Just a warning I am Dyslexic so my stories will not be perfect.

Hello!

Neheigh xxx

I just wish to clear something up in this fic

Guam never happened.

I started writing this before the guam arc, even if I am only posting it now, So no mother either (if you hadn't already guessed :) )

I do not own Skip Beat.

Just wing it.

It wasn't until Kanae had almost reached the Love Me locker room she realised her phone was missing, telling Chiori to go ahead without her and she would see her tomorrow she retraced her steps back to studio 2B where to her surprise Yashiro was still waiting.

"I thought you, Shona and the kids were off home?" she queried as he smiled at her warmly

"The kids are off on there ordered bathroom break while Shona is letting the dancers out of the loading entrance so I'm playing standing stone till they return." Kanae nodded in understanding as she walked over to the chair she had been seated in.

"I thought you had left too?" he half said half asked as Kanae easily found her phone which had slipped down the side of the cushion which she held up for Yashiro to see.

"Forgot this and heaven forbid Kyoko starts leaving me creepy messages to peruse through if i should not answer one of her phone calls if she needs me." Yashiro couldn't help but laugh at not only Kanaes words but her expression and it warmed his heart greatly that Kanaes first thought for losing her phone had been for Kyoko and not work, he still remembered the day Lory created the Love Me section he easily remembered Ren's misgivings, Sawara-sans unease at what he had called unsettling pain behind golden eyes and then of course Lory's own misgivings and dropping not only Kyoko from the LME auditions but also the woman before him now... the woman who could not see the value in love and friendship, the woman who wore and ice shield so thick it had taken someone very special to melt it away slowly piece by piece.

"Well see you tomorrow Yashiro-san." Kanae said as she again went to exit the studio, it was then Yashiro did something brave and completely without thinking.

"Kotonami-san?" he called and to his amazement she turned back to look at him without anger but simple curiosity in her gaze.

"Are you busy tonight?" he asked and hurried on as Kanae's eyes hardened minutely "It's just I was thinking maybe you would also like to come eat with us and then we could do the homework my sister has so graciously set us together... Though I will understand entirely if you have plans..." Yashiro waited and for some reason he couldn't quite place his stomach twisted and wriggled as he awaited her answer.

Kanae was simply stunned by Yashiro's offer it wasn't like she disliked Ren's manager on the contrary she actually had found herself enjoying the man's company when he wasn't fangirling over his best friend and her's, she also had to admit she enjoyed dancing with him... what did she have to do tonight? Other than this new home work... the answer was as normal when she wasn't working she would go home do any house work needed then lock herself away in her room and either read scripts, look for new auditions on the internet or simply try and stave off her own boredom. The only person who ever asked Kanae out normally without ulterior motive was either Kyoko or Chiori, she ignored any date request or 'get to know you better' outings to have this man now here before her asking her simply as a 'friend' dare she believe was almost as shocking as the first time she had seen him dance.

It took Kanae a few moments to organise her thoughts as she realised Yashiro was looking nervous awaiting on her answer when she blurted out the first thought that came to her mind "Wouldn't I be intruding?" the simple worry in her voice and tone swayed all of Yashiro's own as he smiled brightly "I would not have asked if you were not welcome Kotonami-san, it's not going to be anything special I was simply going to cook some food at my apartment and then I will drive you home. I have quite a large selection of music also so it would be useful for our 'homework' " Kanae couldn't help but giggle at the way he almost sighed out the last word and was quite shocked in herself when she realised that this offer was rather appealing to her. A home cooked meal she would not have to cook herself and a help with music which was not something she normally kept up to date with.

"I...I would be very glad to accept your offer thank you." Kanae said almost shyly, yet as she caught it in herself she flattened it below her stern exterior as she looked at Yashiro "I'll meet you in the lobby if that's ok? I still have my things to collect from the locker room." Yashiro nodded and told her that was perfect and he would meet her there as she left as quickly as she came once more and Yashiro couldn't deny the happy feeling it made erupt in his chest as from behind the stage curtain Shona smiled.

