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

I do not own Skip Beat.

Just wing it!

"So what I'm wondering is why he's so interested in Maseru now, he's never even bothered with either of them, it's all been Shona." Lory nodded along to Yashiro's words as Yashiro started pulling more documents out of his parents' office safe where all important documents were kept.

"Maybe there's something in that." Lory said as skimmed a contract and set it aside neatly moving to the next one as Yashiro sat down with his stack.

"I keep telling Oto-san to let me sort all of this out and he always dissuades me." Yashiro muttered as he started skimming paperwork again.

"Maybe he was scared you would find out what really happened back then." Was the muttered response as Lory didn't even look up, but Yashiro did as his hands stopped on the file before him.

"You knew didn't you?" Yashiro asked as Lory finally stopped and looked up at the young man before him, Lory was not a man to mix truths so he nodded and waited for Yashiro to continue.

"Was I the only one stupid enough not to be told or something." Yashiro asked, getting annoyed again as Lory sighed.

"No you where not stupid Yashiro, your family loved you so much they wanted to protect you. You know I offered financial help to your sister and she refused outright but she asked me for one thing, the only thing that silly girl has ever asked me for and do you know what that was?" Lory asked, Yashiro shook his head as to the negative and Lory made sure he held Yashiro's eyes as he spoke the next words.

"She asked me no matter what that you were to be looked after, she said you gave so much to others you often forgot about yourself and that her leaving would be a big blow to you. She told me that although you were young naive in ways, you were strong and clever and worth so much more than you thought yourself worth.

She wanted you to be able to reach your goals and go beyond them and you did that you know, you became successful you never needed my help I just pointed you in the right direction and you made it happen. You know I praise anyone that will listen the day you walked through the doors of LME and became one of my children Yashiro Yukihito, there is no one else in the industry today who I could imagine being able to managed Ren and then to take on Kyoko jtoo as well... you're a braver man than me." Even through the still stinging pride, Yashiro felt warmth growing in his chest. He loved his job and he was proud of it but to hear that Lory the president of LME the biggest entertainment company in Japan thought he was doing a good job made him just a little bit smug, Lorys next words made his battered pride even more.

"saying that when all of this is over schedule time to see me we need to talk about your raise." Yashiro literally sat stock still as Lory who was back again looking at the papers before him.

"My raise?" Yashiro asked as his breath hitched he had already had a small boost when he was looking after Kyoko as a temporary manager he had not expected more.

"Of course you are managing what could be my two greatest talents if that girl learns to love she'll be even more popular than Ren you make my words." And that was that no argument, no hassle Lory simply knew what talent cost and he paid for talent, this was why Lory had staff that had been with him since the very beginning.

"Thank you." Yashiro said as he too went back to reading through the paperwork before him. To start with they need to find their copy of the contract and then the real work

Would begin.

Ren carried the last box in and placed it on the floor where Itsumi directed.

"Thank you for this." He said as Itsumi smiled

"Don't thank me, I offered to help and I enjoyed helping. It's odd I sometimes struggle with people but around Kyoko everything seems a little easier and I even if the uniform is horrendous it actually feels nice to be part of something like the love me section." Ren smiled

"You're more than welcome to join our ranks anytime you wish. Though you will have to explain what love you've lost to the president." Chiori said as she walked in through the door at the last comment and smiled brightly at them both.

"There are refreshments downstairs ready when you guys are and I think Maria has already dragged Kyoko to the kitchen to make some snacks with Aio and Masaru. I think it's more to take their mind off everything than anything else." Ren nodded as he led the woman to the door.

"And Kanae-san?" He asked as they proceeded him out of the door.

"She offered to go and get Shona." Chiori said softly, she had never felt so in-awe but also so sorry for someone, Shona had given everything for her family, for her children and this was what she got for that? An unfaithful scumbag of a husband who was now trying to not only separate twins but also rip one away from his mother who Chiori knew was his world.

"Don't worry Chiori-chan if anyone can find a way out of this and also get some justice for Shona it's Yashiro and the president." Chiori nodded as she continued leading them down the halls Ren knew so well from childhood. They had always felt so empty back then when he had been half Kuon half Ren but now it felt warmer somehow, it felt welcoming knowing his friends were here and Kyoko knew him for him and accepted that fact.

He was going to be playing opposite her as her love interest no less, she was his friend and thought of him as such and no matter how he swung it, he felt closer to his goal than he had ever felt in all of the time he had been in Japan. Maybe he should call his parents? No matter what he needed to let Lory know kyoko knew and if Hisoka was going to start causing trouble his parents had big sway in the right circles.

