Hello my lovely readers! Guess who's back, back, back, back again! Well it's been a hot minute. I had this chapter done for a few months now but never got the chance to edit it. Well I just edit it and came up with a more solidified version of my plot. Anyways here is the fourth installment of The Silent Years. Hope you enjoy. Please review and give me feedback. Let me know if you hate it or love it!

P.S I don't own skip beat.

Happy Readings!

Ren sat in his hotel room looking out of the large glass windows. Lights across Tokyo glimmered and sparkled as night set in. Ren sighed and took a sip of whiskey. He set the glass down on the table in front of him and he slouched into his leather chair. He let his head hang back as he closed his burning eyes. He felt exhausted, aggravated and full of emotions. He couldn't fully articulate what he felt but he knew he felt anger, especially at the President's stupid stunt earlier today. He also felt yearning. Seeing Kyoko made him burn with desire but dare he say even deeper love? It weighed on him and it made him feel incredibly lonely. Part of him wanted her to remember but he knew they were better apart than together. He winced as he thought about this agonizing punishment. He tried to numb himself over the years but from just being with her for a few minutes he felt like his heart was ripped out of him. It felt like he as was out at sea in the middle of a storm and he was drowning. He inhaled and opened his eyes. He reached for his whiskey and drake the rest of the contents. He tried to keep his mind from thinking about what happened earlier but that was the only thing he fixated on. He reflected on the madness of the day. When did she become so beautiful? He thought as he clenched his shot glass.

Ren walked through the large oak door as Yashiro sheepishly trailed behind him. Sebastian led them through the lush office dressed in true butler attire. Ren looked around the office, he wasn't surprised by the president's extravagant ways. Lory Takarada had luxuriant furniture in the style of Victorian era England. He almost found it humorous but the chuckled died halfway in his throat as he noticed the president's guest. His heart stopped. A woman sat in front of Lory and all at once Ren felt captivated. He hadn't felt so enraptured in years. He knew that slender figure. He had looked at her so many times and there was even a time when he freely embraced her. He took a closer look at her. She sat in the chair properly with perfect posture. Her hair was now a long medium length and it was a deeper color of brown that suited a 22-year-old actress. She wore a simple white dress that fell a little above her knees exposing her lean legs. The dress had simple straps that held onto her shoulders. Though it wasn't extremely revealing, it was becoming. Oh, how he ached to hold her in his arms and tell her that he missed her.

'How could these emotions still be so raw?' Ren thought to himself. He quickly shook his head; he needed to stop desire from filling his heart.

' I can't have her. I must push her way. I can never have her again.' He told himself this as her golden eyes locked on his own. She stood up and introduced herself. He could feel his armor crack as he tried to catch his breath 'I will not give in; I will act to the death.' With that Ren hardened his look, knowing he was about to go into war. He then looked at the president who orchestrated this. He felt anger bubble inside him, knowing that Lory Takarada was up to something. Ren also knew it was the perfect chance to make a bad impression on Kyoko. He knew it would make it easier for them to keep a distance in the future.

"Mogami-san, please meet Tsuruga Ren, your co-star"

"Lory, what the hell is this!" Ren glared at the president. Yashiro's face started to drain color and his mouth hung open as he looked at Ren. The president just smirked.

"Ahh, I see that you made it Ren, nice to see you too. You look older but seem healthy. Please take a seat. You're probably tired from your long flight." He offered the seat next to Kyoko.

Ren looked at Lory and gave an aggravated sigh. Ren was about to turn towards the door, but Sebastian quickly closed the door. The president continued to smirk, and Kyoko tried to keep the shock off her face.

"Ren remember our agreement? Turn around, take a seat. I'll have Sebastian pour you something nice." Lory gestured for Sebastian to prepare the beverage. Ren clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. 'I can do this. Keep acting.' He slowly turned around and walked to the seat that Lory was gesturing to. He sat down and made brief eye contact with Kyoko. One thing was for sure, she had totally forgotten him. It pained him, but it was better this way. He would make sure she would never get to know him again.