Ren simply placed the laptop between them on his lounge table as he sat down beside Kyoko, instead of Kyoko cooking they had called at a restaurant on the way home and taken food away with them rather than risking sitting among the numerous patrons out that evening, Ren smiled as Kyoko moved her glass of green tea further from the machine ever cautious.

"So.." he said as he pulled his own plate towards himself and smiled at the woman he loved "any idea's for what music to pick for our friends?" Kyoko swallowed the mouthful she had just been chewing and tilted her head thinking earnestly.

"Honestly I don't know much music at all Ren-san, when I was younger... Well you know all that, but otherwise I just know what background music we had playing in the stores I worked in and such. I don't watch the tv and then there is music for the drama's and productions I've worked in... but..." Ren smiled at her in a knowing way.

"That's not really what we are going for." Kyoko nodded and Ren thought for a moment "Ok let me ask you a different way then, what type of music do you think would fit your Moko-san? What would you like the music to say about her?" he began eating his own food as Kyoko thought about what she wanted to say about Moko.

"She was beautiful, she was amazing... yet she could easily be seen as cold Kyoko had heard it more than once the name ice queen, but no one truly knew how much she had to fight against Erika... poverty... her own fears and she had done it! She had come out of it all stronger, powerful a burning flame that just got brighter and brighter in Kyoko's eyes.

"I want something that shows just what a fighter she is, how she has used her own strength to get to where she is today and how she's only going to get better with time and her courage." Ren listened and was impressed by Kyoko's answer as he nodded.

"And Chiori?" He asked as Kyoko smiled widely "something fun for Chiori... something to show of her fun loving side, but also her calm side and caring nature... I love how Chiori seems to have so many sides to herself.. She's got the fun cheeky liveliness like today dancing with Masaru-Kun, yet she would happily sit and talk fashion quietly with Aoi-chan and then she was completely professional when she was talking with the other dancers today... she just seems to have so much packed into her body that it's bursting out almost." Kyoko didn't speak to Ren about the other sides of chiori, the vengeful, angry sides as like Kanae's fault's Kyoko just accepted them as part of who Chiori was and honestly she hadn't seen Chiori's hate notebook in... well she couldn't remember the last time she had saw it if she was honest.

"They are both their own kind of beautiful..." Ren watched as so many thoughts passed through Kyoko's eyes that he would have been happy just to watch those as she thought deeply about her friends. It wasn't until she looked up and caught Ren staring at her that she blushed and looked away back to her food. "Well you know something like that" she said as Ren smiled at her blush but decided to allow Kyoko time to collect herself once more.

"The one thing I love about music is the lyrics" Ren stated simply as he typed a few word's Kyoko had said followed by the word Lyrics into his search engine he looked at the results then changed his wording slightly as he slowly started to get songs following the turn of phase Kyoko had used for her friends Kyoko was amazed as Ren wrote down results categorizing them between Chiori and Kanae until he had about 10 song idea's for both girls, "well then shall we give these a listen too and see if we can find something we like?" Kyoko nodded still amazed by Ren's ease with the computer as he opened up youtube and began with the first song on the list for Kanae.

It was around 2 hours later when a laughing Kyoko realised there food which was only half eaten was now cold and had been pushed away by eager hands as they got more into choosing music for their friends, Kyoko had honestly never even realised there was so much music in the world! Some of it completely random, other songs were covered multiple times by multiple people then there was so many genres which mixed and intertwined then different countries had different styles and types and she honestly found it a lot more fascinating than she would have ever given credit for but she was almost beaming with the two songs they had finally settled on for here two best friends.

"Do you do this often?" Kyoko asked of Ren who smiled and shook his head, "I've done it a few times but I wouldn't say I do it often, normally if I need a good release or I have things I need to think about but also forget about" He replied as he carried the leftover food into the kitchen Kyoko following behind with the cups to get refills

"That sound's like a very complicated answer Ren-san." Kyoko replied almost pouting! Which ren decided then and there was even cuter than Setsu's pout had been.

"Well I'm a complicated man." he said not really thinking about his words until they had left his mouth.

"In what way are you complicated?" Kyoko asked as she continued what was now a rather friendly banter system they had built up as the heel siblings and both had been eager to continue after the roles ended. Ren wasn't quite sure what to say as he cleaned off the plates and placed them into the dishwasher. Kyoko never rushed him but she did notice Ren's longer than normal pause as he considered what he could tell her in that moment.