She knocked the door lightly and waited, the half choked out "come in" was all she needed to know that her thoughts had been right on the mark. She pushed the door open slowly and saw Shona seated on the edge of the bed tissues in hand as she tried to dry her eyes in vain, Kanae now wondered why she had offered to come and see if Shona wanted to come and have drinks with them she was no good with emotions and people. Hell she didn't even know how to handle her best friend when she got upset, never mind other people. She remembered back to that morning, had it really only been that morning? So much had happened in just this day it was already dark outside much like the time it had been the night before when Yashiro had driven her to his apartment, cooked them all a wonderful meal and they had talked about the woman before her now, the woman that had unintentionally broken Yashiro's heart by trying to save him.

Thinking of this morning and how much better Kyoko hugging her had made her feel Kanae swallowed her last ounce of resistance and strode into the room taking the older woman in her arms still in her sitting position Kanae held Shona, and as the kinda act flowed warmth into the woman her tears fell and she sobbed. She had been holding everything together for so long she had been strong and defiant she had held on for her children, but after that letter this morning stating Masaru was to be removed from her care and handed over to her good for nothing, cheating, lying husband she just couldn't do it by herself anymore.

She had never wanted the help she was proud, she had denied Lorys help the first time but why? she wondered now. could she have avoided this altogether? No, she thought as she thought of her children she had been honest with her brother, her children were her strength and not knowing them? The pure hearted headstrong Masaru or Aio the heart on her sleeve, a worldwise child who seemed to have grown up so fast. Thinking of a world without those two in hurt more than the life she had already live through.

Maybe the woman holding her so gently had been right that even though the road may be harder for some on the path they choose to travel it would always lead them to the point they were supposed to end up at and it is the differences in the path that decide the outcome. The thought that she had not told Yuki about the issues back then and that possibly that action had made it so Yuki would be here now to save Masaru was the biggest blessing, because if anyone could save her son, it was her little brother.

"Thank you." Shona said softly as she began to get control of her thoughts and feelings once more as Kanae softened her hold and pulled back slightly so she could look down and see Shona's eyes just as Kyoko had looked into hers this morning the confusion she had seen when she first entered the room was fading and Kanae wondered had her eyes looked like that this morning.

"You have nothing to thank me for." Kanae said as she finally let go and took a few steps back, Shona chuckled as she wiped her eyes once more and smiled at the younger woman.

"I think I do, you comforted Yuki earlier when I could not and you comfort me now." Kanae pondered only a moment before replying.

"You helped my best friend gain her wings and taught her to fly. We can call it even." And with that Shona really did laugh, the bell like sound filling the room as she once more looked over the woman before her.

"You know I followed LME religiously while we were in America, it was my tie to my brother to begin with and then it was my way of entertaining myself and made me less homesick. I am very sure you are aware people call you the Ice Queen of LME?" Kanae nodded completely aware and not in the least offended by the title as the president had told her when it first came about any publicity is good publicity and the fact they said she was capable of 'melting into any character' helped too as she felt closer to Kyoko because of it.

"When I first walked into that studio and saw you there with Kyoko and Chiori, I honestly wondered how I should handle you. Luckily Yuki had told me things about you the fan pages, interviews and articles didn't say." She wasn't surprised when Kanae herself looked shocked.

"He had talked about me?" She asked as Shona nodded.

"Oh yes, I've been hearing all about the love me section for over two years now, to begin with I will admit it was just Kyoko but then you filmed the Kurara commercial and suddenly it was Kyoko and Kotonami and I will admit to begin with I thought 'oh ho!' Finally a beautiful woman has caught his eye, but no you were more than that to him and he made that abundantly clear. You were clever and quick witted for all you didn't like interacting with other people much, you were a professional in everything you did and you took your job seriously no matter what job you were given and you worked hard.

You see my brother is perfectly suited for someone like Ren, they are concertante professionals and give 100% at everything they do, but they also don't stop to think about the world around them much. But you love me girls... you Love Me girls completely changed all of that! It was like you had suddenly put the rest of the world back into colour which had only been gray and uninteresting until now.

So when I walked into studio 2-B I was happy to meet the woman my brother had described, not the 'Ice Queen' . Instead I got to meet and see the world Yuki had described to me and suddenly I felt less alone. Maybe that's why I'm going soft now and need you all for help so much." Shona said with a sigh as she stood up and brushed the creases out of her trousers and blouse beat she could.

"I don't think you asking for help is weak Shona, if anything I think it shows how much you have grown. I used to think I could do anything myself and I didn't need other people, most of whom I thought would kick me

As soon as my back was turned. It was Kyoko who taught me different she taught me that having someone to fight with you rather than fight to keep them out was easier than try to fight every battle alone, and if anyone can see me as anything more than an ice queen it's all because she took the chance and forced her way into my frozen heart and began thawing it out. It was only because of Kyoko I could start seeing things that I otherwise would have missed.

