A/N: So, just a warning. Reino is going to be more…sinister in this story. Hope you enjoy.
Fear
The hope that Ren would somehow miss the cut on her cheek died as the gentle smile on his face did. His eyebrows knitted together and his joy at seeing her slipped away, replaced by a growing anxiety at how she refused to look at him. "Kyoko?" He bent down to her level and reached out, cupping her cheek gently and tracing it lightly with his thumb. "What happened?"
Mentally, Kyoko swore loudly. After leaving Sho's office that afternoon, she had planned to go home and try desperately to remove all traces of the scratch, but that had been before Ren called. His hopeful voice had invited her over for a 'first date' at his place, since he didn't want to chance getting spotted, and she had been completely unable to say no without any reason. So, sighing silently, she had agreed, hoping that he didn't notice her fake happiness over the phone. (He had of course, but had hoped that she would be willing to talk about it later.) Before he could offer to pick her up she had insisted on calling the driving service from LME and got a ride to his apartment. She was only a foot inside the door before he noticed. He was halfway to giving her a kiss hello when his eyes lingered on the mark on her face and he froze.
"Um…nothing. I just…" She stopped at the lifted eyebrow and sighed. "Please don't be angry." 'This was such a dumb idea. Of course he's going to be angry. I've ruined this before it even began.' He was staring at her closely, his thumb still on her cheek.
"Why would I be angry?"
"Because I did something stupid." A corner of his mouth lifted but worry was dominant in his mind at the moment.
"Alright. I won't be angry with you." She frowned, looking down, but he took her hand and tugged her into the kitchen, grabbing his first aid kit on the way, and sitting her on a stool at his counter. He sat beside her and rubbed a cream on the cut carefully, then placed a small Band-Aid over it. "So what happened?" He asked as he pressed the Band-Aid against her cheek.
"Well, I was doing Love Me work at a studio near LME for a new variety show called Bridge Rock." He nodded, placed his head in his hand. "And…well it actually starts before that. Um…I heard about a new band, called Beagle." He narrowed his eyes in confusion but didn't interrupt. "And…" She looked down at the floor. "And all that they are doing is copying Sho; his music, his style…everything." She kept her eyes on the floor, not wanting to see his face. "So, when I was at the studio, I…realized that Sho was there…at the studio." She peeked up at him, and he was nodding quietly, an unreadable expression on his face. She shut her mouth, looking back down at the floor.
"Go on. I said that I wouldn't get angry with you." He wasn't angry…but he felt that he was about to be. Pushing it down, he kept listening to her with as open of a face as he could manage.
"Um…okay. And, I went into his room…and I…I told him that the reason he couldn't succeed as a musician was because he didn't have any passion for music, and I called him a coward…and he got really angry…and…" She stopped and his hand squeezed hers gently. 'Go on.' His expression told her. Her voice dropped and she took a deep breath. "…and he hit me." She peeked up at him again, and she was surprised to see his eyes widen. "Um…I'm really sorry." She said softy.
"Kyoko…" His hand encased hers. "Kyoko…why on earth are you sorry?" His voice was filled with barely contained rage, but his eyes were soft as he took in her sad expression.
"I…I shouldn't have gone to see him."
He sighed, cupping her cheek. "I agree. You probably shouldn't have done that." He took a long deep breath, forcing his jaw to unclench. 'If I show her how furious I am…then she'll think I'm angry with her.' "But it is not your fault that he hit you." She looked up at him. "Okay?" She nodded a little. "Now where is he?" She frowned, a little confused. "I mean, which studio is he in?"
She hesitated. "Um…why?"
"I just wanted to have a talk with him." He gave her a large, shiny smile, and she grabbed his arm.
"No! Ren, don't!" She pleaded. Now that he was no longer comforting her, she could see the blind hatred in his eyes. "I'm fine. I won't go near him again! Please don't do anything to him."
"Do you honestly think I'm going to let him get away with this?" He cried, looking down at her in astonishment. "He hurt you!" She squeezed his arm, looking up at him imploringly.
"Ren, if your career is hurt because of me…" She trailed off, tears in her eyes. "Please?" He sighed loudly, pushing his anger to the back of his mind and vowing to talk to Fuwa later.
