Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat! And its characters…

I'm sorry for the late update, typos and wrong grammars. I'm really not good at tenses, especially past tense. Did anyone read the new chapter of the manga? Whenever I see Kyoko and Sho together, I get really nervous reading it. Anyways, here's the next chapter of this fanfic. Enjoy! ^_^

Chapter 35

"Ah… Ren. You're just in time to join us." The president said to him warmly. He was surprised by the last word the president said. He thought it would only be the two of them. His eyes searched the sofas and chairs in the room to find the other person with them. There, on the sofa across the president, the back of the tiny figure of the woman he had been missing the last four days. He noticed her posture was stiff and her spine ramrod straight. He knew why and it made him feel warm and happy inside.

When Ren's attention was occupied by his lady love, he heard a sound and a few second later he caught an arrow that was aimed to his heart. The sudden attempt on his life forced a little bit of his true self out. Hence, the dark aura flowing out. Ren looked at the arrow that was inches away from his chest. But he found that the arrow had no sharp pointed tip. Instead, it was a little red suction cup. He raised his head and glared at the president who shot him as he annoyingly snapped the poor arrow in two.

Apparently, the president was dressed as the ultimate figure of love, cupid. He was dressed in a simple roman white tunic and leather sandals with straps crisscrossing on his calves. He had two white wings on his back and bows and arrows in his hands. Don't you think it's a bit late for that costume? He silently asked him. But the president only smiled brightly at him.

Ren stopped in front of the sofa a few feet away from where Kyoko sat stiffly and nervously. "Good evening president." He greeted the president and then turned to Kyoko who still had not looked at him since he entered the room. "Good evening, Mogami-san. It's nice to see you, again."

Kyoko sat there frozen in fear as all her little demons came out and dance their happy little dance to see and feel their favorite sensation from their so-called second master. Kami-sama! What should I do? Kyoko's internal scream for help echoed loudly inside her head.

Again, when Ren was busy looking at Kyoko, observing her every reaction, an arrow flew and hit him squarely on the forehead. Since the tip was red suction cup, the arrow was glued to his head. Ren glared at the president but he was busy holding his laughter in but he shook his to answer him that it was not him who shot him with an arrow. He looked to where the angle of the arrow came from and in the shadows, he could barely make out the presence of Lory's trusted butler, Sebastian. Ren cursed under his breath (or more like Kuon did) and in his irritation released more dark aura which scared Kyoko more.

Kyoko shot up and turned to face Ren to apologize. "I am so sorry, Tsu-" She stopped halfway of doing the dogeza as she caught sight of Ren and the arrow still on his forehead. She froze in her awkward position as seconds passed in silence you could hear a cricket chirping. "Pfft…" That was the sound that came out of Kyoko's mouth when she could not hold herself back anymore. And after that, two people were rolling on the floor laughing at Ren's expense.

Ren sighed in surrender at the laughing president and Kyoko. He took the arrow from his forehead and sat himself on the sofa. He was so tired and he did not have the energy to be mad at them anymore. He just want to get this over with and go home to rest. But when he thought of going home and being chased by paparazzi all the way to his house was not a pleasant thought at all. It made him more tired. It's not that he did not like his job, he was okay with getting mobbed and stalked by fans because they admire and love Ren. But paparazzi are the opposite. They follow you around persistently because they want to write juicy stories about you which could make your career or end your career. As for Ren this time, it was the latter. So one false move or word and it would be his downfall. Four days of being careful not to slip up was enough for Ren, especially when he could not sleep properly because his bed felt empty without Kyoko.

After a few while, the laughter died down and the two straightened up.

"You done laughing at me?" He asked them and they nodded soberly. Then, suddenly Kyoko was on the floor at his feet prostrating herself.

"I'm so sorry, Tsuruga-san, for ruining your reputation! I'm so sorry! If it weren't for me selfishly insisting on keeping the baby, you wouldn't be in this scandal. Forgive me, Tsuruga-sama!" Kyoko wailed in desperation. "You can dice me, fillet me, grill me, even fed me to the hungry sharks!"

