Disclaimer: I don't own skip beat or any of its characters. It's an AU Story.
A/N: Here I come with a brand new chapter. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. I hope you like the chapter. I am so grateful to all of you for your continuous support. You guys are amazing. Bundle of thanks for appreciation. Please keep on supporting me. It means a lot to me.
Some readers asked questions about Mimori's character, and the simple answer is that Jealousy and hatred give birth to extreme destructive personality and Mimori's character is just a reflection of it. The concept of this story is more realistic rather than fictional because it's almost known to everyone what can a jealous heart do. Jealousy kills. It makes you a senseless walking dead, who tries to cross any limit to achieve the goal. When jealousy takes over, heart dies, only evil mind remains alive.
Made For Each Other-Regret
Chapter-13
Kyoko's whole body was aching. Even after taking a warm shower, the pain didn't fade away. It was still hurting especially she was feeling sharp pain around her neck.
She didn't want to face Ren so she had just locked herself up in her room. Lying down on the bed she just curled herself into a ball, hidden under the sheets. She wanted to disappear but she knew she couldn't.
"It's my entire fault. I have to apologize and explain everything but I don't know how to do so now. I'm so frightened to face him"
"Only father can help me overcome my fear" Kyoko thought as she began to search for her phone, under her pillow.
When she found it, she pulled it out and speed dialed her father's number.
Call rang a few times before it was answered.
"Hello, Kyoko, my child!" Kyouske greeted happily.
"H-Hello Father!" Kyoko greeted back in a low tone.
"I was thinking about you, just a moment ago and my daughter called me. I miss you so much"
"I-I M-Miss you a lot too father" Kyoko's voice was heavy.
"Kyoko? Are you OK?" Kyouske asked worriedly.
"I-I… Father… !"she couldn't continue because she felt herself crying again so she fell silent.
Kyouske's panic increased on the other side when she didn't speak up for a long time.
"Kyoko tell me What's wrong?" Kyouske asked softly.
"F-Father, I'm scared, I couldn't sleep all night!"
"W-What? W-Why?" Kyouske was troubled by her answer.
"I'm scared because you aren't here with me"
Kyouske sighed in relief.
"You scared me Kyoko! I'm always with you, no matter where you are. My prayers are always with you. Don't be so afraid. Is that your Insomnia problem again?" he asked worriedly.
"Y-Yeah, whenever I try to sleep, I get scared. You aren't here with me so I don't feel much safe here." She told him hiding the real reason behind her fear and lack of sleep.
"Oh Kyoko, fear is just an emotion. It can become your strength if you successfully overcome it. I know you can do it. You are my brave girl"
"B-But father I.. can't…!" Kyoko's voice cracked.
"Kyoko, if you don't overcome your fear, it'll turn you into a coward. Don't run away from your fear, face it bravely. Don't try to limit your challenges, challenge your limits. Fight and win against your fear, make it your biggest strength. Now choice is yours. You can either be a brave girl or a coward. I know you'll make the best choice" Kyouske said softy.
"B-But Father I…" Kyoko again felt difficulty to speak.
"Let me tell you a story" Kyouske said trying to convince and cheer her up.
"S-Sure" A weak smile appeared on Kyoko's face. Her father always told different stories to make her feel better whenever she was scared.
Kyouske cleared his throat and started his story.
"Once there was a man who fought for truth and justice. The man couldn't stand wickedness. He believed in peace and humanity. He had a very happy family whom he loved more than his own life. He worked hard to support them in all ways he could. He was a very lucky man. He had everything, but he had a biggest fear, he was afraid of losing his family, he couldn't overcome it, then one day his fear became reality, his whole family was killed by a gang of smugglers. He lost everything. He was defeated by his fear, they killed his family in front of his own eyes but he couldn't do anything to save them. He was helpless because he was brutally beaten by them"
Kyoko was listening attentively on the other side. Her eyes were teary.
