Authors Chat: Well, I know I said there would not be an estimate of when this chapter would be done, but it still took longer than I anticipated. It was tough to write while trying to keep the characters true, but other personal set-backs got me too. Some of you already know, but I was laid off almost two weeks ago now, and between emotional duress and appointments before insurance runs out and job hunting, I simply haven't had time nor mentality to write this chapter.
Today things just sort of came together. I think, however, I will write one more chapter as an Afterward. The actual story is complete now, but there are a few things I want to address or detail that did not manage to make it into the story. Such as when Kyoko has a good night rest and has time to mentally digest all that happened, how will she react to Ren's kissing her? What does Shou do after beating the living daylights out of Reino? What does Ren do when he sees what is on that memory card?
Anyway, no promises when the Afterward will come out (sorry! Still job hunting and doing appointments). I hope you've enjoyed my first fanfic. I will write more, other projects, most likely Skip Beat! But just in case, keep your eyes pealed in other Romance manga categories.
Finally, if you've read my whole story, I would greatly appreciate your comments and constructive criticism!
That being said, italics text are direct thoughts of characters, text is in quotes, noises are done with asterisks.
DISCLAIMER: Skip Beat! and it's characters are not my original creation, they are owned and created by Nakamura Yoshiki.
Story Timeline: This fanfic takes place on Valentine's day. All history taken place in the actual Manga is relevant to this fanfic up until Valentine's day (end of manga chapter 143).
Valentine's Disaster Chapter 10
Reino slowly stood up. He was truly enjoying this game of cat and mouse. He watched her every move, readying to pounce and make the mouse scatter in panic.
"No.. I won't do it! There's no one!"
"Oh come on Kyoko. I know you're a better actress than you give yourself credit for. Become someone new. Run away again." He teased her, coaxing her to dive into a new personality. His voice was almost like a purr. "You can do it Kyoko. I know you can."
"I can't do it! There are no more ladies to bring out!"
"Aaah… so there IS someone else you have in mind. Lets meet them then. Is it a married woman? A child? Lets meet her then. She must be as interesting as the last two ladies."
"No! I won't tarnish Kuon! There is no one else!"
"No more ladies?" he raised his eyebrows, "Then who is Ku… aah… a boy then…" a grin curled the edges of Reino's lips.
Kyoko blanched at her slip. She shouldn't have said his name! How could she be so stupid!? This was bad… and from the look on Reino's face… very bad.
"No… You can't make me do it!" she shook her head. "Kuon isn't someone I can show to someone like you!"
"Someone like me?"
"That's right! Someone like you! Kuon is good and loved and innocent! He isn't changed by the worlds evils yet! I can't show him to someone from Hell like you!"
And yet she still thinks I'm from Hell.
"Oh come now Kyoko! We both know you can't be jaded like that. Come on. Bring out this Kuon. I would LOVE to meet him," his grin spread to a smile across his face. His teeth shone in the light like small white daggers, giving the illusion that he truly was a denizen of hell.
The eagerness showing plainly on his face made Kyoko nervous. There was NO way he could force her into the role… was there? She was fairly confident he could not do it, but there was a nagging sensation… like a gnat swarming – every time you bat at it, you just miss… that made her unconsciously doubt her resolve.
"Surely you don't actually think I want to besmirch his 'good' name? I just want to see what you're capable of Kyoko. Quite honestly, I find it hard to believe you can portray anyone who is loved and innocent. You were soooo alone, no one cared for you. Those neighbors you think of so often only wanted you to grow up to take over their business. Be an obedient little housewife. Humph. No, there is no way YOU could successfully act an innocent boy."
"Idiot. When you act you don't act your own life! Kuu Sensei himself told me my Kuon was very believable!"
"… and you're sure he wasn't just trying to placate an annoying girl?"
Kyoko was growing indignant at his constant insult.
"Don't you insult Kuu Sensei! He isn't a liar!"
"And yet he used a false name for his entire career in Japan, am I correct?"
"A false name is different than a stage name! You could never understand, you are not an actor!"
"Then make me understand."
Kyoko froze. He had caught her in her act. How could she explain this one to him?
"I-it's because you don't have to deal with the every-day…t-the addresses and personal life… a-a-and the" Reino interrupted before she could finish.
"You don't have to make excuses Kyoko. It is the same for musicians. We can't go out in public without security or at least an agent. The paparazzi follow us, dig up our dirt. Have you encountered the media yet?"
"Um… n-no."
Reino smiled again.
"Then unless you are able to play an innocent very well, your own name will be dirtied and you will never reach your goal. You will never surpass Fuwa Shou. *sigh* If you will not show your Kuon to me, then at least tell me about him. I can tell if you are feeling the right emotions."