"You don't have to reply to that if you don't want to Ren-san it was rude of me forget I spoke..." Kyoko started to apologise rapidly when it seemed he wasn't going to speak but Ren shook his head butting in "No... no Kyoko, you are my friend and have every right to ask me that... it's just ... it's just I don't know what you will think of me if I do answer you honestly." the pleading in his eyes as he turned to Kyoko almost stopped her heart as Ren decided it was about time he committed to the niggling need that had been eating him alive for so long.

"Kyoko if I tell you everything... do you promise to listen to the end?" Kyoko couldn't help it as she simply nodded and even when Ren took her hand and led her to his sofa sitting her upon it and himself on the table before her Kyoko never spoke or even looked away from the man she was desperately in love with, somehow inside Kyoko knew that finally she was going to get answers to Ren's darkness.

It was as Aoi and Masaru sat talking quietly together after driving home from Yashiro's apartment that they both received a friends request on facebook with a name neither of them recognised, it wasn't until they both also opened up a private PM attached "Hey it's Chiori." smiling at each other they both accepted the request without question and were instantly grabbed into a group chat by the girl they had both only recently been able to call friend.

Chiori- 'Hi guy's hope your not busy'

Aoi- 'nope not busy, just relaxing after getting home. You?'

Masaru- 'no not really'

Chiori- 'Very good I was hoping we could pick each other's brains about our music homework (that means you too Aoi!) I need all the help I can get.'

And that was it, that start of a very long and enjoyable conversation for all of them as they passed music links and idea's back and forth with a lot of laughter and enjoyment. Later when Shona came up to see if they were alright and asked who they were chatting to, she couldn't help but smile by the pure happiness that shone from her children.

It was something that had always seemed lacking during their lives in America, it was one thing to know your father didn't love your mother but an entirely different thing to know he also didn't love or want you either. Shona had always hoped he would change his mind as they grew up but a leopard could never change his spots after all, but here and now back home in Japan they were thriving and her beautiful wonderful children were growing up so well.

They could see the love shining from their mom's eyes as they both promised not to stay up too late and kissed her cheeks. They knew their mother sadness and knew more than anyone what she had been through with their father, even if she had tried to protect them both from it they knew and seeing her so happy and laughing again they knew this was exactly where they all should be.

It wasn't until she left the room Aoi had a instantaneous idea as she sent a new message through to chiori, which stated an entirely new conversation path and also a much more serious one as together with one of their new friends the twins planned.

"So..." Yashiro said as he handed Kanae the glass of red wine he had brought back into the lounge with him as he sat facing her on the his love seat, the evening had been a rather lovely success in Kanae even telling a few humorous stories when the twins had asked. His sister of course had insisted on teasing him and telling some embarrassing stories but now alone with the beautiful woman before him Yashiro found himself a little tongue tied as he sipped his own wine to give himself a moment before he tried to continue.

"Any ideas of what type of music we should be assigning to our friends?" Kanae sipped her own wine appreciably before answering, it was a nice change to be treated this well Yashiro had been an attentive host and she had honestly enjoyed her evening with everyone.

"Well I was thinking about what Shona-san was saying earlier about how she picked her first joint piece for you both when you entered your first competition wanting to make sure people knew your relationship so she wouldn't have the embarrassment of telling people you were her brother and not her boyfriend." Yashiro whined as he covered his face with one hand "god she was so picky about that no one was ever allowed to question it, we were brother and sister half the time it was her opening line to the conversation!" Kanae chuckled and Yashiro couldn't help but smile "so in what way has my sister terrible need to make it clear we are related influenced you?" Kanae smiled as she leant forward placing her glass on the coffee table before she continued

"Well finding a song that fits their relationships, so for example Chiori's and Masaru-kuns song should be quick and full of life..." it was at this point Yashiro couldn't help but laugh out loud

"And Ren and Kyoko-chan's should be slow, drawn out and full of life bagged and mystery but eventually never getting anywhere." Kanae couldn't help but laugh also as the over exuberant way Yashiro threw his hands around and simply putting it as he did described both their best friends relationship in a nutshell.