"Alright. But…" He placed his hand over the one on her arm and held it. "If he ever does something like this again, I am going to do something about it. I'm going to talk to the President as it is." She nodded, looking at the ground, and he leaned over, kissing the top of her head. 'I'm still going to go see him as well…but I'll keep that a secret for now.' "Well, I invited you over for a date and haven't done anything but make you worry. I'm sorry." He tugged on her arm, leading her to the other side of the kitchen where take out bags were sitting on the counter. She smiled a little as he pulled out containers and emptied their contents onto a plate and handed one to her. "What would you like to drink?"
"Um…water is fine." She assured him. He poured her a glass of ice water and handed it to her, then headed over to his liquor cabinet.
"Do you mind if I have a drink?" He asked, hesitating in front of the huge cabinet filled with bottles with foreign names. She shook her head and smiled.
"Not at all." She carried her plate and cup into the living room, but he stopped her.
"We're not eating in there. This way." She went back through the kitchen and followed him into a large room she had never entered off the kitchen. It was dimly lit, with a small table in the middle. On the table was a white table cloth, two lit candles, and a basket of bread. She stood in shock for a minute until he took her plate and cup, placing them on the table, then held out a chair for her with a gentle smile.
"Re...ren" She whispered, walking over and sitting down with a blush. "You didn't have to…"
"I know. " He sat across from her. "But I knew that we couldn't go out to a nice place because I might get recognized, and I didn't want you to have to cook. This was the best I could do." He smiled apologetically and held out a breadstick. She took it and bit into it with a grin.
"Mm. The food is fantastic. Thank you."
"Of course. But yours is better." She laughed, and their talk turned to Dark Moon as he admired how beautiful the soft candlelight made her eyes. For a little while, they discussed the drama and their coworkers, until Ren caught her staring at his wine glass. He held it out with a smile. "Do you want to try it?" She blushed brightly.
"Um…no thank you." She looked back down at her plate sheepishly and he laughed.
"I don't mind." He told her in amusement, placing it in front of her, and she hesitantly reached her hand out, placing her slender fingers around the fancy glass. He watched as if spellbound as she brought it to her lips and took a sip, wrinkling her nose and opening her eyes wide in surprise at the taste. He laughed softly when she pushed it back over. "Well?"
"I'll stick to water." He laughed with a nod, taking a sip himself. "So, um…I've never really…been on a date." She admitted quietly to her plate. He wasn't surprised, but still had to resist the urge to tease her. He placed his head in his hand, watching her attentively. "And…I don't really know what I'm supposed to do." She was blushing lightly as she placed her fork back on the plate and clasped her hands, looking up at him innocently. He stifled a groan.
'Does she realize how sexy she looks? No. Of course not.' "Well, a date is just a way for us to spend time together. You don't have to do anything." He told her simply. "I was just planning on eating dinner with you and maybe watching a movie. Is that okay?"
Kyoko smiled. "That sounds perfect."
Reino stared out the window of the studio in contemplative silence. "Wonder what he's thinking about." The man Reino had labeled Idiot #2 in his mind whispered loudly.
"I don't know. Probably the future!" Reino stifled a groan. He couldn't see the future, nor did he want to. It was the past he was able to delve into. That and the mind of an interesting young woman. 'Something obviously went on between her and Fuwa…she must belong to him. But those little grudges…so passionate.' He grinned a little, aroused as he remembered the fury in her eyes. 'If I could just make her angrier than Fuwa…she could easily be mine. Then not only would I have a fun new toy, I'd have totally defeated Fuwa.' He smirked. 'Look out little red riding hood.'
On the couch beside Ren, Kyoko suddenly shivered violently. Her little grudges, resting just below the surface, suddenly fled in terror. The man beside her jumped, staring down at the girl hugging herself and shivering in surprise and concern. "Kyoko?" He put an arm around her, pulling her close and rubbing her arm, which was cold and covered in goosebumps. "You should have told me if you were cold." He scolded gently, grabbing the blanket on the back of the couch and covering her up. He himself was almost too warm and wondered how she could possibly be cold, so he placed a hand on her forehead, hoping that her fever wasn't somehow returning.
