Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or any of its character. The only things I own for now are this plot, my little Rinko, Ayame Mizuno and Ichiro Sanaki.

Chapter 12 — Started Digging on the Past


"Ren-kun!"

Ren and the man beside him turned around and so did Kyoko. Golden amber eyes clashed with hazel-nut eyes. Many would wish that the world would stop, sparks flew and time would slow down, but it didn't. However the binding spell was broken by the one who hugged the person possessing intense hazel-nut eyes.

"Ayame-chan! You're here and you're with Kyoko! Kyoko-chan, it's so nice to see you!" Yashiro exclaimed while Ayame was still hugging the stunned actor.

"Ren-kun, it's been a long time! I missed you." And Ayame continued to hug Ren.

Ren had finally recovered from being stunned. "Hey, Ayame-san it's so nice to see you too." And he returned the friendly hug, in which could be mistaken by someone who hadn't any idea what was their relationship.

Kyoko was hurting by just watching her manager hugging her sempai and in return her beloved sempai hugged her as well. But she couldn't do anything, she was just too stunned and hurt by what she was seeing, that she didn't felt that she was pulled by Yashiro where the two people was hugging a while ago.

"So you've finally come back! It's been so long since we had last seen each other and that was when we broke up!"

Ren chuckled lightly, forgetting the hurting presence of Kyoko Mogami. "You've still remembered that."

"Ren-kun, that hurts you know. You'd forgotten that so easily. Of course, why would I forget that you're my first love?" Ayame talked to Ren without breaks, without noticing her actress hurting so badly.

"Am I really your first love?" Ren asked teasingly. But he just earned a light smack on his arms. However to Kyoko it looked like they were flirting and not just a friendly teasing. Kyoko was thinking that Ayame was still maybe in love with Ren, who wouldn't be?

Interpreting the sudden silence of Kyoko as confusion and not misery, Yashiro explained the relationship between Ayame and Ren which made Kyoko felt worse.

"As you see Kyoko, Ayame and Ren used to date way back, before the two of you met each other." Yashiro had just confirmed Kyoko's fear that Ayame and Ren had a past and Ayame was still in love with Ren.

But Ren had finally remembered her presence when one of the staff had called Kyoko to get ready. Ren suddenly snapped his neck towards the place where Kyoko was standing. Ren could only see her back.

Kyoko didn't turn around to say goodbye to Ren and others, instead she walked away slightly fast. Yashiro and Ayame were puzzled by Kyoko's lack of farewell. However Ren interpreted it as Kyoko was still avoiding him. After Yashiro seeing Ren's depression he reasoned out that maybe Kyoko was in hurry because of the film. Ayame was the only one that bought Yashiro's reason.

Ayame had found out that Ren had an hour-break before they go to the next destination. So Ayame suggested that the two of them should stay and wait for Kyoko for her and them to catch up, in which Yashiro had agreed instantly without the permission of Ren. Ren on the other hand, even though he knew he shouldn't stay, couldn't do anything so he just also tagged along.


Kyoko on the other hand, couldn't focus her character because of what she had seen earlier. In result to that, the director asked Kyoko if she wanted to take a break first before continuing with the filming. Kyoko just agreed and went to her manager, which in her surprise was still hanging with Ren and Yashiro. She was hesitating to go to them, but she had decided that it would be better if she would go there and just put up her usual act with Ren. And so Kyoko had composed herself and wore her mask.

Seeing Kyoko walking finally towards them made Ren felt a bit better. He was watching Kyoko the moment they started filming, and saw that Kyoko was having difficulties in many things. And one of these things was to approach them or not. Ren had felt better when Kyoko had finally decided to approach them.

Ayame had finally noticed Kyoko walking towards them and as a manager, asked her what had happened.

"The director wanted me to take a two-minute break, so that I could collect my thoughts." Kyoko just slightly chuckled, while controlling her overwhelming jealousy and depression inside her that wanted to be expressed.

"Oh, here's a water Kyoko-chan. Or do you want some sweets? I heard that sweets could help you focus." Ayame had cheerily answered. Kyoko couldn't get mad at her manager; she was so good to her. Instead she was mad at herself, for being jealous and thinking some negative thoughts towards her manager.