"How would you know? You've never been innocent from birth! Or were you made?" her eyes narrowed. "If I even just tell you about him you could twist his personality! You'll try to change him!"
Reino held back a laugh. Of COURSE I was born.
"You know Kyoko, I really do like you. I wouldn't try to corrupt an innocent character you actually had to create. I know how hard it would have been for you, with your history and all. I can even help you. If you let me touch you, I can read your emotions and tell you if you truly feel as a boy would feel. As anyone innocent would feel."
Reino was pressing all the right buttons. First he made her worry about her characters and the media then shoved her personal vendetta in her face, and now he was even offering to help her progress her acting skill? He was sending her on such an emotional roller coaster, she wasn't sure what she should or shouldn't do at this moment. What she should or shouldn't say.
"Let me test your skill Kyoko. …I'll even make you a deal. If you let me test your emotions, and you pass as an innocent boy, I will let you out of this circle."
"You'll…. Let me… out? Before Shou shows up?"
"I will. Before Shou shows up."
"What's the catch?" the offer was almost too good to be true. After all he had done to her and put her though…
"There is no catch. You just must become Kuon for me. Let me touch you. See if you really are as good as you say you are. If you are, then I will believe you can raise your status to greater than Fuwa Shou, and there will be no need to keep you here."
Though the grand offer seemed a lie, Kyoko could not see any loopholes. Her confidence in her personal Kuon was great, and she was certain she could prove him to this beagle.
"T-then… okaaaay…" Kyoko slowly turned around to give herself a moment to clear her mind and become the boy who meant so much to her.
Reino just smiled at his own victory.
Kuon whirled around and grinned at the man before him. "Mister, you got a long way to go before you can catch up with my dad!"
"Your dad, eh?" Reino took a walked toward Kuon and reached for his shoulder.
Kuon ducked out of his reach and ran around behind him. "Ha ha! Too slow! Hey! Maybe I can practice on you! I still owe my dad one!"
"You owe him one what? Stand still. We agreed on this."
Kuon jumped back then ducked under Reino's outstretched arm again.
"Agreed? I didn't agree anything with you! And I owe him a forehead poke!"
Reino turned around to see a finger jabbing straight toward his face. He leaned back quickly out of reach.
"…and that is why you will never measure up. You're too short to even reach me. How do you expect to measure up to anyone as great as Kuu… as your father?"
Kuon grinned again. "He gave me permission to use anything I want, even weapons. He can't keep me down, and neither can you!" 'He' made a jab at Reino's forehead again.
This time, Reino caught 'his' wrist before it reached his face.
Kyoko's memories of Corn flooded in him. The river… playing with rocks… greeting the sun fairies… even the blue-ish purple-ish stone. All that Kyoko knew of Corn, exposed and laid bare. All but his face. He seemed awfully familiar though… even for a boy from so many years ago.
Then came the flood of emotions. As Kuon, the boy truly thought his father was a hero. He felt like he was on top of the world and nothing could bring him down. The pride he felt in his father, and even his mother who remained nameless in Kyoko's mind, the eagerness to prove himself and prove himself worthy of his father's devotion… All wrapped up in a small package that seemed to set heavily on something darker. Kyoko's own emotions were still there, just hidden.
Reino knew why this character meant so much to her. This boy, this 'Kuon' shed light in the dark places in her own soul.
I know you will forgive me in time Kyoko. …and if not, it is truly a shame.
"Not bad, not bad… but you could use some work still. I can still feel you in there Kyoko. You still think your so called father's love won't last. And you're probably right. Being the such an actor, there is no way a child such as him could live up to his name."
Kyoko's Kuon grin slipped a bit.
"The child before me… has no depth of emotion. Where is his hatred? His anger? His greed? Surely you don't think all children are without them? Anger is a basic emotion Kyoko. Not even a boy such as this can get by without it. An empty shell. That is all that would remain. Not even a father such as Kuu can like or want a son like that."
Kuoko's head drooped and the darkness seemed to swell around her. When she brought her head back up, her beautiful sakki exploded around her, swarming about her caressing and tousling her hair as if there were wind in the studio.
Reino tilted his head back at his accomplishment and smirked.
"You lied to me. You said you would not tarnish Kuon… His depth of emotion is greater than you think. It is so great, it could not be expressed in such a short amount of time! If Kuu Sensei was here, you would see."
Reino began circling her, making her turn in circles to keep eye contact. "But he isn't. He isn't here, and you failed the test Kyoko."
"This was a set-up."
"Yes, this was a set-up. And I must say, you performed admirably, but you still failed. Game over. I win."
Kyoko's fury was blazing. Her sakki was truly a sight to behold.