"Well now that I have both of my actors here, we can review this project and it's contract. Here," The president handed both Kyoko and Ren a packet of paper.

"I already went through some of the details with Mogami-san. I'll reiterate and elaborate more. You are both going to be working on a movie directed by Takumi Miyamoto. It will be a romantic melodrama. Mogami-san and you are the leads. It wil- " Ren glared at the Takarada-san. 'What the hell is he up to? He brought me here because of his schemes?!' Ren thought. He needed to retaliate.

"Wait." Ren interrupted the president "You expect me to act with her?" Ren glanced over at Kyoko and scoffed. Kyoko looked at him incredulously but took a deep breath. Her face read 'How dare you judge me?!" Ren hated to act like an arrogant bastard but he knew how to push her buttons. He knew it was working from the look in her amber eyes.

"I-". She was about to speak but the president quickly took over.

"I wouldn't discredit her quiet yet Ren." Lory sensed Ren's irritation ", Director Miyamoto was the one who choose Mogami-san. He was having hard time finding a suitable actor to play opposite to her. He ultimately requested you knowing you would do a stellar job. It was not my meddling that brought this. So, please let me continue." Ren was about to open his mouth, but Lory was not having this behavior. "Leave your comments for the end. Back to the details, it is a movie. Filming will take place in the next two weeks, so there isn't a lot of time to waste. They expect filming to last for the next two months. It will be quick, so that means long hours but both of you are hard workers. You will have your first meeting tomorrow; you will both meet the other cast members and receive more details from the director. You will receive your scripts at this meeting. You will have a few days before the first initial script reading, so really focus on creating your characters. I'm thrilled that such wonderful actors are on board with this project. With that being said, please sign." The president gave them pens. The President gave Ren an expectant look.

"We really need to talk about this." Ren said as he was handed the pen.

"Ren there is nothing to discuss remember the deal?" Lory looked at him with a dark look. Ren knew he was under oath to do this project. He had broken his contact two years ago. The president had to clean up the mess Ren made. He owed him, the company probably lost money because of him. Ren sighed and reluctantly signed the contract. Kyoko noticed the intense exchange but also signed her contract.

"Excellent, let's shake hands" Lory stood. Kyoko stood up and quickly shook the president's hand. Ren got up and shook the president's hand. Ren was about to leave but Lory stopped him before he could move a limb.

"Please shake hands with your co-star." The president smiled stiffly. Ren stopped and turned towards Kyoko slowly. He looked her square in the eyes and let out his hand.

"I look forward to working with you Tsuruga-san and hope to exceed your expectations" Kyoko grabbed his hand and held it tightly. She smiled with clenched teeth. He looked at her expression, he knew his plans were working.

"That will be a challenge I am not easily impressed by anyone" He looked at her tauntingly. He then looked her up and down. Kyoko's brow furrowed. " Yeah it will take a miracle for me to be impressed. Good luck." He let go of her hand acting like it was beneath him to touch her. Lory Takarada looked at Ren with distain. Yashiro was as white as a ghost still unsure how to process this cold interaction of past lovers.

"Well with that I think it's time for you to take your leave. Thank you for so graciously taking on this difficult project Mogami-san." Kyoko looked at the president and bowed. With that she exited the office with Yashiro-san who seemed to have his jaw on the ground. Kyoko turned around to look Ren directly in the eyes and then walked through the door. Ren's heart tightened but he tried to suppress the feeling. Once the door closed, Lory looked irately at Ren.

"What the hell was that Ren? You don't have to be that rude." Ren was quickly brought back to reality.

"I could ask the same thing! Did you ask me to come back because of your stupid ass scheme?! What are you really trying to do here? Of all people, why was she here?" Ren glared at Lory Takarada. The president pinched the bridge of his nose trying to collect himself before he spoke.

