A/N: this is my continuation of Skip Beat! After chapter 180 – I have a feeling I already know what is going to happen with Cedric entering the story and the chaos between our favorite idiot couple and decided to do my own thing with my wild imagination… This will mainly focus on Kyoko's growth, Ren/Kuon's growth and path, and of course Ceddy because for some reason I am really anticipating his character? and keep thinking about the possibilities? (and there's like, 0 fanfics with him yet) I have this thing planned out in my head, so let's see how it comes out written. I apologize in advance if this starts out slow, but when I wrap this thing around my finger, it will get good! Inspired by never ending #Quarantine2020, my personal need for more Cedric/Kuon angst and a lot of music! Rated M for everything except smut…. maybe lmao. Title from The Sisters of Mercy song. This is my first fanfic so please R&R! I really appreciate constructive feedback, thanks!~

Chapter 1 – Freeze! Now chaos!

"Prince Ceddy!"

"He's here! He's arrived!"

"Hollywood's #1 star, Cedric D. Bennett!"

Ren and Kyoko's heads simultaneously spun to gawk at the TV screen as the name that was just announced registered in their minds. A blonde haired, blue eyed man waved to his onlookers while stepping out of an impressive looking car.

'Prince…...PRINCE?!' fumed inner Kyoko, this was the person Morizumi Kimiko was in love with? The one she would attempt to kill others just to get near?! A half-baked fairy-prince Corn if she ever saw one! He is in no way unattractive, but still pales in comparison to even Japan's #1! If what Ren had just told her in the elevator was true, after failing to capture the heart of her Sempai, and subsequently spending her sweet sweet time in America, this man was her new target? With thanks to her budding acting skills, her inner rage was unseen as it appeared, she was simply still in awe at the screen in front of the pair.

"Heh." Pop.

PopPop. Pop. Pop! Kyoko froze. Fresh grudge antennae now happily bobbing above her head.

"oOoOoooh" The grudge demons could only mean one thing…and she could undoubtedly feel it right beside her. An aura she hadn't felt since some weeks ago when she was on her dangerous mission as Setsuka Heel. Pitch. Black. Fury.

Kyoko slowly lifted her cautious gaze to the man beside her

Ren appeared to be just as frozen until seconds later he finally turned to her and began to speak

"Mogami-san… you hear the word 'prince' and suddenly you're starstruck…or perhaps, do you know him?" Whoever was standing next to her, Ren Tsuruga was long gone, not bothering with gentlemanly smiles, the look on his face as additional proof. Kyoko being unaware, Kuon was nearly one-hundred percent in charge for now.

"W-W-WHAAAT IS HE SO ANGRY FOOOOR?" inner Kyoko screamed entering sheer terror mode.

She swallowed.

"W-well you see Tsuruga-san, I- "she stopped short before continuing as Ren's icy stare bore into her.

"Well?" Kyoko couldn't help but flinch at his tone. 'Demon Lord!' inner Kyoko wailed, "Um...I don't particularly know him, but I do know of him. Moko-san is set to work with him….in America. However, I'm not sure why he would be here in Japan...?" she saved from mentioning the part about Morizumi for multiple reasons.

You and me both. Kuon inwardly sneered, attempting to collect the persona of Ren Tsuruga.

"Change of plans, Mogami-san. I realized there is something I must take care of at this time, may I call you later so we can continue this talk?" he feigned the slightest of smiles attempting to bring her unease to an end. He needed to move. Go. Anywhere. Else. A deafening siren was blaring in his ears, increasing in volume by the second.

"O-oh. Of course, Tsuruga-san. Later it is!" She gave an uneasy smile. His attempt had failed.

Ren signed and nodded deciding he would fix this problem with her later when, hopefully, he had regained his full composure in fear of scaring her further and ruining his chances of ever properly telling her what he desperately needed to. 'Before he does.' He tried to dismiss the uneasy thoughts, and the conclusions he was suddenly jumping to, proving to be harder than he thought now knowing that this man has a connection to Kyoko through her best friend. This meant Cedric D. Bennett had a connection to him as well.

Turning on his heel and attempted to - in all of his Ren Tsuruga fashion - gracefully stomp his way to the president's quarters.

Why? Why now? Why here? Why him?

'Of all people-!' Ren could hear his heartbeat in his ears. Flashbacks of years of never-ending pain and frustration flooded his mind. Every malice-laced word, every time that man sicked his pack-like followers on him, leaving him bloody and beaten. Every time he had to seek out Hollywood grade cosmetics to hide the proof of his defeat from his busy and oblivious parents. Every time Rick had told him to just fight back.

Rick.