Kyouske paused to catch his breath then continued.
"It was a misfortune for him that he survived while his family died. His parents, his siblings, everyone died leaving his alone behind to mourn. The man went under a great depression for few years. He demanded for justice but couldn't gain because he wasn't strong enough. He was defeated and devastated, until a woman came in his life. She accepted him whole heartedly and encouraged him to fight against evil. The man gathered his strength and tried his hardest to become stronger. He learned martial arts and all techniques useful for self defense, and killed the gang who had murdered his family"
Kyouske sighed deeply.
"What happened next Father?" she asked being curious.
"The man got popular among people. They called him "Angel of Death" because that's what he truly was for wicked people who tried to play with innocent lives. He killed them all without showing any mercy. He asked for justice, he begged for it but he didn't get it for his family so he became symbol of justice himself against impiety. It was his desperation that made him like that. Just before he was going to lose himself against hatred, an angel came in his life and he changed forever. The man, who killed bad people like a butcher, left everything for the sake of that angel. He decided to become a better person and choose a noble profession to provide that angel a bright future. A single moment changed his life forever. He left everything behind and migrated to another city where nobody knew about him. During this process, he had to lose his wife, the woman who came in his life and gave him a purpose to live. His nightmare again came true, he lost his loved one again but he wasn't dishearted anymore because he had that angel with him. He knew he'd find his beloved again someday. His hope didn't die. That angel's presence in his life filled his heart with hope. He overcame his fear and stopped being a coward anymore. Similarly you shouldn't be so afraid, make your fear your biggest strength and fly highest. Birds learn how to fly in the same way. They overcome their fear of first flight by facing it and fighting against it. You should do the same my child. I know you can do this." Kyouske said finishing the story.
Tears leaked from Kyoko's eyes.
"T-Thank you father. You are great. Story was so amazing. Thank you for comforting me"
"Oh C'mon now, you don't need to thank your own father. It's what all fathers do." he said laughing lightly.
"Father, Can I ask you something?"
"What is it Kyoko?"
"Do you ever get scared?" she asked nervously.
"Yes, ofcourse I do my child! Fear resides inside of everyone. It's nothing to be panicked about. Just don't let it defeat you otherwise its fine to be afraid."
"Thank you father!"
"Ah, you are thanking me again, but anyways you are welcome. Listen, I've to mark some answer sheets so I'll call you later in the evening OK? Take care and don't be so afraid my child. It's alright" he said affectionately.
Kyoko smiled. "OK, Take Care of yourself father, Bye!" And she hung up.
XXX
Kyouske sighed deeply while running his hands through his hair.
"My little angel! My biggest fear was losing your mother but I lost her. I regret losing her but I have no regrets including you in my life and accepting you as my daughter" he thought sadly as some memories of past rushed back in his mind.
"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you Kyouske! You said there would never be another woman in your life except me but you broke your promise, Just because I was infertile, you broke your promise and got what I lacked from someone else. You cheated on me. I'll never forgive you. Is that why you always came back home late? You didn't have to involve yourself in an affair behind my back. You could have just told me clearly that you couldn't be with me anymore because you wanted a child so we could go on our separate ways but you did it. You love to taunt me for my weaknesses don't you Kyouske?" Saene yelled with disgust.
She kept hitting Kyouske's chest desperately while crying.
Kyouske tried to stop her attempts and comfort her but she wasn't listening.
"Saena please listen to me, at least give me a chance to explain, please don't go, don't leave me" Kyouske begged desperately.
"I came home late because I had work to do. Please Saena, It's not what you think!"
"This baby is six months old. How long have you been cheating on me Kyouske?" Saene asked glaring at the baby with hatred who was lying down on the bed.
"Saena Please, how can you say that? I…didn't do anything like that… I love you only!"
"Oh really? If you didn't do anything like that then I don't want that baby in this house" she laughed coldly.
