Good afternoon everyone! First off, I just want to say I'm glad you guys thought the last chapter was amusing. That was definitely where I wanted to take it. So as a slight digression, this is the first time I'm including Sho into a fanfiction (usually I just focus on Ren and Kyoko. LOL.) so I hope I do this well. Haha, anyway, thanks for reading and please READ AND REVIEW!
Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or any of its characters.
Yashiro dropped his head into his hands as sat upon his couch. He had to refrain. No matter how much they bothered him, no matter how annoyed he felt, he had to find the strength to not give in to their temptation. For the sake of his own pride and skin, he had to win. Yashiro gritted his teeth together and clenched his hands into tight fists.
Listening intently to the ticking sounds of the clock above the mantle, he tried to focus on nothing, but the noise. However, the persistent prickly feeling wouldn't go away. It was almost like it was taunting him. Yashiro angrily turned his attention to the red bumps on his skin, wanting to scratch the living daylights out of them. They had already spread onto his arms, his chest, and even his lower back.
He groaned in frustration as he got to his feet. Stalking into the kitchen, desperate for any remedy he could find, Yashiro opened the refrigerator door and grabbed an ice pack from the freezer. As soon as the icy plastic bag touched his skin, shivers of satisfaction rippled down his spine. Yashiro smiled. This should distract him for a good ten minutes or so.
But just as he was about to lie down in his bedroom, there was suddenly a string of rapid knocks upon his front door. It sounded as if someone was in trouble. Surprised, Yashiro quickly approached the door and peeked through the peep hole.
It appeared to be a male in a blue baseball cap, an over-sized sweater, and a pair of shorts that were too long for him to wear. Yashiro scratched his head with his free hand in confusion. He didn't recognize this person at all. Still, he figured it would be rude not to open the door. So after he unlatched the chain, Yashiro opened the door and smiled politely.
"Hi, how can I help—?"
Yashiro froze.
The visitor smiled timidly and waved to him in greeting.
"Hello, Yashiro-san."
Kyoko placed the items she purchased in the proper cabinets, making sure to put the lotion in an easily accessible place so that he could find it without difficulty. When she opened the white fridge, Kyoko shook her head warily. Thank goodness she went shopping beforehand. It was almost completely empty! All he had were plastic bottles of water, a bag of carrots, half a dozen eggs, and some take-out.
Yashiro smiled sheepishly as he caught Kyoko staring at his inadequate supply of food.
"I didn't get the chance to go shopping, Kyoko-chan," he said with a guilty shrug of his shoulders.
Kyoko turned around and laughed. "And to think you criticize Tsuruga-san so much for not taking care of himself, Yashiro-san. You're exactly the same!"
"You caught me at a bad time!" he replied defensively. "If I wasn't so itchy, I would be preparing a proper dinner by now."
She laughed.
"And speaking of being itchy," Kyoko began as she walked towards him and scrutinized his now polka-dotted face, "have you been scratching?"
Yashiro shook his head. He proudly held up the ice pack and said, "This has been my cure."
She frowned, clearly not impressed.
"Not good enough, Yashiro-san. You can get a cold if you keep holding that to your skin. Why not try the calamine lotion that I got for you?" Kyoko offered as she rummaged through the bags to grab the last bottle sitting at the bottom.
Yashiro smiled gratefully as she placed the item into his hands. "Thank you, Kyoko-chan. This means a lot."
"Not at all, Yashiro-san! It's the least I can do! Besides, it's because of Tsuruga-san that you got the chickenpox right? So think of this as his way of apologizing to you."
Yashiro chuckled. Even he had to admit that he was pleasantly surprised when he saw Kyoko standing at his front door step. He rarely ever got visitors. But the biggest shock of all was how she was dressed. Clearly, she was wearing clothes that didn't belong to her. And after working with Ren for so many years, Yashiro immediately recognized that it was his clothes she was donning, from the cap all the way down to the khaki shorts.