'There's nothing wrong if her manager and Ren would be together again.' She'd thought that sadly.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a muscular voice laced with concern. "Kyoko are you really okay?"

"Ah, yeah. Don't worry Ren, I'm just lacking of focus." Kyoko's heart stopped for a second when she'd noticed Ren's anxiety, but smiled to hide the abnormality of her heartbeat.

For two minutes she had spent her time with Ren. For two freaking minutes she had controlled herself from snapping at Ayame when she was telling them a funny story—date—with Ren. For two hellish minute she endured the part of herself she wanted to blame for having some deep feelings towards her ex.

When Kyoko had finished her role, she still had 20 minutes to spare. With that 20 minutes, she had decided that they should go to their destination so that they wouldn't be late, which was seconded by Ren.


Kyoko had finished earlier than what they had completely planned. The actress had decided to go home early for her daughter Rinko, so she had told her manager that she wanted to go home. Of course, her manager had agreed.

"Ayame-san I would drop you to your place."

"Ah, no thank you Kyoko-chan, but you said that you wanted to go home now."

"Yes, why do you have an appointment or something?"

"Ah, well, I was planning to buy some groceries in the market."

"Well then, let's go. Maybe I should shop for foods now, than later."

And so the pair had gone to shop for groceries. But before they had started shopping, Kyoko had worn a disguise to hide her identity. A scarf and big sunglasses were her only protection. Ayame had discovered that Kyoko was in terms of buying groceries was very excellent, careful and very thrifty. While they were choosing some fresh meat, Kyoko had chosen the cheaper one than the expensive, advising that it was fresher than the other. For the first time when they had started buying, Kyoko had noticed Ayame's cart full of many tasty ingredients.

"Wow, what's the occasion? What's with the wine and tenderloins?"

"Ah, well, there is. You see, I'm making a dinner for two."

"Oh so is it for a friend?" And Kyoko had wished that she didn't confirm it, for the next question had reminded the situation of her heart.

"No, it's for the one I love. This is the first time that we are having dinner together, since he had come back recently."

"Oh." Images of Ren and Ayame eating together in an apartment, popped through her head without breaks. She was started to get depress again because of the same issue that happened this afternoon.

Ayame noticing Kyoko's sudden melancholy made her asked the actress with concern evident to her tone.

"Is everything alright?" Shaking Kyoko from her reverie.

"A… Yes, everything is fine; I was just deciding which chocolate flour is better, since the usual one I buy was out of stock." Kyoko reasoned out convincingly.

"Oh, I think this one. My friends advised me to use this." Ayame bought her reason a little, because she could be a bit emotional on some unnecessary things. But there was a part of her telling her that the reason Kyoko was sad was not because of the flour.

"You're going to bake or something?"

"Yeah. Rinko loves dessert." Ayame just nodded not completely comprehending what Kyoko had said, in which would shock her more when they were going to fetch Rinko. And so the two ladies paid by the counter and then went to the car of Kyoko.

"Ah, Ayame-san could we just stop at some place for some time? I'm just going to fetch Rinko."

Ayame just agreed and put her seatbelt on.


After some time, Ayame noticed that they'd parked at the back of a small restaurant. She noticed that they were somewhere near the public area. Public area in a way that there were other houses surrounding them not buildings nor department stores. Kyoko told Ayame that she wouldn't take long then Kyoko left the car and entered the back door.


After 15 minutes or so, Kyoko emerged from the back door with a woman in 40s following her with a child of 2 (almost 3). As they neared, Kyoko opened the back-seat door and the child who was with Kyoko smiled sweetly at Ayame. Ayame was completely taken surprised because of the undeniable resemblance of Kyoko and the child. The only difference was the color of their eyes. The child possessed hazel-nut eyes.

As they drove towards Ayame's apartment, Rinko had fallen asleep. Ayame on the other hand couldn't take off her eyes on Rinko. Being the frank woman she was, she asked Kyoko the one thing bothering her mind.

"Ah, Kyoko who's that cute child sleeping?"

"Rinko, my daughter." She spoke it with pride and love.

Ayame was startled by the sudden information. "Y-you have a child?"

Kyoko was surprised but not in the negative way. She was amused. "Yes I do have a child."