Yes… Yes! This is exactly what I expected of her! So beautiful…
Reino circled back around the tripod, stepped out of the circle and lifted the camera from the stand.
He started circling her again, this time with the camera clicking and whirring. He made the occasional verbal jab to keep her anger flaring and her sakki swirling in waves around her.
He treated her as a wild and dangerous creature. He teased and coaxed her into the positions he wanted to photograph her, and surprisingly, she was easy to manipulate in this state of upset. She really was a magnificent actress, to be able to take direction so well unconsciously. She would pair off with any actor or actress beautifully.
Shot after shot, frame after frame he circled her photographing her different emotions; her anger, her positions, the angles her body made when she glared over her shoulder at him, the way her waist twisted and her sakki seemed to wrap delicately around her skin. It caressed her in a silken sheen of anger sliding around her waist, her arms, and curling around her very fingertips like a second skin.
She didn't break eye contact except to whip her head around as he turned and prowled around her. She seemed to not even blink as he followed his path around the lights He cooed insults of her inadequacy in life and love. How Fuwa would never let her stomp on him. How Reino himself would take her from him as if she were his property.
Had he been inside the confines of the lights where she could reach him, she would have attacked him. Her anger was burning so hot she felt she would combust.
Reino leaned against the nearest wall, shooting her fury when the door flew open, startling him and brining Kyoko out of her rage screaming her surprise.
Ren posed an impressive figure, filling the door way with his silhouette. Had Kyoko been able to see more, she might have noticed his own sakki was blazing. Reino noticed. It matched her own sakki. Dark shades of red mixed with black. Where as Kyoko's sakki seemed to swirl about her in a protective mist, Ren's sakki danced and jumped along his skin like a fire eagerly eating his flesh, growing on his skin and fed by his anger.
Kyoko was shaken. Ren saw her standing in the circle her face almost drew him in. If ever there were a more complex emotion on Kyoko's face, he had yet to see it. She was clearly relieved and frightened; her anger still danced on her features, but there was a slight flush of… embarrassment? He could only imagine. If he took a guess, he would say it was love and longing, but no, that was HIS desire. He took a step toward her and another, then caught himself. No matter what expressions showed on Kyoko's face, he had someone to deal with before he could run to her and comfort her.
He turned to Reino and saw him without a shirt. He quickly turned his face back to Kyoko and noticed only then that she was standing without a shirt, with only a small skirt and bra to cover her. The relief he felt at finding her fled as he was flooded again with fury.
Reino stood defensively as Ren took a step toward him.
"You… you aren't supposed to be here!"
Ren glared daggers at him.
"Aah! …but YOU are!" Reino pointed toward the door Ren had just come through.
Shou stood in the door with his hands to steady him upon the frame. He was out of breath from running down so many halls and a bit from panicking.
"You! Beagle! Do you really think you can get away with this? Just because no one went to the media in Karuizawa does not mean you can take whatever liberties you want!"
"Did you really expect me not to come?" Ren and Shou spoke at the same time.
"Did I expect you to come?" Reino looked at Ren. "No, I expected Fuwa Shou to come and you to not find out until after all was said and done."
Ren looked over his shoulder then at Reino and again at Kyoko.
"Good…. You made it here… do something about… him." Ren pointed toward Reino. His anger was not enough to make him forget Kyoko in the circle. She was now shaking and crying, the tears quietly sliding down her face.
"What the Hell!? I have to deal with that beagle!?"
Ren stood up straight and turned, looking down his nose as Shou. "He did send the invitation to you, and not me. Finish what he started."
When Reino looked up, Shou was looking down at him as if the devil himself had found a tender morsel ripe for the plunder.
Ren turned back and strode up to the circle of lights. He kicked one of the lights hard toward Reino. The bulb exploded on impact and sent shards flying toward him while the stand forced him to duck and made him drop the camera as he flung his hands over his eyes.
"T-T-Tsuruga-san! I…"
"Shhh… It's alright Mogami-san. Shhhh." Ren walked up to her and quickly unbuttoned his shirt then spun it over his shoulders and on to hers. His undershirt came a bit un-tucked from his slacks, but that did not matter. He pulled his shirt closed around her front and hugged her to him.
"I was beginning to wonder if you would accept my challenge Fuwa. You took long enough to get here."
"Did you not have enough in Karuizawa when you tried to rape her you bastard?"
"Well, though I took a few days rest after that, it was nothing so significant as to give up my… desire… to make Kyoko mine."
"You asshole! This time I'll make sure you can't move for a month!"
"Then the media will get word of the great Fuwa Shou assaulting his understudy in a jealous rage."
"Understudy!??! And the media? HAH. I thought I already taught you that the media does not care about what they can not see."
"Mmm. I suppose that is true, but then again, no matter. I've already got what I was after."
