Despite the fact that my writing has improved over the year, I felt like I could have accomplished more. When I read other people's work, I feel like mine was insignificant compared to theirs. I challenge myself to open my computer and start a new page with as much of an imagination as I could concur up. So without further a due, please enjoy this new chapter.

P.S: Special thanks to Reviewergirl for her comment. I was so busy over the last week that I didn't notice my mistakes until I reread the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat


~Letters from the enemy~

Nobody's POV

It was undeniable. The fact that her eyes draw toward him when he's near or how she could tell him apart from everyone else in a crowded room. How her heart beats rapidly when his name is mentioned. You could easily say that she's in love, yet it isn't easy for her to accept it. No matter how much she desperately tried to hide, to run, he always breaks down the steel walls one by one slowly, to the point where none of them could be fixed. How could he do that? To make her weak in the knees whenever he smiles at her genuinely? Shouldn't she be better than the average fan girl?

Kyoko's hands shook as her thoughts spiraled out of control. The script in her grasp laid forgotten, the words no longer appealing to her bright eyes. Since when did her thoughts rest solely on Ren?

Knock. Knock.

The knocking on the door dismissed the thoughts out of her mind long enough to answer.

"Yes?" Kyoko said cheerfully as she set her script down carefully. Her head turn towards the door where a stagehand poked his head in.

"You have some mail." The stagehand spoke but it was enough to get her mind off Ren. Her brain worked at a rapid speed trying to categorize the new information.

"Mail? For me?" Kyoko asked, unsure of how she should answer. The stagehand nodded and placed the letters on her table, leaving quickly. With the script lying abandoned on the table, Kyoko's hand traced the edge of the sleek envelopes, hesitantly picking one up. As her hands were preoccupied with the task, her heart hammered excitedly, her curiosity peaked to the highest extent. Smoothing out the small letter, Kyoko carefully read each individual word.

You suck!

Kyoko drop the letter into the pile, the words repeating in her mind. Was it a joke? It didn't seem likely. Picking up the next letter with unsteady hands, she regrettably read the next few words.

You have no talent! It's much better if you didn't exist in this business!

Kyoko's heart drop several rates as every word pierced it. A wave of anxiety tore at her. The next letter hit her hard.

Stay away from Ren! He's mine! You have no sex appeal, it's a wonder he even recognize you as more than a stranger!

Gulping, Kyoko read the next few letter with tears in her eyes. Her hands were deathly pale as she continually scanned the letters.

You're so plain!

Nobody likes you!

Go to hell and stay there!

You're a pain to Ren!

Finally dropping the last letter in the pile, Kyoko dropped down on her knees. She sobbed into her hands. The words repeated in her mind like a broken cassette tape, torturing her unbelievably heavy mind. Was she plain? Does she really have no talent? No sex appeal? Is she really just a prick in Ren's side? No matter how passionately she denied the evidence, it was still there among the white envelopes. She didn't even have the courage to dispose it.


Nobody's POV

Ren clearly knew that there was something wrong with Kyoko as soon as he set eyes on her this morning. He had an unsettling feeling that it was his fault. Maybe the shock has finally gotten to her? Maybe she regretted her decision? All of his thoughts trailed to a yesterday where he confessed his darkest sins and unbelievable secrets. His stomach churned at the thought of her hating him.

"Kyoko, are you okay?" Ren asked right after the shoot was finished. It was a stupid question, of course. Kyoko was a mess today, her eyes were glazed over, her once creamy skin was replaced by a pale color, and her arm shook uncontrollably. Even the director noticed something wrong from her lack of concentration and her ever-growing amount of NG's.

Kyoko didn't answer his question. Heck, she didn't even seem to hear him! If she did, she didn't give any response. Ren's concern multiplied as Kyoko silent and slowly walked back to her changing room without a single smile on her face.

"It's a shame, isn't it?" A short-haired girl murmured in the background. The girl was trying to gossip quietly but it caught Ren's attention nevertheless.

Another girl nodded in agreement. "First Kurokane-san quits for no reason, now Kyoko-san looks lifeless."

"I'll say it's a miracle! I've never liked Kurokane-san anyway, she was so obnoxious, squealing on and on about this and that. Now that she's replaced by Momose Itsumi, I feel more at ease." A third girl laughed haughtily.

"I agree, Momose-san has more experience too! I feel bad for Kyoko-san though, I've always admired her." The first girl smiled sadly.