"Kyoko, it's alright. There is nothing to forgive." Ren answered as he bent to stop her from doing anymore dogeza. He held her arm and tugged to get her to stand up. "It wasn't your fault." Kyoko still had not looked up at him. "I was the one who didn't wear any disguise and I agreed to take care of the baby too. Besides, I was the one who brought the baby home in the first place."

"But-" Kyoko tried to argue. It took a lot of reasoning between Ren and Lory to get Kyoko to finally accept reluctantly that it was not her fault.

"So, I take it that you accept the role." The president spoke to Ren. Lory sat relaxed in his seat. His wings, bows and arrows were discarded two feet beside him.

"Yes, I really need a break from all this." Ren replied with a sigh. "Though as I read through the script, don't you think it's like throwing fuel to the fire?"

"No, not at all!" Lory replied. "This just says that you don't let that scandal affect your jobs. Of course there will be speculations about the scandal being true because of this drama, but there will be others who will refute that. So, the answer will still remain a mystery to them." Lory concluded with a smug smile.

Ren nodded in understanding. Ren could not care less if Lory put it that way. He just wanted his rest from the attention of the paparazzi. Then, Lory turned to address Kyoko, who sat quietly on the other end of the couch from Ren.

"Now, Mogami-san…" Lory started with a sly smile. "Ren here just agreed to be you leading man. What do you say?"

"Eh?" Kyoko and Ren both said in surprise. Lory was so pleased by their reaction. Kyoko mechanically turned her head to look at Ren and then back at the president.

"Uh-"

"She-"

The two of them stuttered at the same time and they looked at each other. Kyoko blushed lightly and snapped her head to look at the president again. Ren then sighed in surrender. I knew he was up to something when I saw Kyoko in here. Ren thought to himself. The president looked at the two in amusement. Since, he could see that they were at a lose for words, he continued on.

"I know it's a little over the top for Kyoko's first romance drama and it really wasn't my idea." The president explained. Ren rolled his eyes, disbelieving. "But Director Shingai came to me a little over week ago and begged me to let you two be his lead actors for this mini series." He turned to Kyoko. "He said that after he saw a lotion commercial and later found out it was you, he just knew that you were ready for this role and that it just had to be the two of you. And I really could not refuse because I, too, wants to see how it will turn out."

Kyoko was a little speechless at the moment. She could not believe what she was hearing. She was personally requested by a director to be the lead against Ren? That's just crazy! I'm not good enough of an actor to go against Ren… on top of all that, in romance drama? Kyoko thought inwardly.

"It will also be good for your career." The president continued on. "You'll finally get out of bully roles."

"B-but! I-it… The-there's a lot of k-k-ki-" Kyoko tried to say the word.

"Kissing, Mogami-san?" Ren supplied the word. She glanced at Ren and blushed. She quickly looked back to the president and nodded.

"I thought it was okay since Ren will be your partner." The president said. That's the problem! She shouted in her head. He's a co-star killer! DANGEROUS!

"Last time I saw, you both enjoyed it" The president continued. The two of them blushed as they recall what the president was talking about. "A little too much even as to con-"

"NO!" Kyoko shouted in protest. "I-it wasn't like that!"

"I see." The president sighed heavily. "And here I thought, if Mogami-kun would do well in this project I would finally let her graduate from Love Me Section."

"Eh?" Kyoko was startled by the revelation. The president sighed again and Kyoko felt that she just disappointed him big time.

"Oh, well." He continued. "I guess I have to tell Shingai-kun to look for another actress for this project." Then, he turned to Ren. "I'm sorry, Ren. Your rest from the paparazzi will have to wait a few more days. Be careful not to collapse."

Kyoko heard a sigh and this time, it was her beloved sempai. It felt like a big rock of failure just fell on her head.