But it couldn't be helped. In order to stay out of the public eye, Kyoko had to disguise herself in one way or another to go outside without being spotted by the paparazzi. And even though it was highly unnecessary for her to go through all this trouble for him, Yashiro couldn't say that it made him upset. In fact, it just showed him even more how caring Kyoko was.
And although she explained that President Lory was the one who informed Ren of Yashiro's infection over the phone (who eventually disclosed this information to Kyoko), Yashiro couldn't get over the fact of how such a fuss was being made over him. Even he had to admit that he was slightly touched by the tokens of compassion.
"So how's Ren, Kyoko-chan?" Yashiro asked conversationally as he rolled up his sleeve and smeared the soothing cream over the pox. "Is he feeling better?"
"Well, he's still scratching as ever, but it seems his fever has gone down," Kyoko answered as she closed the fridge. "But it's only the third day, so the symptoms can return."
"I feel really bad keeping you here. You're already busy enough with Ren, Kyoko-chan, and you went to such great lengths to—"
Kyoko glared. "Yashiro-san, we went over this. It's not that big of a deal. Besides, you never had the chickenpox either so it makes sense for me to help. And as for Tsuruga-san, I think even he's responsible enough to be by himself for a couple of hours. What's more, he agreed that I should come here too."
Yashiro chuckled. "But isn't it dangerous for you to walk around the city like this? Considering all that happened?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's fine! I don't think anyone would recognize me in this," she said as she gestured to her ensemble. "Even you thought I was a man, Yashiro-san."
He smiled. That was true. He had no idea it was her until she raised her amber eyes to meet his gaze. After all, it was more than just the clothes. It was also the way she walked, the aura she emitted, and even the way she stood made her seem like a man. Kyoko truly was an actress through and through.
But wanting to get to more important matters, Yashiro placed the bottle of lotion back onto the counter and asked in a serious voice, "So how are things with you, Kyoko-chan? I hope everything has been okay."
She sighed, understanding immediately what he meant. "It's been…crazy, to say the least."
Yashiro didn't reply. He had an intuitive feeling that she was going to continue. Besides, he was quite interested in how she was reacting to all that had happened.
"Yashiro-san," she began slowly, "what's your opinion about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just in general. How do you feel about the rumor? I mean, from what I can tell, Tsuruga-san's female fans sure are not pleased, but what are your thoughts?"
Yashiro smiled and gestured for Kyoko to take a seat at the table in the kitchen. Quickly pouring two glasses of iced tea, he pulled out the chair across from her and placed his hands in his lap. "Well, I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing," Yashiro replied. "Besides, you shouldn't take what those girls say to heart, Kyoko-chan. It's not you that they dislike. I think any girl who is affiliated with Ren would be hated."
Kyoko laughed feebly. "I guess so…"
Yashiro turned his head to the side, staring into her somewhat saddened face. She seemed to have a lot on her mind.
"Kyoko-chan, why are you bothered that people think you are Ren's girlfriend?"
She raised her head in surprise.
"Because it's ridiculous to start with," Kyoko answered mechanically.
Yashiro arched an eyebrow in confusion and asked, "What makes it ridiculous?"
She sighed. "Tsuruga-san would never choose to be with someone like me. I'm just a girl he works with. There is no reason for him and me to ever be in a relationship. Besides, I don't think I meet any of his expectations about what a girlfriend is at all."
"Well," Yashiro began thoughtfully, "what do you think Ren cares about in a woman?"
Kyoko frowned slightly and placed her chin in her hand. She really didn't think about this before. It was probably easier to say who WOULDN'T be his ideal girl. But slowly collecting her thoughts, Kyoko managed to come up with, "I figure he would want a woman who is compassionate, proud, and motivated. Or maybe someone who is goal-driven."
Her smile softened.
