing her smile made his heart warm.

A Kuon that couldn't cook was adorable and not really off the mark. He gladly ate the breakfast mess, despite how far from the usual deliciousness her normal cooking it was. She probably hadn't expected him to eat it. She looked so taken aback and panicked as he ate the egg shell that he inwardly chuckled and wanted to ruffle her hair.

But to see her cry and smile like that after, it just made him want to hug her and cuddle her and just coo in her ear.

Hearing her explain about her mother and express her apologies for breaking persona and being disappointed in herself, made him inwardly scowl in thought towards her mother and want to cuddle her even more.

They headed towards his TV spot and he was very amused and growing all the more fonder of her as she continued to act as Kuon, expressing her exaggeration of the Japanese language and lifestyle. It was hard holding back his giggles and snorts, and hiding his lapses from her. At one of those times he tried to hide, he felt extremely bad and sorrowful when he realized how lost and timid she was in trying to reach out to him, hoping to comfort him but not knowing what to do.

He did his best to distract her, teasing her and making her come at him. Her hesitancy was adorable, but her awkward attacks were more so. He barely tried in defending himself, inwardly grinning at her pouting and confusion. He then was giving her a challenge, inwardly cooing at the obvious pleasure and ecstasy at being given the privilege to be the one to try to attack him. His Kuon would not have accepted, but he was thrilled with the defiant and rebellious look she tossed his way as she accepted.

He had a great time on the game show, feeling nostalgic about his old stage name and trivia about himself. He could feel Kyoko's adoring gaze from the side, and inwardly grinned to himself. He also remembered all of her previous attempts to attack him and almost laughed aloud, live on television and in front of everyone, from the memories that flashed through his head.

She was so adorable.

He finished up there and then walked off stage, surprised to find she wasn't there. He looked around, ready for an attack, but it seemed she truly wasn't there. He went to look for her, caught off guard to see her confronting the real Kuon. His wonderfully, handsome, smart, and absolutely brilliant son.

Ohhh, his son and his other son/daughter that he wanted to adopt (he wondered how that would work with an absentee mother and unknown father, but he'd make it work somehow…) were both there together! This was just perfect.

He walked closer, interrupting and playing it cool, directing all his attention towards Kyoko. Though it was amusing seeing Kuon's expressions, he reeled in Kyoko and decided it was best to go home. Kyoko was so cute when he lectured "her" about pointing fingers at people as she tried to point out Kuon/Ren to him. Her sad puppy face as she apologized made him inwardly giggle and want to pinch those cheeks. And he just continued to want to glomp her tightly as she cherished every little touch, affection, and praise from him (even a finger poke to the forehead, pat on the head…).

He left her dazed and cute behind him, heading to Kuon and greeting him as a stranger. It was bittersweet his reunion with his son, but he tried to express his pride and love in him, even if it had to be in the guise of an admiring actor.

He cut it short sadly enough, and called out to Kyoko so they could leave. She just kept on being adorable as she followed, before looking like she forgot something. She went back to his son and his manager's side, and bent to pick up some contraption, and he almost burst out into laughter then and there, realizing it was some odd device meant to make him concede defeat. Ohh, she was such an adorable little thing!

And then she was apologizing to his son and he realized what she'd been saying to him before Kuu had arrived onto the scene, about putting down Kuon's acting in favor of her dad's and all this and-and-and damn it all! He just wanted to kidnap her then and there, and take her with him back to America!

He wondered if Lory would mind…

On the ride back, he reluctantly informed her that her assignment was over. Though she was hesitant and still wondered if it was okay, he believed that she was extremely talented and just one of those actors that once they got into character, it kept developing and would grow on its own –one of those actors that don't have to think before they start. He even brought up the "Tsuruga leftovers" incident, reminding her that she had wanted to make the guy who tried to make her give the leftovers to Tsuruga Ren talk to that very same guy. He was touched and so very happy at her explanation that before he knew it, he was already scheming up ways to smuggle her out of the country.

Back at the hotel, he reassured her again of her portrayal of his son, and praised her for giving life to the role and that he'd never once thought it wasn't his son.

Kuu didn't understand her dejected expression though.

The phone rang and he went to answer it, and while he had a conversation with Lory, happily finding out that his son wanted to meet with him (despite the ominous warnings), he caught sight of Kyoko's cell phone peeking out of his pocket. She'd dropped it earlier, on the way to the limo after their meeting with Kuon. He'd picked it up and pocketed it, intending to return it in the limo, but had been sidetracked by her.