"W-What?" Kyouske looked at her with shocked eyes.
"Do it! You said it's not your child so what's the problem?"
"I can't do this Saena, this baby has no relatives, It's an abandoned child that I found and I've decided to adopt it. I can't do this."
Saena's anger flared.
"Don't hide you true nature behind your lies. I know you are lying. It's your child and you are making lame excuses only to make me believe you. I can't believe I loved a person like you so dearly. I can't stay with you anymore. I'm leaving. Don't try to ever contact me. You have made your choice so be happy without me!" Saena glanced at the baby and then glared at Kyouske for once and picked up her suitcase.
She turned around and walked out of his apartment, leaving him behind devastated.
XXX
"I have to face my fear like father said. I have to talk to him and explain everything no matter what the consequences are" she grabbed the first aid box and gathered her strength as she stepped out of her room to talk to Ren.
Ren didn't leave his apartment. He didn't go to work because he was afraid that if he left she'd go away never to come back again. He didn't want that so he didn't go anywhere and just called Yashiro to cancel all of his meetings for the day. His heart was beating in alarm. He couldn't rest in his room so he came into his Living room to watch TV and distract himself. It wasn't working either so he turned off the TV and laid down on the couch hoping for some rest. His eyes were closed and his breathing was abnormal. He was lost in his mourning when he felt someone touching his hand. He was startled at the sudden touch.
Ren was about to open his eyes when he heard.
"Your hand is bleeding, I'll just do the dressing and then I'll leave"
Ren's heart beat became wild. He wanted to talk, to say something, anything but he was scared so he held his tongue.
Kyoko cleaned the blood off of his brutally injured hand and applied medicine. She wrapped the bandage around it being careful enough, not to put too much pressure.
During the whole process, she didn't look up at him. She just kept herself focused on doing the bandage.
When she was done treating and dressing his hand, she picked up the first aid box, got up and turned around to leave without even looking back at him.
Ren opened his eyes. He moved his hand up as an attempt to reach out and tried to say something to stop her but words didn't come out. Watching her going away from him, he gathered his strength to speak up in a whisper, enough for her to hear.
"W-Why did you do that?"
She neither turned around nor she stopped but she answered.
"No reason is needed to show humanity. I can't do the same as you did to me. Becoming a better human being takes a lot of patience and courage!" she left but failed to notice the tears that escaped his eyes at her words.
"K-Kyoko...! I'm sorry!" but she wasn't there to hear anything. She was already gone before the words left his mouth.
XXX
Ren thought she was gone for good so he started to curse himself for his animal act.
"She left me, She's gone! She made the right decision. No one should stay with a monster. She has seen the real me so how could she stay?" he mourned.
Ren was absorbed in his thoughts when Kyoko came back with a tray in her hand.
She placed the tray containing food on the table and picked up the bowl of soup.
Ren was just staring at her in disbelief. He sat up still thinking that it was just an illusion.
"You haven't eaten anything since yesterday, eat something so you can take the medicine, the pain will go away."
She sat beside him and helped him by feeding him because of his injured hand, making him even more dumbfounded.
When the food was all finished, she gave him some aspirin and antibiotics to relieve the pain.
Ren was tongue tied. He didn't know how to react. She was still taking care of him even after the way he had treated her.
They remain sitting there in awkward silence for a while then Kyoko spoke.
"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have gone there without telling you or even without you"
Ren's head jerked up to look at her. She left him in great turmoil.
She was looking down at her hands.
"I broke my promise and dishonored you. It won't happen ever again. I'm sorry! If you don't like it then I won't meet him ever again in my life. I'll stay away from him but please believe me I didn't do anything wrong"
Ren's heart clenched.
"I'm the one who should be sorry, not you"
"I… I… am sorry Kyoko… I shouldn't have reacted that way. I don't want to interfere in your life that much because I'm not your owner, I….." but he was cut off by her.