Shou took a step forward and Ren realized he must have meant the camera.
Reino looked up at Shou and laughed.
"Ren. Take Kyoko and get out of here," Shou glared back.
"… I will…" Ren looked hard at Reino "…but I am only withdrawing because Mogami-san needs me. If I ever see you again, no matter where… you had best run the other direction Reino of Vie Ghoul."
Ren walked over to the camera that had been cast aside. The lens was broken, but that did not matter. Ren turned the camera over and withdrew the memory card and pocketed it. He dropped the camera hard then turned back to Kyoko.
"Come on. Lets go," he held his hand out to her.
She took a shaky step toward him. "Tsuruga-san… I… I can't…"
He could see she was shaking like a leaf in a thunderstorm and walked over to her.
"My bag…" He glanced over her shoulder, walked the few steps to the small table and hastily shoved everything back in then went back to her side.
"Come on, I'll help you. Lean on my arm." He extended his arm for her to take, bent at the elbow like a gentleman.
He started to lead her out the circle, but only got a few steps before her motions became stiff and her legs locked up.
"Mogami-san… why did you stop? Are you alright?"
"It's the rocks… I can't move hear the edge of the circle… He trapped me with a spell…"
Ren's brow furrowed. This was not the time to let her fantasies get away with her! Ren reached down and picked her up, and to his surprise, she did not protest. Her face was beet red though.
"Just a little more Mogami-san" Ren whispered into her hair.
Shou watched in jealousy as Ren carried Kyoko out the door then turned back to the Reino. Reino had seen that face before. He knew it meant bad things.
Ren was at the studio's main entrance when they heard the first punch connect to what must have been ribs. Kyoko blanched and huddled closer to Ren's chest.
When they reached Ren's car, he carefully set her down on her feet but did not remove his hands from her shoulders, as if touching her made her real.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? What did he do to you?" The questions came spewing forth in an uncontrollable speed. He did not wait for her to answer before he started his next question and realized what he was doing when she started to cry again.
"Mogami-san… I'm sorry" he whispered then drew her again into the folds of his arms. "I was just worried."
He started again, calmer this time. "Are you alright? Did he… did he…" the words would not seem to come.
Kyoko shook her head no, "he only kissed me."
The look in Ren's eyes made Kyoko's tears start falling again and she turned her head away, embarrassed at herself and knowing Ren would hate her now for being so careless.
"Kyoko-san…. Kyoko… look at me." She did not notice the lack of honorifics or chose not to say anything. She closed her eyes tight against seeing Ren's expression and kept her face turned down the road instead of at Ren.
"Kyoko…" he said softly as he gently turned her face to him and tilted her chin up so he could look her in the face. Her tears slid down her cheeks and her closed eyelashes glistened as she cried. Her face showed that pain… the same pain as when she played the angel in the PV so many months ago. His breath caught in his throat and his brain seemed to stop working.
He slowly leaned down to meet her face and his lips pressed gently against hers, kissing her softly. He could taste the saltiness of her tears and he licked her lips removing the traces of sadness. A sound came from his throat and was like a jumpstart on his brain. The sound came from him! Oh god… what was he doing!?
He froze and looked in Kyoko's eyes from such a short distance. He slowly pushed her away and turned his head.
"I'm sorry Mogami-san, I… I'm sorry." He started to let her go, but she grabbed his hand against her shoulder, stopping him.
"Tsuruga-san…" she looked at him bewildered and blinked a few times as if suddenly remembering something.
"Um…" she looked down at her feet. "I… I lost the chocolate for everyone… and your gift… I don't know what he did with them…"
Ren chuckled for a moment, "Do not worry about it." He drew her in again into a tight hug then tilted her face toward him again and kissed her tears away.
She pushed away gently, her face red. "I really am sorry… I can order the gift again!"
"Really Mogami-san… it doesn't matter. So long as you are alright... and… in my arms… I'm happy." His voice grew soft as he looked at her, watching for a reaction from kissing her. "I was really worried I may have lost you today."
If Kyoko's face could get any more redder, it did. "T-thank you… Tsuruga-san… I am truly sorry for burdening you and making you leave the set. I will do better and not trouble you again!"
Ren sighed in exasperation, then opened the passenger door and waited for her to slide into the seat before closing her in. He walked around to the drivers side and sighed again before opening his door.
I could have seriously screwed up with her just now… I don't understand how she can act so calmly and not say anything about the kiss… um… kisses… but… at least she hasn't shut me out from her heart.
Ren sat down in his seat and shut the door, then looked at Kyoko and smiled. Had she had any energy or demons left, they would have burned to a crisp.
"I'll take you home now…. Kyoko-chan." When she did not refute him using her name, he put the car in gear and left it all behind.