"He would definitely need a woman who knew her way around the kitchen since he's about as confused as a three year old when it comes to food. And maybe to balance out his seriousness, Tsuruga-san would enjoy her company more if she can make him relax or just have fun. She should make him laugh and smile effortlessly."
Kyoko giggled and said, "Yes, I think that will be his ideal girlfriend…someone who is just like him when it comes to her dreams, yet the exact opposite in times of leisure."
Yashiro smiled as he leaned back against his chair. "Kyoko-chan…didn't you just describe yourself right now?"
She froze.
"I'M NOTHING LIKE THAT, YASHIRO-SAN!" Kyoko exclaimed incredulously. "That's not me at all!"
"Well, let's back-track here. You said someone who's compassionate, right? And here you are taking care of him when he has the chickenpox."
Kyoko shook her head. "Because you asked me to, Yashiro-san."
"Which makes you even more compassionate, Kyoko-chan," he explained patiently. "You put aside your feelings and did something I wanted you to do without complaint."
She bit on her lower lip, not knowing how to respond.
"And when it comes to being proud or determined, everyone knows that you have the guts of a pro. If there's anyone who could battle Ren for motivation it would be you. I've never met anyone who would go so far for their career, besides him of course."
Kyoko didn't reply.
"Now, your next point was that she needed to know her way around the kitchen. I think that speaks for itself, doesn't it?"
Then raising his hand as if he was counting off each trait, Yashiro continued with, "As for making him laugh and relax, Ren smiles genuinely around you, Kyoko-chan. You might not realize it, but he's himself when he's with you and I think he finds that incredibly comforting."
Yashiro chuckled at her stunned silence.
"So…am I wrong?"
Kyoko didn't know what to say. A part of her wanted to reject everything he said because it just seemed too convenient. Sure, she'll admit that she was some of the things he said, but the fact that she was EVERYTHING was very unlikely.
But at the same time, Kyoko couldn't find an explanation to retaliate. It was true that she was determined when it came to acting, maybe not as much as Ren, but enough. And yes, she did know how to cook and care for others. Then, as for making him laugh, she really does do weird things around him that would always elicit a chuckle and even Kyoko had to admit that he tends to smile a lot around her.
"Or maybe he's just a really happy person!" her subconscious retorted.
So shaking her head from side to side in defiance, Kyoko replied, "Yashiro-san, I'm not Tsuruga-san's ideal girlfriend. That's impossible."
"Then what are you lacking, Kyoko-chan?" Yashiro asked with a grin, seeing how uncomfortable he was making her.
"Well," she said slowly as she began to fidget, "I don't think I'm…attractive enough for a man like him."
Knowing that she was going to bring that absurd point up eventually, Yashiro placed both of his hands upon the table and said, "Beauty wasn't one of the traits you said Ren needed in a girlfriend."
"I would think that that one would be obvious, Yashiro-san."
Yashiro frowned. "Kyoko-chan, do you think Ren will seriously judge someone based on their looks?"
Kyoko's eyes widen.
"Don't you think that would come as an insult to him?"
Immediately, she lowered her head in shame. Yashiro definitely had a point there. Ren caring about physical looks really did seem out of character. He was truly someone who cared about a person's personality more than anything. After all, if he did worry about someone's exterior, wouldn't that make him just another playboy?
Kyoko froze.
"I'M SO SORRY, TSURUGA-SAN!" she yelled to the ceiling.
Yashiro jumped at least ten feet into the air before he exclaimed, "Kyoko-chan! What's wrong?"
She covered her face with her hands and said, "You're absolutely right, Yashiro-san! Tsuruga-san isn't like that! He's not like other men! He's better than that! He wouldn't care about looks or beauty! That's not him at all!"
Yashiro laughed in amusement. "I agree completely."
Then taking in a deep breath, Kyoko placed her head upon her arms and looked at Yashiro from under her lashes. "But Yashiro-san, I still don't think I'm Ren's ideal girlfriend. I can't accept that."