He took it out and couldn't repress his curiosity as he saw the name "Kijima" with a number at the call screen on the front of the flip phone. He flipped it open and blinked, surprised to see the wallpaper of an unknown handsome man (slightly a little older than Kyoko, it looked like), grinning while casually draping an arm around a shyly smiling Kyoko, and having his face cheek to cheek with hers.

And who was this…

He looked at her contacts to see this Kijima was number one, as well as number one in her favorites (and being in her favorites). He was tempted to press 'call,' but knew he was being entirely too nosy and touchy as it was. He finished up his conversation with Lory and headed back to an oddly sulking Kyoko. So after explaining to her what her weakness was, and that if she could overcome it, she could become truly great.

He still couldn't get why she became dejected.

A close incoming finger strike remedied that, and she quickly straightened up with a "Yes, sensei!"

He nodded satisfactorily. "Good. Anyway, I was wondering because I accidentally saw your phone and noticed this person's name. Who is this Kijima?"

Of course he left out seeing the picture, hazarding a guess that it was the same person, as well as the contacts list, but he was curious, damn it!

She turned curiously red a bit, a fond smile tugging at her lips surprisingly.

"K-Kijima-san? O-oh…He's, um, a co-worker on Dark Moon, and another sempai, apart from Tsuruga-san. As well as a close friend," she admitted.

He recalled the name Kijima again.

"And Kijima-san…Don't ever talk about him like that!"

She'd rather been passionate about that, as well as the strange expressions and blush on her face. Close friend indeed, he inwardly frowned and refrained from looking suspicious.

They separated ways, and he wondered about the truth of that. If it was true what he really thought, then he felt rather sorry for his son, who clearly felt something very deep and was really attached to this adorable girl.

Kijima greeted Kyoko cheerfully, who smiled back at him halfheartedly, though she gave him a quick hug that he winced at (the punch from little Kojiro, one of the child actors from the Dark Moon set, had been real painful, as he'd explained to Kyoko –who seemed rather surprised and entertained with the idea that he actually liked kids). He informed her of his plans for the night, to which she brightened up a little more.

"I, my dear princess, have made you a Cinderella," he presented the brightly colored drink dramatically. "And have acquired a karumeyaki from the famed confectionary chef Kitazawa Najika for our delight, in celebration of your successful Kuon."

Kyoko beamed at him. "Kijima-san is the best!"

He gave a little bow, and winked at her when he straightened up.

"I can't cook like you, but there is one dish I do know how to make," Kijima revealed. "It's a family recipe. It's a rule in my family that even if one of us doesn't know how to cook or can't cook, that we are required to at least learn this one dish that gets passed down for this purpose of every family knowing to cook at least one thing."

He disappeared into the kitchen for a moment and then brought back a plate that had her giggling.

"Yakisoba?"

Kijima grinned. "It was decided that noodles was quick and an easy thing to cook, and traditionally the best to cook since having noodles can mean a lot of stuff, like bringing good luck and long life when eaten at New Year's celebration or something. It may not be New Year's, but it's still a celebration night, right?"

A wide grin spread across her face. Kijima never failed in making her smile or just make her happy easily. It was something she loved about him.

She struck that word immediately from her thoughts, and replaced it with appreciated.

It was something she appreciated about him.

While they enjoyed their 'celebration meal,' Kyoko recounted the day to him. But then when she got to the end of her time with Kuu, she deflated and became a bit miserable. After persistent prodding from Kijima, she told him about the weakness she had in acting (which Kijima agreed with and understood the whole concept Kuu was talking about), and mostly about her feelings about the role of Kuon and how she didn't want it to end, as well as her feelings for "Kuu-sensei" and not wanting to part with him or stop being his "son."

Kijima pulled her close and let her be miserable on him, thoughts lingering on how she was with Kuu when it came to breakfast and then trying to comfort the man, and adding Kyoko's mother to the list of people he disliked heavily. And then his thoughts went to linger about her growing attachment to her new sensei, and of this role she clearly didn't want to be rid of.

He tried to comfort her, but he didn't really have a clue on how he can help her with this, except for being there for her and trying to be supportive.

"Cook him something," he suggested idly. "Bribe him with something sweet."

Kyoko snapped her fingers. "That's it! I'll cook him my sponge cake of ulterior motives!"

He blinked.

"Kijima-san, I'll practice making them and you can taste them, okay? You will, won't you?"

"…Sure."

Well, he wasn't complaining with this odd turn of events.

Started 7/2/13 – Completed 7/2/13

A/n: See? I promised more Kuu! As for Sho versus Kijima confrontation, originally I wanted to stick with just the pranks…but I wanted just as badly as Kijima for him to get in at least a punch XD Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed this (though, where is everyone? Serious, you guys keep disappearing? Voidy, wheeeeerreeee did you goooooo?) and please drop a review!