Like the fact that even if I don't talk to them and tell them things my brothers and sisters still try to look out for me and that must be really hard to do, as trust me I've made it difficult, then things I've spoken to Chiori about, to Yukihito about have made me understand just what it would mean if those people were not there anymore.

Ren taught me that patience is it's own reward with how he treats Kyoko and how slow he's willing to take it with her as not to frighten her away and I think he is so close to opening up that last part of her heart that I cannot help heal.

Honestly I'm terrified that when he finally does, Kyoko's not going to need me anymore and that I'm going to be the one who is left lost because of this all." There she had finally admitted it, Kanae thought to herself as she looked at Shona who looked back.

"I don't think that will ever happen, Kanae. I think what you and Kyoko have is special and I don't think any man or men will ever be able to get in the way of that." Kanae smiled and patted Shona on the shoulder as she stepped over to her.

"then believe me when I tell you, you are not going soft nor are you weak, you're just learning to rely on people when you need it most and that's a good thing. Chiori told me once when we were talking about Kyoko that humans were not solitary creatures and that even though we could live alone we were more like creatures who live in families or herds as we can look out for each other and protect each other, now I don't think I want a big herd of my own but I think now I would be ok with a smaller family and in a way Kyoko is the family leader or maybe the president is but it's nice to not have to watch my own back all of the time, knowing there are other people their that will do it for me simply because they care." It was an odd analogy to be sure but it made it easier to talk about and get her words out when she thought of it in the way Chiori had described.

Her family was like a giant herd, hundreds sometimes thousands of creatures (or so it felt like to Kanae.) all together looking out for each other and easy to lose yourself in, which terrified her but then there where the prides of lions or the packs of wolves families that were not so large but strive to live together and protect each other yes they may look to leaders but none were lost in the numbers none was more or less important in the long run it was this type of family Kyoko had introduced Kanae too and it was this type of family Kanae had only just the last few nights realised she would fight to keep.

"You know I like that idea too, Shona said as she wrapped her arm lightly around Kanae's shoulders and pulled her in for a sideways hug before stating simply.

"Shall we go see what trouble my children, Maria and Kyoko are getting into? I'm sure Yuki and Lory will be back before we know it and I for one am hungry." And together they strode out towards there awaiting family.

"Don't you think it's odd?" Yashiro asked as he placed the contract down on the table before them all and Kanae being the keener mind in this situation studied it minutely including the small print.

"Do you think it's fake?" She asked as everyone watching looked towards Yashiro.

"No, I don't think it's fake. The lawyer drew it up before my parents and Shona themselves but I do think that they don't know about this. Sebastian did some digging on Lorys behest, it seems the *cough* scumbag was being forced towards an arranged marriage by his parents." Shona looked up at this and then back down at the contract they had found in her parents home.

"He wouldn't have liked that, he was too much a ladies man through and through I doubt unless he has some sense physically knocked into him or does find someone he is in love with he will always not be satisfied with just one woman." Lory and Yashiro nodded; this had been there thoughts exactly.

"Well what if his parents never knew about the contract and suddenly he was losing not only his 'loving wife' but also his only heir for the future of the company, you can imagine they would not be happy... it would also explain why he wants Masaru and not Aio... he wants the first born son." Shona's hands clenched on the table she had never had a problem with his parents they had always been wonderful not only to her but also her children, his mother had cried when she had told them of their decision to divorce and with the fact they knew of their sons terrible habits for other women they were only shocked she had waited this long, which yes it made sense they would not know about the contract... did that also mean they knew nothing of his behaviour before?

"So you think I should contact them?" She asked and Yuki nodded then shook his head.

"Actually no, I think we should get a lawyer to contact them and make it as official as we can. Lory has already instructed the lawyers that work for LME and they are simply waiting for your go ahead." She could see the begging in her brothers eyes, the support in Lorys and as she looked over at her children then to the young woman who had told her seeking help wasn't a weakness she nodded.

"Please instruct them to proceed, though make it known I do not blame them in the slightest and that they will still be the children's grandparents however this ends up." Lory nodded and smiled, Yashiro smiled too even if it was a little strained, that guys parents was still to close to the devil creature than he really wanted his sister or the children to be but he must admit they had always been the better people and in truth, he liked them, though that creature his sister had once called husband was a different thing altogether.

"Then let's get things in motion!" Lory said clapping his hands as just at that moment Kyoko the twins and Maria came in Kyoko pushing a cart.

"I hope your all hungry dinner is served!"

Thanks for reading

Neh xxx