His vision blurred red; memories of the night Rick died appearing more vividly than they have in a long time. No. He himself wasn't the only one to blame. He needed to calm down, Ren Tsuruga had flown straight out the window, and there was no way he could face the president in his current state. Let alone perform any duties as "himself."

His pride as an actor was shattering for every second he couldn't thrust himself straight back into his perfect, courteous, and polite counterpart.

What the fuck is going on?

If the sound of confusion existed, the half whine-half scream noise that broke from Kyoko's throat after Ren disappeared from her sight would be a universal example.

"Whhhhhhyyyyyy?! All of a sudden? When did the Demon Lord himself decide to make a visit to Japan!?" she groaned in what those around her would only consider a weird and unladylike manner.

Currently balled up on floor and clutching her head, Kyoko had more questions than stars in the sky.

Just a few minutes ago everything was fine…Tsuruga-san was smiling, and calm, and….and-

Her face bursted into a dark shade of red after recalling the transaction that had just occurred between them moments before. Kyoko began violently shaking her head.

'N-nonononononnooOOOoOOooo! I can't believe it, I FORGOT t-t-THAT! Tsuruga-san had said that I was the one he likes! There's no way! NO CHANCE.' Kyoko jumped upright crossing her arms in an X symbol as if to further support her claim that there was no way in hell THE Ren Tsuruga was thinking of her in any other manner than a familiar Kohai.

Forgetting all about her Sempai's unexpected rage moments ago, she continued stirring the confusion happening inside her.

'But…surely Tsuruga-san wouldn't lie about such a thing…or d-do such a thing on a whim. He can't possibly be that big of a playboy…... right? He had even admitted to being jealous of that stupid Shotaro!'

Her mind quickly wandered back to the question of Ren's anger, then their talk in the elevator. She began running through each exchange of words to find a possible reason for his sudden mood change, dots connecting.

'GAAAAAAAAHHH, I'M SUCH AN IDIOT! I WASN'T SUPPOSE TO KNOW ABOUT TSURUGA-SAN'S FEELINGS, ONLY BO!' The people around Kyoko continued staring at what could easily be called a one-woman show as she appeared to be fighting herself. "So strange…"

No, with everything happening to her brain today she didn't want to keep entertaining a thought of Ren's anger stemming from realization that she is Bo the chicken. She immediately sealed that thought straight into the vault at the back of her mind for now and continued pondering.

It was right after they had looked at the television screen…. wait, did it have something to do with Cedric?

'Perhaps, Tsuruga-san is the one who knows him?' Kyoko needed answers.

For Ren's sake. and Kanae's. and her own.

Deciding she would simply be early to her next appointment, Kyoko drudged on her way to her next destination, praying to the gods that the professional mask she had in place would fool any colleagues enough to keep them from questioning her while she deals with her inner turmoil.

While rounding a hallway corner, closing in on the Love Me Headquarters. She was determined to get the 2 cents of her dear Moko-san on this insanity. Afterwards she would set off to the location of where her next meeting with the cast of "Lotus in the Mire" would be. She opened the door to the Love Me room only to be met with silence. "uWAAAAH, she's not here! Moko-saaaaaan!" cried the first member as she started away from the room, unsure of where to look next.

Kyoko then decided to rummage through her purse for her cellphone. She needed to talk to Moko-san. Now. Surely her wonderfully lovely best friend would soundly walk her through this earth-shattering dilemma she was facing…yes, that was the plan. Between needing another woman's opinion on the current affairs of her…. uhg, love life and the mysterious American star that had arrived in Japan, her mind was well above the clouds. Kyoko couldn't help but wonder if Kanae had already met the future co-star of hers yet…

Not paying attention to the path in front of her, and bumping into a tall solid figure, Kyoko recoiled.

"-oof, ouch" not even before picking her head up to look at the object of her collision, Kyoko began spluttering her apologies.

"I'm so so so so sorry! I really need to watch where I'm going more uhg I- "

Looking up, Kyoko was met with a man's hand and a perfectly tailored suit, its style somehow looking a bit… traditional? 'huh?' She brought her eyes to the man's face and realized who was wearing it.

"No need to worry, miss. It happens. Are you alright?" The man said with somewhere between an amused grin and a small smile, his sky-colored eyes not conveying any irritation from the sudden contact, but rather genuine concern? Curiosity?

Kyoko took a step back, mouth now agape 'you've got to be kidding me.' Her mind screeched to a halt.

As if the day wasn't already one extreme to the next…Kyoko didn't know what was more shocking in this moment,

the fact that before her stood none other than Hollywood's #1-star, Cedric D. Bennett,

or the fact that he was speaking to her in Japanese.