"What do you mean? Sure I like Kyoko-san but I think she hangs around Ren-sama too much for my liking." The third girl huffed in annoyance.

The second girl laughed. "That's only your jealously talking, Misa-chan!" The three girls laughed out loud but stopped abruptly when they realized that The Tsuruga Ren was standing right there listening to every word they sprouted with a frown on his face. They immediately fled the scene with blushes of disappointment on their faces.

Ren turned back to the task at hand. His steps directed him to his desired place, Kyoko's changing room. Knocking softly on the door, Ren waited patiently for her to reply. Instead he was greeted by silence.

"Kyoko? Can you hear me?" Ren asked, his voice brimmed with concern. There was still no answer.

"Don't even bother, I've tried." A male voice replied. Ren jerked his head towards the pale stagehand. To say that the stagehand was pale was an understatement. The stagehand looked like he was going to die of guilt.

"Excuse me?" Ren asked. He wasn't sure what the stagehand was talking about.

"The letters. I shouldn't have given it to her." The stagehand wailed. Ren was even more confused.

"What letters?" He asked, his patience waning. The stagehand took a deep breath and started to explain.

"This morning a girl gave me a pile of letters and told me to give it to Kyoko-san. I merely thought it was fan mail so I did as I was told."

Ren growled and tightened his clenched hands. "What did the girl look like?"

"I-I didn't look carefully enough, she was wearing a cap and it shadowed her face. The only distinguishing feature is a big nasty scar that ran diagonally down her nose." The stagehand stammered.

"Well then, nothing can be done" Ren sigh as he tried to twist the doorknob. It was locked. "Can you get me the key?"

A muffled sob broke their short conversation. The stagehand scrambled away to find a key, leaving Ren alone at the changing room door.

Ren pounded on the door fiercely. "Kyoko! Please open up! He pleaded, desperate for an answer. He really needed to hear her voice. "Please…"

The stagehand returned with the key. Ren jammed in the key and twist the doorknob. The door gave way into a dark room. Taking this as a cue to leave, the stagehand rushed away.

"Kyoko?" Ren said cautiously as he flipped the light switch. The light flickered on, revealing a devastated Kyoko curled up in a ball.

"Kyoko!" Ren shouted, his heart breaking in a hundred pieces. It hurts him so much to see her in tears. Even when his mind screams otherwise, Ren instinctively wrapped his arms around her petite frame. She sobbed into his shirt as her rubbed her back soothingly.

As the minutes pass, Kyoko seemed stable enough to stop crying. She still clung onto him, her head buried into his chest. In his dreams, he pictured them together like this but never did he think it could be a reality.

"T-t-tsuruga-san, am I a nuisance to you?" She muffled into his chest.

Letting go the fact that she just called him by his last name, Ren buried his face into her sweet smelling hair. "Never. I would never think of you that way." He glanced up at the pile of paper on table and reluctantly started to examine the content. When he finished with the last letter, his face was mixed with disbelief and fury.

"It's all a lie." He said in anger.

"It's not, it says exactly what Sho said. That I'm a plain, no sex appeal, untalented, dumb-"

"Kyoko! It's not true. I don't think you're a pain! Nobody does! You the most unselfish, kind, smartest, determined, caring, supportive, beautiful girl I've ever met! To say that you have no talent is a lie! You have the talent of a professional! And you may be plain to their eyes but not to me! You're definitely the exact opposite of what Sho told you!" Ren ranted. He didn't care if he told her his feelings, not in a situation like this. "You're the most important person in my life… that's the truth."


Nobody's POV

Kyoko's heart almost stopped. She had told herself repeatedly that she wasn't good enough but to find out that Ren thought she was the most important person in his life…well she definitely didn't know what to say. With her heart hammering against her chest, she wrapped her arms around Ren's lanky figure.

"Thank you." She whispered to him.

He chuckled. "I should be thanking you for what you did yesterday…"

"You already did." Kyoko smiled at the memory.

"So what are we going to do with the letters?" He asked her abruptly. She gave a quickly glance at the pile.

"Shred them?" She questioned with a small smile.

"Good idea."


Poll Result!

Currently all voters have voted for Opinion 4: Green eyes and Black hair.

So if you want a preview(sort of) of the new Fanfic (still drafting and brainstorming), please read my fanfic, Quote This, for the extra chapter. (I believe the preview is in chapter 6)

I swear this has to be the longest chapter I've ever written for Fanfiction.

Anyway please review! (I would greatly appreciate it)


Next Chapter Deadline: June 29th, 2014