The strange terror invaded her consciousness and she subconsciously gripped Ren's shirt, clenching the material in her hands and moving closer to him. She could hear him speaking to her, but something was paralyzing her, a strange purple mist surrounding her. 'I don't understand! What's going on?' She felt a hand on her forehead and the cold slowly dissipated, leaving her shaken.
Ren's dark brown eyes were watching her anxiously, but she didn't relinquish her grip on his shirt. Instead, she rested her head against his chest in mute anxiety, hoping that his warmth could somehow protect her. It worked. His arm wrapped around her, and it felt like her blood was once again flowing in her veins. 'What was that?' She wondered. 'Like something was preventing me from moving…like something was going to…' She shuddered slightly at the cruel amusement that mist had seemed to take in her terror and Ren held her closer.
'Terrified…she seemed terrified. But why? I didn't do anything.' He glanced over at the screen. 'This movie isn't scary. Besides, her arms were like ice.' She finally stopped shaking and pulled away a little. "Are you okay?" He asked gently. "Are you feeling sick?" She shook her head.
"I…I'm fine." She said quietly, but he noticed the fear still in her eyes and the way she hadn't let go of his shirt. He placed his hand over her still-cold ones and squeezed gently. She let go and let him hold her hands, warming them up. "I'm not sick." He was looking at her critically.
"What…what was the matter?" He asked softly, almost afraid of scaring her again.
"I…" She looked up at him hopelessly. "I don't know. I was just…" She sighed, not knowing what to say. "…scared." She whispered. He placed an arm around her again, pulling her to his side, and kissing her head.
"Alright." His voice was uncertain, but he continued rubbing her arm. "Whatever it is, you don't have to worry." He assured her kindly. "I'm here." She nodded, letting her head rest against his shoulder and looking back at the screen, trying to get back into the movie.
Ren glanced down at her occasionally, but soon realized that whatever it was that had caused her to react so violently was, apparently, gone. He held her tighter for a second as her breathing evened out and she started to drift off. 'But what could that have been? Some kind of…sickness?' The idea made fear pool in his stomach like lead. 'Irrational fear? Some sort of…anxiety disorder?' He decided to do a little research later. 'Whatever it is, I will protect her, no matter what.'
Reino sighed and gave up. 'Something is stopping me from getting into her mind. It would be easier if I could touch her.' Shaking his head, he gave up for the night and climbed into his coffin. Then another idea hit him and he grinned in the dark.
Shoko had been giving him dirty looks for the last hour. Every time he moved to touch her, to kiss her, or even just passed by, she would turn away, disgust blatant on her face. "Shoko!" He whined as she stood from the couch, heading for her own bedroom. "Where are you going?" She turned to him, her eyes as hard as flint.
"I have never been so disgusted with a man in my life." She hissed. He groaned.
"Oh come on. She was fine." Even as he said it, the memory of her soft flesh as he slapped her, the pain that flashed in her eyes before it was replaced by hatred, the blood on her finger, invaded his mind. He swallowed the nausea and clenched his fist. He had never struck a woman. Ever. It was something he could never imagine himself doing. 'But…I was just so angry. I didn't mean to. I would never knowingly hit her…not matter how much she hates me now.' He grimaced, her stunned face flashing in his mind again. "I'll apologize, alright!" Looking up, he realized that she had already disappeared into her own room. Not bothering to go after her, he stretched out on the couch irritably. 'I'll just go to the set of Dark Moon tomorrow and apologize.'
Instead of waking her, Ren had placed Kyoko in his guest room, vowing to get some clothes in her size and some other things she might need if she stayed over. 'Hopefully, she'll be spending more time here.' Tucking the blankets around her, he felt another wave of anxiety. He hadn't tried asking again what had happened. The fear and confusion in her eyes had told him that she knew as little as he did. Instead, he had held her as she fell asleep, kissed her goodnight, and left her in the guest room.
Kyoko was dreaming about a man. What bothered her was the fact that it was not Ren. Looking around at the purple mist, Kyoko felt like she was wide awake, but knew she was asleep. The man had silver hair, was nearly as tall as Ren, and was thin and fragile looking. His back was to her, but when he turned around, she saw that his eyes were a cool purple and his lips were curved into a cool smirk. "Hello Kyoko." She shivered, stepping back in fear.