"Exactly!" she managed to finally say as he laughing started to subside yet never full abating until Yashiro's did.

"You know it's amazing with how much he loves her no one outside of the industry has caught on,

I swear half of the people that see them together already know but either believe they are already quietly an item or wish to keep their private life completely separate from their professional life and everyone in it. It's a mark of how well liked they both are though I suppose that not once have I ever had to negate any rumours about Ren in its regards.

"What's it like being a manager Yuki-san?" Kanae asked it was something she had always wondered and Yashiro was more than pleased when Kanae had used his name as he had asked her too that evening even surprising him back with the returned offer in favour to herself. Kanae was pleased when Yashiro thought about her question she watched as he swilled his wine around his glass before speaking once more.

"It's not an easy job, but at the same time I doubt I could do anything more fulfilling as being Ren's manager I honestly do love my job even with the ups and downs it comes with. Crazed fan's... Ren's bad days when he hasn't seen Kyoko or they've had an argument" Yashiro enjoyed Kanaes chuckle here as he continued "But then there are the good day's the days everything goes right and he does an entire 5 hour set shoot with no NG's called or a director or caster with thank me for working the time into Ren's busy schedule so he could be there to work with them. It was really hard when I first started at LME I was straight out of University and my parents had always wanted me to go into the family business, but it wasn't something I had much interest in then after Shona married and the company was sistered with his family's company, my first cousin was chosen as a successor and I was free to do as I wanted to do.

It was something completely new to me... having that freedom to chose what I wanted to do... what I wanted to be I had majored in business management of course expecting this was to be my life but I never enjoyed it. It wasn't until Shona sent me an article for entertainment management for LME that it even occurred to me, I had always managed all of her show's and dances you see. It was my job to keep on top of it all and make sure she knew where she had to be and when without fault and I had enjoyed doing that so I applied and got the job. I traveled between a few talents to begin with and it was rewarding and interesting though due to my young age parents would never trust me fully looking after there young children preferring the older more world wise managers to bring them forwards and the older professionals saw me as greener than grass and probably expected my knowledge and qualifications to be more so.

I still remember the day thought the president called me into his office and told me he had found the perfect charge for me, he had already ran three managers into the ground and he was needing my expertise in management of not only his work but also his personal health and as the boss put it his emotional state in the way of a friend."

"Tsuruga?" Kanae questioned as Yashiro nodded before taking a sip and continuing

"He was always so obsessed with his work, pushing himself striving for this perfection I had never seen in a talent before. He would work harder than anyone I have ever met completely disregarding himself if I didn't remind him...it was almost... Almost like he was running away from someone...or something... that probably sounds silly... doesn't it?" Yashiro looked up at Kanae wondering if she would understand what he was trying to say and it pleased him to see her nod and even answered him.

"No it's not silly and honestly I completely understand what you're saying, sometimes... sometimes its not even like he a real person until... well until he is around Kyoko... it's almost like he is too perfect, too kind, too gentle... yet behind that there must be some fire, some darkness... and i think with Kyoko he shows this more than with anyone else..." Kanae wondered if Yashiro would be angry with the fact she had basically just called Ren's relationships with everyone but Kyoko fake and found she didn't want to continue what her thoughts had been incase she upset him, thought Yashiro continued for her.

"I honestly do think until Kyoko came into his life Ren was simply living a half life, it wasn't that he wasn't friends with all the people he met and befriended... more that he only realised how much he needed both sides of himself when he realised he had fallen in love with someone that gave everything all she was herself." They both sat quiet for a moment brooding over what they had just discussed both lost in there own thoughts and feelings about the people they honestly cared for, it was only when a new question came to mind Kanae broke the silence once more.

"Did you never wish to pursue your dancing further?" Yashiro shook his head and Kanae's heart ached slightly for the sad smile Yashiro gave her.

"My heart lost the will to dance when I lost my first and only partner... To a man that never even loved her..."

Hope you enjoyed it so far

Neh xxx

Comments and reviews please, I will happily reply to PM's and questions.