"I-I will do it!" She shouted unknowingly and then she froze when she realized what she just shouted. The president immediately grinned and called for Sebastian. He then put two stack of papers on the coffee table in front of them.

"Here, sign it and tomorrow night you'll be on your way to the secluded filming site." Lory announced excitedly. Ren skimmed through the stack of papers and she did the same. On the last page, they signed on the dotted line.

Kyoko sighed. Somehow I get the feeling I just got played into this. She though to herself. Just like Dark Moon.

"I'll give you two one day, a head start, to prepare for your roles. And the next day, director Shingai along with his crew and staff will be there to begin setting up. Shingai-kun will decided whether to start filming immediately or not." The president informed them. "Now, it's time to go to bed my little children." He shooed them.

They stood up and made their way out of there. "I'll give you a ride home, Mogami-san." Ren stated.

Kyoko was so occupied with worrying about the script and the new project that she just simply agreed. She followed him dazedly and he walked with her quietly. Until they were safely seated in the confines of Ren's car.

"Kyoko." A deep husky voice called her name and she could not stop the shiver that ran down her spine. She froze. "I think you owe me an explanation."

Someone help me! Kyoko shouted in her head as she swallowed hard. She mechanically turned her head to face Ren. Please don't kill me… She begged silently.

Ren caught his breath in his throat as he saw Kyoko's expression. She had big gooey eyes and she looked like she was about to cry. He suddenly felt like he just kicked an innocent puppy. But he steeled himself. He was not the one who was keeping dark secrets anymore. I'm just asking for an explanation. He reasoned with himself. He looked at her lips. She was biting it and he did not want that. He looked back to her eyes and he felt like a big bully again. He could not take it.

"Stop that!" He barked at her. But she shrank away from and continued looking at him like that. He leaned forward and said, "Stop it or I'll kiss you."

Kyoko's eyes widened and her mouth opened in a gasp. She was now looking at the emperor of the night. He leaned closer and closer. "R-ren, wa-wa-wa-wa-wait!" Kyoko stuttered. But he was still getting closer. "Re-ren…"

Luckily for Kyoko, Ren's phone rang and interrupted them. He stopped leaning closer and answered his phone without pulling away from his position or looking away from her eyes.

"Ren, some of the paparazzi are still outside. Use one of the company's car to drive yourself and Mogami-kun home. I'll let Sebastian drive yours home for you as a decoy." Lory informed him. Ren agreed and thanked the president before they hang up.

"Were not done yet." Promised the emperor of the night as he straightened back in his seat. Ren was very close to Kyoko that she heard what the president had said so he did not need to repeat it to her. They got out of the car and Sebastian arrived shortly after, dressed like Ren. He gave Ren a key and pointed them to the direction of where it was parked.

They waited ten minutes after Sebastian went and slowly made their way to Kyoko's home. It was a quiet drive home. Kyoko quickly got out of the car as soon as the car stopped in front of Daruma-ya. So Ren did not have the time to do something to her. Ren really did not plan to tease her anymore that night though, not that she knew.

Kyoko bowed outside the car and bid him good night. She quickly turned around and flew to the door like the devil was after her. "Good night, Kyoko." He quickly called after her. He watched her walked inside safely and then sighed heavily. She's still scared of me. He thought. Well, I just have to wait one more day to have her for myself for a whole day. And we have to practice kissing too. Oh, I can't wait, Kyoko!

Kyoko was making her way up to her room when she suddenly felt a shiver ran down her spine.

I hope you enjoyed it. I'm sorry there wasn't much info about the drama. I think there will be more next chapter since, they'll be practicing their roles. I'm so excited! I'll get so fired up if I write the really interesting parts. Anyways, thank you so much for still reading, reviewing, alerting, fav-ing and liking my story even though I'm so frustratingly slow at updating… Love you guys ^_^ see yah next chap. Hopefully it will be soon…