"Who are you?" She snapped, trying to cover her terror. He wasn't fooled. Taking a step closer, he reached out a hand and the mist was once again holding her hostage, the fear so real she could taste it in her dry mouth.
"That isn't important right now." He was moving closer, his hand outstretched. "I just need to find you." She whimpered, trying to scream, but couldn't make her voice work. She managed to step back, shaking her hand. "Now, don't fight me." His voice was amused. "It will just take a second. Just one touch." He was only a few feet away now, moving closer and closer, his pointed nails reaching for her. Whimpering louder, she managed one more step back before hitting a barrier. He rolled his eyes. "Stay still." He ordered. His nail grazed her skin and a scream tore from her throat.
Ren jerked awake as the scream echoed through his apartment. "NO!" The high pitched, anguished scream flooded his system with adrenaline and he was on his feet and in the guest room (which he privately thought of as her room) and at her side in seconds. She was screaming, thrashing from side to side, her hands clenched into fists. The shrill sound went straight through him and he took her by the shoulders.
"Kyoko!" He sat her up and held her by the shoulders. "Kyoko!" He yelled over her screams, his voice laced with desperation.
The silver haired man jerked away in irritation. A warmth surrounded her, repeating her name again and again. "Who is that!" He snapped. She groped wildly at the warmth, trying desperately to wake up.
The girl' screams faded to whimpers as she jerked awake. He stopped shaking her and lay her back down, his hand still on her shoulder. His other hand stroked her sweaty face as she panted, her cloudy golden eyes meeting his anxious ones. His thumb wiped a tear away from her eye and she sat up, throwing herself into his arms. She whimpered, sobbing softly into his arms. "Shhh." He whispered. "Shhh, I'm here. I'm here." He whispered over and over, rocking her. "It's okay. No one is going to hurt you. I'm here."
'He was so real! I could feel his nail touching me.' Trembling, she gripped her arm where he had touched her, and felt Ren stroking her back. Glancing up at the side of his face, she saw that his jaw was clenched in anxiety. "I'm sorry." She whispered hoarsely. He shook his head, holding her at arms length.
"It isn't your fault. I just wish I knew what was going on." His eyes were scared as he kept her close and she felt for him. He was obviously exhausted as was she.
"I…dreamed about a man." She whispered fearfully. "He had purple eyes, and he was trying to find me." He looked down at her arms and she realized that she was still gripping her arm. "He touched my arm…and I could feel it." A bit of the terror leaned back into her voice as she remembered. He stroked her hand, gently easing her grip on her arm.
"It was just a nightmare." He assured her, holding the hand that gripped his almost painfully. He glanced over at the clock, whose neon green numbers told him that it was only one in the morning. "Come on." He scooped her up in his arms and carried the silent girl into his room and placed her on the bed, staying close by. "I'll get you some more comfortable clothes, okay?" She nodded a little, staring at her clenched hands. He brought out some clothes, then left the room to get her a glass of water. When he came back, she had changed and was sitting on the bed silently. "Here." She took a drink and placed the glass on the bedside table with a shaky hand.
"Thank you." She whispered again, still shaking a little. He sat down beside her and kissed her cheek. She smiled and turned her face, meeting her lips with his, the sensation that shot through her erasing her fear. He moved her as he kissed her, laying her down on the bed and hovering on top of her, moving his lips against hers. She knew that he was trying to distract her, and she appreciated it. He pulled the covers down and helped her slip between the sheets, then pulled the blankets over them. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her one more time and then rested his head on the pillow.
"Don't be scared." He whispered. "I'm here. I'll protect you. I promise."
She snuggled against him. "I know." She whispered, taking a deep breath and feeling his scent encase her. This time, her dreams were sweet.
Reino jerked awake, irritation flooding his mind. Sighing, he sat up in his coffin. Her mind was completely blocked to him, her location fuzzy. "She's in an apartment." He mumbled. "What good is that going to do me?" Sighing, he lay back down, not wanting to exert any more energy. "I'll try again tomorrow."
A/N: Well that was fun. Creepy...I was thinking of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Hehe. Reino ended up being really creepy, but...well that's just how I made him. lol. Let me know what you think. If I haven't responded to your reviews, I am very sorry. I'm trying to keep up. :) Just know that I really appreciate it!
