Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat, the story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fiction and not part of the manga's plot. Any coincidence are purely coincidence which I doubt would happen.

A/N: Writing this for kicks and giggles, arose from my frustrations with SB world. Please pardon my grammar or mistakes. Happy for you to point it out and if I can figure out how to change it, I will.


Blank Space - Chapter 2 - Off to Milan


Ren's having one of those really bad day. He's feeling highly agitated while driving Yashiro and himself to the private air strip. He did not see Kyoko for 3 full days nor spoke to her. He was about to leave Japan for two and a half months.

How he wished he could cuff her to his side. He shuddered suddenly and thought better of it. For his sanity's sake, if that were to happen he might just lose control just like their time as Heels siblings. He missed those moments where he could spoil her openly, pat and touch her whenever he felt like it without her running off like Speedy Gonzales. He nodded to himself, for her purity sake, that will not, should not, could not happen again. He wanted to move slowly so as to not scare the hell out of her. Kuon's getting terribly out of control whenever she was around post Guam. Ever the professional Ren is having a hard time suppressing Kuon slipping thru his persona.

He sighed depressingly while trying hard to concentrate behind the wheels. He fluidly downshifted to take a sharp corner. The powerful engine of his Porsche roared and responded to his manipulation like a tame beast. Driving and speed are his guilty pleasures. It usually took the edge off him. Unfortunately in Japan, the speeding laws are just too strict for his liking. As a public figure, he had to reel in his wilder urges. The temptation to take off and feel the adrenaline rush that came with the liberation was calling to his soul. The beast within him was stirring unrestfully. Yet today, every mile that passed by, cast him deeper into despondent and added to his volatile mood. He surreptitiously glanced at his mobile resting the dashboard holder for the millionth time and sighed yet again.

He noticed Yashiro's frequent glances at him while sporting a sickening smile. He chose to ignore and pretend that there's no one at the co-driver's seat.

"That apparition is a mad smiley ghost, that apparition is a mad smiley ghost! Ignore, Ignore, Ignore" he chanted to himself with annoyance mentally.

He had to finish all his other filming, commercial commitments and drama promotions the past week for his extended R'Mandy Europe stint. He groaned at how Lory tricked him into signing a two and a half months exclusive contract with R'Mandy. He was positive Fabio the executive creative director of R'Mandy had something to do with this as well.

Which led him to the root of his terrible mood. He had been extremely busy, but Kyoko seemed to be in the same state. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought she was deliberately avoiding him. They just seemed to miss each other in the past 3 days. He wondered what exactly she was busy with. She had been extremely secretive and told him via voicemail that she was preparing for the secret Love-Me assignment. They could not even speak on the phone properly and had missed each other on all their calls. He felt terribly unsatisfied with just hearing her voice on his mailbox. Another big sigh followed.

Kyoko had assumed that since Ren and Yashiro requested for her cooking abilities she need not explain further. She didn't want to expose Ren on his dislike for Italian food and mentally she agreed that "Moonfood" are not fit for a healthy body.

Ren on the other hand was prepared to murder Lory in regards to this secret assignment which had led her away from him. He briefly wondered if it was as ...cough... "scandalous" as the heel siblings since she was so secretive. The more he thought about that, the more agitated he became. He hoped fervently that he need not commit any murder should any other Y chromosomal species dared to touch her. He knew the inevitable, she was a gifted method actress and it would happen someday. He only wished that he would be her first for any romantic scenes. He was determined to engrave his essence and presence in her memory should the day comes. He sighed once again.

He glanced at his mobile for the upteen time, willing it to ring. In that short millisecond he took his eyes off the road, a crazy suicidal bird flew straight at his front windscreen. He's training in defensive driving from Dark Moon immediately kicked in. With split second observations of his surrounding, he did a heel-toe while clutched in and downshifted. His Porsche roared to life ferociously and broke the eerie silence in the early morning. He immediately oversteered, drifted across the next bend in a beautiful C-curve, cutting close to the guard rails at the edge of the downhill road. He managed to narrowly miss that crazy suicidal bird by centimetres. He retained perfect control of his prized machine and was back on track before long. The suddenly adrenal rush was soothing his edge and he smiled for the very first time this morning. He stole a glance at Yashiro and was surprised to see the man with big wild bug eyes holding on to his dear life with the roof handles.

"Take that you mad smiley ghost!" Ren thought childishly and smirked.

He pretended that nothing had happened and nonchalantly went back to his Kyoko musing. He promised himself that he will try to call her one more time before take-off to wrangle information out of her. Otherwise, he might just play hooky for the day when he arrives at Milan. He was intent to spend every single minute on the phone till he connects to her. He nodded to himself and started to feel slightly better. He wore a slight smile on his face.

Yashiro carefully peeked at Ren and was surprised by his smile. He was positive it must be something to do with Kyoko. He lost count of the number of sighing this morning. The crazy drift stint prior took almost 20 years off his life and all for the sake of one silly bird! His entire life flashed before him. He almost wept and kissed Ren when they were back on track. Yashiro was too stunned to even scream. He was positive Ren did it on purpose. He suspected long ago, under the surface of the perfect goody gentleman, lies an adrenaline junkie. Yashiro turned his thoughts to work as a distraction, he needed to calm his nerves.