" Kuon, you need to relax, please take a seat. I will tell you everything. Sebastian give him his drink" Ren quickly sat down. Sebastian gave him a glass of red wine

"First off, I have no hands in this as I said previously. It's hard to believe, I'm sure. Director Miyamoto asked for you. In fact, many directors have asked for you but I turned them. You're on this project because Director Miyamoto is going to make a beautiful film. It will be a piece of art and it's different than your typical block buster film. It's going to be raw, emotional and beautiful. You've never made a film like this before. The characters are complex and I think it is a perfect acting opportunity for you. Second, I didn't even suggest Kyoko. He wanted her to be in his film, he just informed me of his decision. So please don't take your rage and confused emotions on me." Ren understood Lory but still felt there was some plot.

"I don't trust you, I am leaving now." Ren gave back the wine to Sebastian.

"Wait, I have one more thing to say to you." Ren paused and looked at the president. "Please don't be mean to her. I'm not asking you to be Mogami-san's friend, but I am asking you to be professional. Your feelings cannot affect this job. Once this project is done you are free to go back to the US but for right now you're here. You signed the contract. Don't make me blackmail you and use lawyers. I don't want it to get ugly. I won't hesitate to make your life a nightmare" Ren looked at the president, he wanted to yell and cause a riot, but he knew it was useless. He knew the president was a powerful man and Ren knew he broke his contract. Lory could sue him, or worse... The president was often a wonderful man but when necessary he could be merciless. Ren looked into the dark brown eyes of Lory Takarada.

"I don't believe you, but I reluctantly accept this project. I don't know what you're planning but I am very cautious. I'll be professional, and act to the best of my abilities. Once filming is over, I'm flying out of this country. " Ren quickly left the office.

He almost wanted to laugh at the situation. It was unbelievable. Was God mocking him or punishing him? He poured another glass of whiskey. He had to make it through this hell for a few months. How would he be professional and keep Kyoko at a distance? He wasn't sure if he was strong enough. I'll keep pushing her away and it will make it easier to bear. He drank the rest of the shot in one gulp. He looked at the nearly empty glass bottle. He needed more. He knew he shouldn't be drinking like this but tonight he needed it. He was drunk but that didn't stop him from grabbing his phone and his wallet. He was going to find a bar, he grabbed his sunglasses and baseball hat. He had to get out of this hotel room, or he would go crazy.

Kyoko sat on the carpet of her new lush apartment with her legs crossed. She wore a messy bun that happened to be missing a strand. She wore cotton pajama bottoms and a plain tank. Her face was covered in an avocado clay mask. Her brow was furrowed as she looked at the wall.

"What is his problem?" She mumbled to herself. The way he acted was totally uncalled for. She had heard so many positive things about Tsuruga Ren. Everyone always praised him for his professionalism and kind nature. They always spoke of him in such a high fashion. They were all wrong.

She recalled Yashiro's shocked face, so that meant Ren really changed.

"It's probably because he's been acting in America and thinks he's better than everyone. HOW ARROGANT!" She detested conceited and prideful people.

"The president really wants me to befriend that man child?" She took in a deep breath. She was going to be okay. After how he treated her today, she burned with determination to win him over. She wanted him to take back his words. She was going to use all her acting skills and become his friend. She wanted Tsuruga Ren to acknowledge her as an actress and as a person. It would be difficult, but she would be able to do it. She looked at her laptop that was on the ground in front of her. She felt a surge of inspiration hit her.

"I have to research him to win!" With that she typed his name into the search engine. The first few things were news. She scanned through the titles 'Japanese Actor Taking Hollywood by Storm'; 21 Reasons Why Tsuruga Ren is Still Japan's #1 Heartthrob'; 'Why Tsuruga Ren left Japan Suddenly: Conspiracy Theories' Kyoko kept looking at them. She even saw some of his magazine spreads. Even if he was an asshole, she had to admit that he was very attractive. Too attractive that her mission to be his friend could be dangerous. Her eyes lingered over the perfectly chiseled face. Though he was rude, he was devilishly handsome. She felt drawn to him, but she quickly brushed that feeling away. She continued her quest. All the articles and tabloids seemed like a bad place to start. She kept scrolling till she found a wiki page. She clicked on the page and scrolled through the page. Ok so he has mixed heritage. Half Russian and half Japanese. He's 6'2. She looked at his award list. Ok so he's won a lot of awards. A lot. It was impressive she had to admit. She then looked at his filmography. She scrolled through the list and a title stood out. Dark Moon

"Wait I was on that project too… I should have remembered! I really need to memorize all the co-stars I've ever filmed with. UGH. " Kyoko looked the screen. She wasn't sure why it didn't click till now. In fact, she should have recalled something so important. She felt kind of stupid. 'That means I've meet him before, I treated him like I've never seen him in my whole life.' Kyoko covered her face with her hands, she felt so embarrassed. She let out an exasperated sigh.