Ayame couldn't believe her ears and eyes, as she shifted her gaze from Kyoko to Rinko. She didn't know that Kyoko was a mother.

Kyoko chuckled. "As my manager, you really do amuse me."

As a manager, Ayame truly was a failure. That very important detail wasn't told by her brother nor by the whole world. Blame the internet for having so much information about Kyoko, and the important detail about Kyoko being a mother was covered by those recent gossips.

"I'm so sorry. Then does that mean you are already married?" Ayame forgot about how loud her voice could be, luckily Rinko wasn't awakened. Even though Kyoko was surprised and all, she answered Ayame with a sad 'no'.

Being the considerate yet very frank one, Ayame apologized and asked Kyoko about the identity of the father of Rinko. Kyoko didn't get mad at Ayame. She was just sad, and that's the only reply Ayame could get. Sad silence.

"Kyoko-dear, I won't press you for his name. Even though I'm a very frank person, I'm very good at reading between the lines. But if there's something you want to share or talk about, just feel free to tell me. I will lend you my heart. I'm always here not just your manager but also as a friend." Kyoko just smiled.


Ayame decided as soon as she got home, she would punch the numbers of her only brother's telephone. After 3 rings, Yashiro had finally picked up. And he was bombarded by her dear sister with a very loud voice.

"KYOKO HAS A DAUGHTER?"

To others surprise, the said dear brother was unfazed by the sudden loud question, quite literally. To Ayame's dissatisfaction, it looked like her dear brother was mocking her.

"Didn't you know?"

"Well, you forgot to tell me that small detail!"

"Well, I'm sorry. But it's also the job of the manager to research important details regarding their actress."

"I did research! I asked you, but you just forgot to tell me that small detail."

"Hey, don't blame me. You should have used other sources."

"But as my dear brother, you should help your dear sister!"

"I did help, didn't I?"

"Arg! Anyway, maybe now is the time to tell me everything you forgot."

"Ayame-chan, I'm sorry. But that's all I could give you. You are on your own. I'm just going to correct the information you'd retrieve from now on. Besides, won't it better to get primary information than secondary ones?"

And the connection was disconnected. Ayame didn't catch the last words of her brother: "Thanks would be fine."

As soon as she disconnected the call, she started researching about Kyoko being pregnant. And soon, the Google had uploaded many related articles.


Kyoko's day started with different kinds of questions from Ayame.

"So Kyoko, I know that I've been asking you weird questions since morning. I'm so sorry if it's scaring you. I just wanted to know you more because of what had happened yesterday."

Kyoko didn't get mad by Ayame's poking about her life, because so far the worst question she had heard from her was about the age she was pregnant to Rinko.

"I know. And I'm not mad at you. Besides I don't mind you asking these things related to me."

"So you don't mind me asking about who's the father of Rinko?"

BULL'S EYE. There was an awkward silence between Ayame and Kyoko.

"Ah. I see. I won't ask again if you're still not ready. Anyway, so I heard that you've been linked with many singers…" Kyoko couldn't breathe for a while. But then, when the topic was shifted to the linked singers, her lungs had started to work again. She wanted to apologize to Ayame regarding her reactions but she couldn't help it. That topic was completely OFF-LIMITS.


Ayame's interrogation didn't stop even though they were walking, driving or eating. It just continued, which in return they didn't notice the pair whom they will be bumping. The said pair was two good looking guys. One was wearing glasses and white suit which gave him the sophisticated look, while the other one was just wearing unbuttoned shirt and jeans which made the guy looked more attracting than he was.

BAM!

The typical sound whenever two people collided to each other accidentally; however in this case they were four people. Well, to be more exact, there were only two people who collided and not four. These two individuals were very well known, Ren Tsuruga and Kyoko Mogami. And so most of the audience would think that Ren and Kyoko would look at each other and fall for a staring spell which no one could dispel. But that's too cliché. In reality of this story, Ayame helped Kyoko and so did Yashiro to Ren.

They found out sooner that the two pairs were heading for the same destination. It seemed that the magazines the two models were working for were now only under by one individual. And so for the next 3 days, Kyoko and Ren will be seeing each other, too much to Kyoko's dismay. She didn't hate Ren. She just didn't want the green monster in her to creep up every time Ayame and Ren were reminiscing their past.