Yashiro double checked his briefcase and spied 10 mobile phones in different boxes. He smiled to himself about his ingenuity to be prepared for "emergencies". He has the tendency to break any form of technology with his touch. The contact window has to be within 10 seconds or it would be destroyed beyond repair. He reckon if he was an international spy, he would be the best weapon for technological espionage.

"Who needs superheroes?" he thought to himself.


Meanwhile at Darumaya -


Kyoko on the other hand was making last minute checks on her supplies. She spent her last 3 days learning about Italian culture and food. In fact, she did a crash course on basic Italian so that she will not going in blind. She paid special attention to the condiments and sauces available in Milan. She studied and researched extensively about the fresh local produce. She was extremely productive with her time. She was intent on making Ren the healthiest breakfast, lunch and dinner.

She took Lory's decree seriously and wanted to do her best not only to repay for the opportunity to be Europe but to also care for her esteemed senpai. She had a luggage full of japanese sauces and packages just in case Ren, Yashiro or Ruto got homesick. She prided herself on her cooking skills and did extra cooking training with Taisho at Darumaya. Taisho and Okami was really happy to have her around the last couple of days. Taisho was spotted smiling various times by customers who looked bewildered. The man was usually fairly stern and grouchy.

When Okami send her off with Ruto this morning, Kyoko spotted tears in her eyes which in turn caused tears in Kyoko's eyes. They hugged for a long time while Okami gave her a string of instructions for self-care and to call back when convenient. The couple needed to know that she is going to be safe and well, they've come to love her as their own. Kyoko solemnly promised Okami she would call back often and told her not to worry.

During her ride to the air strip, she wondered what Ten had packed for her. She hoped that it's nothing like Setsu's usual wardrobe. She might have to summon Setsu for the entire trip if that's the case. Kyoko was very excited and apprehensive about meeting Ren. She missed him the past few days but their schedule seems to clash at every turn. She mind whirlpool on like a swirl of technicolor rainbow ice-cream.

She was secretly elated about the upcoming opportunities to see top models and beautiful people. She often wondered if some of them were actual half faes or fairies that got bored and decided to grace them with their lovely presence. Her mind went into the recess of fairyland and she plans on making friends with at least one fairy. She was hoping maybe Corn might appear as well. He's so beautiful with his golden blonde hair, flawless skin and magical emerald eyes that looks right into your soul.

"Corn is like the summer fairy. Prince of Summer Court" she thought to herself.

Her mind and emotions are in such chaos that she would love to meet Corn; her magical friend to ease her distress. With that as her last thought, she was lulled into a deep sleep. She only had an hour of sleep last night due to her preparations and worries.

Ruto looked at the rear view mirror and spotted Kyoko snoozing with her head slumped on the side window. He slowed the speed ever so slightly and thought to himself how young Miss Kyoko had brought so much happiness and joy to everyone around her. They were fairly early and hence he ease the speed even slower. He stopped the car briefly by the roadside, secretly took a snap of Kyoko and send it to Lory before continuing their journey.


At the private air strip -


Onboard the private jet, Ren was all settled in this seat staring hard at his mobile while Yashiro informed him about the ongoing post landing. The pilots and staff were doing some routine technical checks. He had tried calling Kyoko for the past 20 mins and everytime it went straight into her voicemail. He was in despair and felt like pulling his hair out.

"Why is fate so cruel to him?" he thought to himself.

He's now seriously contemplating on playing hooky post landing and plotting his escape from work.

Yashiro took in everything Ren did and inwardly smirked to himself. He pretended otherwise and deliberately went on with his incessant ramblings. He had been keeping his ears out for Kyoko's arrival and when heard some noises, he smiled like a cheshire cat. His eyes widen at the sight of Ruto carrying Kyoko's sleeping form onboard. He wondered briefly if Kyoko was drugged and immediately refuted that thinking. He watched Ruto gently lowered Kyoko to the seats and buckled her in. He was surprised that she was not awakened by it all and wondered if she was unwell.

Ren snapped out of his dark cesspool of despair when he heard the metallic snap of buckle. He looked up at Yashiro in confusion and slowly looked around. When he eyes landed on the lovely little form now covered with lush pink blanket, he gasps.

"I must be too tired, missing her way too much and thus dreaming" he thought.

Ruto walked over, motioned with his fingers to his lips and pointed to Kyoko. Ren nodded in confusion but a wide smile lit up his face.

"I'd get it out of her when she wakes" he mentally promised himself and gazed lovingly at the sleeping angel ignoring anyone else on the plane or the world be damned.

Ruto softly told Yashiro to return to his seat and walked towards the cockpit. He informed the pilot not to make any announcement and settled himself at the co-pilot seat. He keyed in a message for Lory with his mobile and off to Milan they travelled.


End of chapter 2


P/S: Once again, special thanks to my secret online betrothed and soul sista for beta! This is my writing experiment and any comments are welcome.