'We're probably acquaintances already. UGH! Wait. Why did he act like it was our first meeting then…' She thought. 'Was it because I treated him differently. It still doesn't explain why he acted like he didn't know me. He could have at least acknowledged me? What is his problem?'

They had to have some sort of relationship before even if it was only acquaintances. She would have known if they had a relationship because she read countless tabloids and news about her past. She knew she would have to investigate this. Kyoko scratched her head. She could ask those around her but maybe it would be better to ask the source directly. She wasn't entirely sure if that was a good idea quite yet. If she could become his friend, maybe she could ask him. Kyoko was quickly taken from her thoughts as she heard a loud banging on her door. She let out a small yelp. She looked at the large door from her living room. She stood up cautiously.

"Who could even be here at this time of night" She said as she looked at her clock that read 23:00. Maybe she could ignore it. If someone really wanted to see her, they would have called or texted. She sat back down taking a deep breath to calm her heart. It was quiet for a few moments before the knock became even louder. She let out another small yelp. What if it was a crazy fan or paparazzi?! She couldn't have them find her home again, that is why she moved. She tireless searched for a new apartment and she came across this one. It was secluded and her apartment was the only one on the hallway. Once she entered the place, it felt so familiar. It was strange, she hadn't felt that way about something. In the end she chose it because it could conceal her whereabouts but she also felt that this place was important. It held some sort of secret magic. That magic could help her remember the not so distant past. She had been living there for a month and the seclusion part was working but the magic part had yet to work. There was another knock at the door, but it was faint. Kyoko grabbed her phone.

"Maybe I should call Yashiro-san." There was another knock on the door, but it was soft Kyoko thought she imagined it. She looked for something she could use for self-defense. Her eyes locked onto the TV remote; she quickly grabbed the rectangular object. It wasn't much but it could hurt. She walked cautiously towards her door. She quietly approached the door and then looked through the peep hole. There was nothing.

"Maybe they are hiding outside my door. They could be checking if I'm home or not. That would be bad if they wanted to break in." Kyoko reached for the lock and unlocked her door. She could maybe report whoever she saw or take them down. She had been training recently for one of her roles and felt somewhat confident in her strength. She slowly opened her door and looked out the small crack. She looked to the left and right and saw no one. She was about to close the door when she noticed something on the ground. It was a human. Kyoko looked at the tall male who was currently laying on the ground. His dark hair covered his face and he let out a small groan. She knew who this was.

"WHAT THE-" Kyoko screamed as she realized it was the man whom she was just thinking about.

"Tsuruga-san, how- what- wh- !" Kyoko ran over to him. He opened his eyes and there was such warmth in them. He grabbed her hand gently. The light touch burned into her skin. Kyoko felt her pulse quicken. He was dangerous. Then he smirked which was even more lethal. She felt drawn to him.

"You look beautiful, sweetheart." He attempted to reach his hand to move a stray hair out of her avocado masked face. Kyoko held her breath but before his hand made it to her face, he dropped it. He mumbled a few words and closed his eyes. Kyoko felt so confused. 'How did he get here?! How did he find me? Did he just call me sweetheart?!'

Well that's a wrap. I'm still trying to figure out all of this. So if you have any suggestions they are very welcomed. I have been trying to come up with a plot for the movie Kyoko and Ren are going to star in. I've been watching The Painted Veil (2006) and Gone with the Wind for inspiration. I highly recommend those movies, if you are looking for some melodrama. Seriously good films, acting is great. Painted Veil especially has beautiful cinematography. Anywhoo, thanks for those who have reviewed! I'm going to try to update as often as possible. Stay tuned!