"Please Tsuruga-san, let me explain otherwise I may not be able to speak again"
Ren's voice died.
"She's calling me by my last name? I did my job well to damage our newly made relationship but at least she isn't running away"
He nodded in approval and encouraged her to go ahead.
Kyoko's nervousness was visible on her face. She wasn't making eye contact with Ren.
She spoke after taking a long deep breath.
"I am not playing any games with you. He has no place in my heart romantically, he can only be my friend and nothing more. He has his own family so I don't have any right to be with him anymore. I know you don't trust me because our relationship isn't that strong but it's true, I…"
"NO! I trust you, you don't have to explain anything to me I am sorry! I won't behave like that ever again. I…" Ren swallowed nervously, his heat dropped into stomach. He was beyond ashamed.
"I want to explain because it's all my fault that you lost your temper. So I need to apologize." she whispered.
"NO! Please don't apologize, you should hate me… why are you apologizing to me?" Ren asked desperately.
"Just because of your anger, I can't ignore your greatest qualities. When I was in trouble, you stood up for me. You made me smile when all I knew about was crying. You are a gentle man. Your anger was because of me so I'm sorry that I couldn't explain clearly."
Ren's eyes pricked with tears. He felt even more ashamed when he looked at her bruises. He wanted to beat himself up. He looked down at his feet, feeling guiltier.
"You don't hate me?" he whispered.
"No" she answered.
"You aren't scared of me?"
"I am scared of you but I am not afraid of being scared. I can always overcome my fear."
"Thank you father! I chose to be a brave girl"
"So you won't leave me?" he asked as his heart began to beat like a drum.
"I won't until you want me to leave. You didn't leave me when I was suffering so I won't leave you either"
Ren was stunned.
"I…I… don't know what to say… I…" Ren was at loss of words to express how terrible he felt.
Kyoko exhaled.
"I want to tell you something clearly Tsuruga-san! For me, marriage isn't a game. You aren't only my sexual partner, you are my life partner, my soul mate with whom I'm going to spend my whole life that's why I didn't want to rush. You have all rights on me. I just needed some time that's all… I… wasn't ready..." Kyoko said softly as she turned red with embarrassment.
Ren hung his head in shame whispering his apology again.
"There are only two most important men in my life now Tsuruga-san, whether you believe it or not" Kyoko spoke softly
"First one is my father and the second one is... my husband. Loving someone isn't all about getting physical pleasure only, Love is friendship. Love is care. Love is comfort. It is sacred connection between two hearts that joins two souls together for eternity. You comforted my heat so there is only you in my life that I love the most because you are my husband. Other men can never posses the right that you have on me."
Ren's eyes went wide, his jaw dropped and he stared at her as if he was retarded and then in an instant he was hugging her.
XXX
Next Chapter Precap-Made For Each Other- Forgiveness-Chapter-14
"C'mon Kyoko, hit me" Ren ordered.
Kyoko shook her head.
"Please, hit me, I really deserve it. I won't be able to forgive myself If you didn't punish me" Ren begged.
"I can't raise my hand on you. Please don't ask me to do something that I can't" she replied softly.
"But I want my punishment. I want you to hit me hardly. I deserve it for treating you like that"
Kyoko kept shaking her head back and forth.
"Please, I am asking you, slap me harder, I won't mind at all" he begged again as he knelt down before her.
Kyoko gasped and took few steps backward.
"Tsuruga-san W-What…?"
"Please Do it!" he demanded again.
"Do you really want your punishment?"
Ren stared at her and then nodded.
"Then close your eyes" she said as she bent to his level.
Ren did as he was told. He brought his face closer to receive his punishment and squeezed his eyes, waiting for the blow but it never happened.
Ren froze in place when a softest peck landed on his left cheek and his ears heard a gentle whisper, melting away the ice that was surrounding Kuon's heart for ages.
"I forgive you, that's the only thing I have for you as punishment"
XXX
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