It didn't help Kyoko from feeling hurt when she and Ren had some moments of staring, awkward silence and freezing of what they were doing when their gazes met. This of course, didn't go unnoticed to Ayame.


As soon as Kyoko and Ayame were the only ones in company of each other, Ayame had started asking Kyoko several questions regarding Kyoko and her ex. Who wouldn't ask? The two had something between them. They were close alright. There were moments when Kyoko would tag along with Ayame when she was telling something about Ren much to Ren's embarrassment but he didn't show that he was embarrassed. There was a time when Kyoko suddenly got mad to Ren for not eating his lunch on time and then scold Ren like a child about eating his lunch on schedule, which to Ayame's more amusement Ren winced and looked defeated by Kyoko's sermons. But most of all, there were moments when Ren and Kyoko were unaware of their surroundings and both of them fell for a staring spell.

"I didn't know that Ren is a close friend of yours Kyoko-chan."

"Well, he is my s-sempai." Old habits didn't die. And her defence mechanism was being operated again.

"Yeah right, Ren have many kouhais and you are the only one whom he chose to be closed to."

"I was picked because he loves to bully me back then." Kyoko mumbled.

"Weh? Really? I didn't know that. Ren is the perfect gentleman. I couldn't imagine he was bullying you."

"Is bullying me. Up until now he still bullies me."

"Ow, that's new! I would love to see that! You know back then when we were dating, he always calm and cool, but also cold. He was there but also not there. He seemed like he was just acting to enjoy the date. But I found out that, he did actually enjoy our dates. And then there was a time…" And Ayame continued ranting about their past to Kyoko which she didn't notice how sour Kyoko's face and mood were. However, Ayame had finally stopped her ranting about one of Ren's embarrassing moments when she had finally noticed that Kyoko was the least paying her attention to her and her mood had suddenly went down.


For the next 2 days, Ayame had pestered Kyoko about her and Ren's relationship. And Kyoko had been trying to the hardest not to answer and snap at Ayame's question. Kyoko was aware that the green monster wanted to get out of her cage. For the next hour Ayame had asked Kyoko various questions regarding Ren and her and sometimes told Kyoko some of their dates. However there's only one question in which had made Kyoko snapped and the green eyed monster had finally been released.

"Kyoko can you imagine, me and Ren in a wedding? Since the two of you are very close in the past and I think up until now. Hahaha, me and Ren in a wedding, that's—"

"Ayame-san! I'm not your wedding counsellor. Besides, you shouldn't ask me with those things, because I, myself, didn't go through any wedddings. And please don't worry about me and Ren; I'm sure the two of you a-are 'gulp' perfect for each other. No need for my imagination." because I can't do it.

Kyoko turned around because she was sure as hell that she couldn't hold her expression anymore. Even though she had told herself that she hadn't any lingering feelings towards Ren, her heart couldn't lie to herself and yet she still chose to ignore the beating of her heart. As she turned around, she didn't see the amused shock look plastered on Ayame's face. A few seconds had passed, when Ayame broke the silence with her laughter. Kyoko twirled around, but wiped first the unshed tears on her eyes, to see Ayame clutching her stomach.

Kyoko couldn't help not to ask Ayame's sudden laughter. "What's so funny?"

"You. My dear, I'm so sorry, but I couldn't help it. I'm laughing because me and Ren in a wedding is a silly thought."

And another round of laughter erupted on Ayame again. But Kyoko was still confused, and Ayame saw that.

"You see, Kyoko-chan. Me and Ren couldn't get married."

"W-why? Ren is single and so are you. Besides, it looks like the two of you are.. are…"

"together again?" Ayame continued, but with amusement on her eyes. "Kyoko-chan, that's impossible because as you can see, I'm not available. I'm married after all." And Ayame had finally showed her golden wedding band.

Kyoko was speechless. She didn't know what to react after knowing the truth, but one thing was for sure. She sure as hell felt very relieved.

"Ren is my past while my husband is my present and future. Ren is the one who made me realize the feeling I had for him was just an infatuation, nothing more. Besides, I love my husband very much. He is the most attractive guy in my eyes."