"Well then, let me ask you, Kyoko-chan. Disregarding Ren's feelings completely, when you heard that people thought you were Ren's girlfriend, did you ever feel that it was ridiculous on your end?"
She furrowed her eyebrows, clearly puzzled.
"What I mean is did you ever once think 'Why would I ever choose him'?" Yashiro continued.
Kyoko gasped and shook her head fervently. "That's horrible, Yashiro-san! I would never think of Tsuruga-san that way!"
"So could you choose a man like Ren?" Yashiro pressed, feeling his stomach twist into knots from pure excitement.
Kyoko froze.
"Me? Choose…Tsuruga-san?"
Yashiro nodded. "Would you?"
Kyoko felt as if time suddenly grinded to a halt. Her vision blurred and her hands were unconsciously clenched into fists. She didn't know what to say. It was true that she didn't give her feelings much thought when it came to the rumor. She was too busy worrying about how she was being a bother to him, so she never once considered how she felt. But…
Kyoko frowned.
Choosing him? That option sounded so unnatural because when it came to love, Kyoko was resolute in her decision to never fall into that dreaded trap again. It wasn't the fact that Ren wasn't good enough or anything like that. Even Kyoko was aware how perfect he would be as a partner. But for someone like her, who was broken and cold, how could she ever think that she'll fall in love again?
Kyoko raised her sad eyes and murmured softly, "It's not a matter if I would, Yashiro-san…but I can't."
Yashiro was completely caught off guard. The look on her face was so pained that he could feel his own heart constrict.
"You can't?" he whispered with wide eyes.
She shook her head.
"My heart won't let me."
Kyoko laughed weakly and sighed.
"I don't think I can love anyone ever again."
Sho stared out of the window of the van, irritably watching people walk on the street and enter nearby stores. Shoko had gone into one of the markets to buy a quick snack before they moved on to their next appointment. But before leaving, she distinctly told him to wait in the car and to not move an inch.
He clenched his teeth together. Sho would have given anything to make this day end. He felt completely out of it. His mind was cluttered with whizzing thoughts that refused to allow him any form of peace. All he could think about was her and that guy together.
Sho slammed his hand against the leather seat, eliciting a small jump from his driver, but he didn't bother to apologize. He was fuming. Sho couldn't believe that they ended up together. And right at that moment, he felt the wave of defeat threatening to crush him into pieces as he realized that if Kyoko was able to start up a relationship with that man, then that meant she was long over him. Sho was no longer a part of her life.
He glared out the window. Thinking about this was doing nothing for him besides making him even more furious. So deciding to free his mind of such frustrating thoughts, he tried to focus on each person that passed by the van.
First, there was a group of young school girls who clung onto each other as they laughed merrily down the street. Then, there came a couple that happily walked arm in arm while holding an ice cream come with their free hand. Following the couple, was a little girl playing hopscotch with a pebble, jumping up and down on the pavement.
He scoffed. This was useless.
And just when Sho was about to turn his attention away from complete and utter boredom, something peculiar suddenly caught the corner of his eye. Staring with curiosity, he watched what appeared to be a young man walking towards the car, sporting very odd clothes. Everything seemed over-sized on his body, from his cap all the way to his shorts. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes were on the floor. He looked depressed.
Then, before the man could avoid it, the young girl who was jumping around earlier accidently bumped into his shoulder, nearly knocking the person off his feet. But instead of losing balance, the man steadied himself with some fancy footwork that unfortunately knocked the baseball cap off his head.
Sho froze.
Orange hair…
Immediately, the person pulled the cap back into place, speedily walking down the street.
There was not doubt about it. Sho could never forget that flaming hair even if he tried. He couldn't believe it. She was actually right in front of him. It was too good to be true.
But keeping his eyes on her retreating back, Sho watched her hastily enter a yellow cab parked alongside the road and close the door with a thud. Then quickly jumping to action, Sho pushed the car door open and desperately searched for another free cab. He could hear a couple of girls scream his name in surprise as they recognized exactly who he was, but he was too busy to care. He had to catch up to her.