Kyoko was still stunned at the sudden revelation. Even though the news of her manager being married was shocking, she was still preoccupied with her relief but then the relief became confusion. She was confused because she was relieved of the news. She was still neglecting her feelings for Ren after all.


The next time Ren and Kyoko saw each other was their last time for their common break, for Kyoko's scheduled would be adjusted again because of a new project. And so the four people were hanging around by the lobby. Kyoko was still in good mood because of her relief in which had affected Ren greatly. During the start of their common break, Kyoko and Ren were sitting, walking and talking side by side. Kyoko didn't seem to notice this and Ren didn't mind at all for the past Kyoko was slowly coming back. This didn't go unnoticed to their managers. Yashiro was very delighted but Ayame was very amused and curious. More than half an hour had passed; they decided to walk towards the lobby in which both parties would go separately. Kyoko and Ren were ahead of the siblings, walking side by side in silence. Ayame however on the other hand was itching to voice out her curiosity.

"By the looks of it, do the two of you have a past or something?"

And the next thing happened was a series of unexplainable events.

Kyoko had suddenly tripped on a big invisible lump. Luckily, Ren had caught her by the waist before she had completely fallen flat on the pavement. Yashiro on the other hand wasn't very helpful at the situation at all. The dear manager of Ren at that moment had spilled the cold water he was drinking. But that's not the only thing that had happened to the manager of his, Yashiro's expression was bluntly screaming fan-girl mode.

Ayame on the other hand, was very amused at the reactions of the trio in front of her. It's as if the question was a very out-of-this-world question. After recovering from the shock made by Ayame, Kyoko had finally noticed how she and Ren were very close for the past almost an hour. Kyoko suddenly stepped away from Ren and faced Ayame.

She answered Ayame with a polite and a light laugh "no". Ren didn't try to correct Kyoko nor answer Ayame. He was stunned and hurt at the same time. So the best thing he did was to act that he didn't hear the question. But Yashiro's expression said otherwise. He was gaping at the actor and the actress with a very obvious you-got-to-be-kidding-look. But that's just for a second because he suddenly composed himself after Kyoko had given him her Mio-glare. However, a second was enough to Ayame to catch Yashiro's and Kyoko's expressions and fuel her curiosity.


That night, Ayame decided to dig the relationship of the actor and her actress. As soon as she typed their names, the page was full of many related articles. Most of the articles were about Ren and Kyoko possibly dating but both actors said that they were just very close friends. There were many articles in which Ren and Kyoko were seen as partners for award nights.

However, there's one article that caught her eyes, the one that's about Ren and her mystery girlfriend. Ayame had researched more regarding the mystery girl of Ren. She had seen many pictures of Ren and her mystery girlfriend; however it's hard to identify the face of the girl. But one of those pictures made her spilled the coffee she was drinking. It's the picture of Ren and her secret girlfriend. The unique thing about the picture was the way Ren held the girl. It reminded Rinko of another picture she had come across. As soon as she had seen the picture she was thinking. She was too stunned that her eyes were so wide and so was her mouth. The picture she was staring was the picture of Ren and Kyoko Mogami in disguise to avoid the paparazzi. Ayame began reading the article.

"... Both the actor and actress reasoned out that they just wanted to sneak behind the paparazzi, that's why they disguised themselves as a couple. It seems that at that time, they were late for the birthday of their dearest friend, and the paparazzi were around. That's why the actors decide to…"

But Ayame couldn't be fooled by their reason. The way Ren held Kyoko were the same as the picture of him and her mystery girl. But the evidence that strengthen her guess was the reflection of the mysterious girlfriend. She was sure that her eyes were gold like Kyoko's, even though it's just small and just a bit blurred.

She continued her research regarding Kyoko and Ren. And after an hour, she had a hunch that the child Kyoko introduced as her own was Ren's child.


- end of chappie -

I'm very sorry for the late update. I'm bad I know. And so there you go. I apologize again. I hope you did enjoy reading the latest chapter. I will try to update soon. TRY.

Anyway, I still would like to thank my readers! Thank you for still bearing with me. Aaaaaaaaaarg… I hope you would leave a review regarding this chapter. =))

Moving on _ HAPPY HOLIDAYS GUYS.