After ignoring the desperate pleas of his driver to return to the car, Sho stopped a passing cab with a flail of his hand and got in.
"Follow that cab up ahead," Sho ordered.
"Wait, I have to pick up—!"
He threw a couple of bills onto the passenger seat. "That enough for you?"
The cab driver widened his eyes in surprise at the amount of cash, but nodded all the same. "Yes sir," he murmured as he scooped up the bills. "Right away."
Sho sat back and felt the car continue down the street. His eyes never left the yellow car that she got in. He stared at it as if his life depended on it. Sho had no idea what he was thinking, but the urge to follow her was too strong to ignore. He didn't even know what he was going to say if he managed to catch up to her.
All he knew was that he just had to see her.
Finally, the two cabs maneuvered their way out of the traffic onto a less busy street. Sho took a look around and realized that they were now entering a very prestigious part of the city. His eyes widen as he passed mansion-like buildings that towered like skyscrapers.
"What business does she have here?"
"Sir," the cab driver called.
"What?"
"The car is entering a residential area. Shall I continue?"
Sho nodded. "Until the other car stops."
"Yes sir," he replied as he continued to follow the cab, leaving a good distance between them as to not make the pursuit obvious.
And finally, after another five minutes, the car ahead pulled up to an expensive-looking apartment complex. Sho watched with wide eyes as she slowly got out of the car and politely bowed to her driver. Noticing that she was actually entering the building, Sho swiftly opened the door and stepped out.
"You can go," he mumbled to the driver, never letting his eyes leave her back.
Once his cab drove away and Kyoko was a good distance ahead of him, Sho silently followed her steps. Thankfully, when he entered the wealthy building, there was no one at the front desk and she decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Sho hadn't a clue as to why she was here. Did she actually live in this place? Although it was thanks to Kyoko that he lived in a high-class condo before, Sho doubted that she continued to have multiple jobs to continue the same life of luxury. If she had enough money to live in a place like this, then she wouldn't dress in such average looking clothes.
But strangely enough, she wasn't wearing her usual clothes this time. In fact, her appearance right at the moment was undeniably strange—even for her. She was obviously wearing men's clothing, but the pieces of clothing weren't shabby at all. Even Sho could tell that they were of high class. This made absolutely no sense at all.
Feeling confused as ever, Sho sneakily followed her to the highest floor. Then watching her turn down the dimly lit and carpeted hall, he saw her approach the only door at the every end. He hid behind a wall and twisted his head around the corner. This had to be the master suite or condo of the entire complex. It seemed to cover the entire floor of the building!
He narrowed his eyes as he watched her grab a set of silver keys from her shorts. Then with a swift turn of the key, she opened the door and said something to the room that Sho couldn't catch. Finally, the door quietly closed shut.
Sho removed himself from the wall and stood in the empty hallway. He shoved his hands into his pant pockets and walked forward. He had no idea why he felt so nervous. Even though it had been awhile since he had last seen her, Sho shouldn't have any reason to feel so anxious. After all, it was just her—nobody special.
But the burning curiosity in his throat was practically strangling him for breath. He had to know what was going on. Sho gritted his teeth together. He was going to demand for information if it was the last thing he would do.
Sho angrily approached the white door, feeling more adamant than ever before, and knocked loudly against the wood. He sucked in a breath, ready to release the pent emotion that was pulsing through his veins. He was like an active volcano ready to burst at any little disturbance.
And hearing the lock unlatch from the inside, Sho's eyes instinctively began to narrow into a murderous glare.
"So," he sneered loudly as the door began to open, "did you think that disguise was going to fool—?"
Sho froze.
There, standing right in front of him was not the familiar amber gaze of his old childhood friend. In fact, it wasn't even a woman. He was the last person Sho had ever expected to see in his life.
"Ren…"
