REMINDER: I don't own Skip Beat and its characters; this work is purely fictional any scenes related to real life situations are purely coincidental. xD

Kyoko happily exited Ren's room fully unaware of Sho's presence who is patiently waiting for her along the hallway, if not for his sudden loud cough she wouldn't notice him there as her mind was elsewhere.

"Shotaro san? I thought you were by the parking lot, how long have you been here waiting for me?" She asked her current imagination sent at the back of her mind repressing them for a while.

"I went to grab your mother's bag that she left at your room I was about to go down but I remembered what you said earlier and decided to wait for you here instead." He answered displaying his arrogant smirk.

Kyoko nodded and walked to the nurses' station to give her thanks to the staff nurses, thanks to their work ethics and professionalism, everything about their client is kept safe among themselves which is the reason why media are being controlled and unable to pry into Kyoko or Ren's cause of hospitalization. Even Sho was amazed at how people in the medical field were able to keep privacy of their patients among themselves for if a paparazzi or a member of media were able to know their knowledge about a known client it would be the scoop of their life. He also expressed his gratitude towards them for taking care of Kyoko and the female nurses were unable to hide their giggle as the young man smiled handsomely.

As they were inside the elevator waiting for it to descend at the ground floor which is where the parking lot was located, Kyoko was unable to hold the banter in her mind any longer.

"Do you really have to flirt with them?" She asked a irritation somehow evident in her voice.

Sho snorted in response, he was happy to see Kyoko somehow jealous though can't exactly point at it. "It is part of publicity Kyoko chan, you being part of showbiz industry are aware of what the term publicity means."

Kyoko stuck her tongue out and said, "Publicity duh! It was obvious you were flirting with them for publicity is different from what you did there with those nurses in skimpy white uniform!"

Sho wanted their playful banter to last as it was a long time since they did so but he knew when their banter will continue scars he did to her will be shoved in his face again reminding him of how bastard he was to her before. Him being her childhood friend and went to Kyoko and stayed together for quite sometime know all her strengths and definitely her weaknesses and now is the right time for him to use that knowledge of his.

He looked at Kyoko seductively and stalked towards her until their distance were a breath away and she felt her heart beating faster than normal, Kyoko tried to move out of his distance but Sho trapped her at the elevator wall with his arms pinned across the wall. She even tried to push him but he was way too strong for her to budge even a little.

"Shotaro…" Kyoko said nervously.

Sho continued to stare at her seductively until he finally laughed hard upon seeing Kyoko's scared expression.

"You bastard!" She said pushing Sho away from her who was still laughing.

"I was only trying to shut you up nothing more." He said maintaining his breath to normal after laughing har.

"What a way to shut me up Shotaro, you could have just said enough of the talk."

There was silence after until the elevator door opened and they proceeded to the car where Shoko and Saena are waiting for them.

Ren can't stop his heart from beating erratically; first it was his forbidden make out session with Kyoko and her wanting to take things slowly for them. He missed Kyoko for he loved her so much that even if it was forbidden he can't help but let things go naturally even if the rational side of him is telling him to stop. If he was to be questioned there is nothing he would want but to welcome Kyoko back into his heart and her welcoming him back to her heart as well, but it was just not that easy. Second was the presence of Kyoko's mom near her daughter. He was nervous for her mother would say the truth about her father and half-brother anytime she wanted to. If there is one thing Ren is preventing that is for Kyoko to know that he is her half-brother as the news will break her being just like it did to him and her possessing a fragile heart would definitely not take such knowledge well.

Ren wanted to keep those thoughts out of his mind for the time being for he doesn't want to break down into tears again that Kyoko saw earlier by reflecting on his life.

He started with his memory of first meeting with Kyoko when they were still children. Ren remembers well seeing Kyoko's saddened face from a row with her mom and Kyoko can't even pronounce his name properly, mistaking it for Corn instead of Kuon. Ren laughed at the memory which he didn't do for a while now. He even remembered them playing together at the lake with Shotaro whom he was wondering where is now, and then there was the memory of him leaving for America and giving the blue stone Kyoko treasures.

Being an Asian in the western world proved to be difficult especially for a teenager as he was often bullied and discriminated, he needed his parents support and affection during those times but like him they were also adjusting to the western world. He then decided to stand up for himself thanks to his friend who opened his eyes but his way of standing up was by being rebellious engaging into fights every now and then. That attitude of his caused him losing his only two friends which he still regrets until the present. His father seeing his son so broken after the tragic incident helped him enter his world of acting but he wasn't able to get over his problem which resulted to his failure as an actor.

Juliena cannot stand seeing her son living with his nightmares and unable to regain his composure at such a young age, she then pleads her husband to return her son to him who only exists physically. Kuu unable to see his heir and wife hurting throws his pride away and returns to Japan and beg for his old friend Lory to help his son, Lory being the kind man that he was accepts the responsibility of helping Kuon to live again.

Lory cannot help Kuon by himself; he also asked help from two people he trusts the most, Jelly Woods and Yashiro Yukihito. Yashiro Yukihito will be his manager who will guide him and be with him through everything, even Kuu himself trusted Yashiro as the man also went through the same rough road as his son and was able to conquer it. At first Kuon was uncomfortable with him but with them spending time together and Yashiro saying encouraging words and relating his life to him Kuon eventually trusted him and was like a brother he never had. Jelly Woods helped him by changing his look from being the blonde blue eyed Kuon to a brown haired and brown eyed man a look he liked.

That was the moment Tsuruga Ren was born the man Kuon never was. Ren was a good actor combined with his good looks he became Japan's no.1easily and was envied by every man in the industry. Due to his popularity a lot of people are wondering why he didn't have any attachments and was purely focused on his career.

Unaware to the people who doesn't know him well; e did have a string of girls who practically used him for his status and money while he used them for his manly urges being a teenager with testosterone dominating even his reasoning when he was still Kuon. Thus love doesn't particularly exists in him though he was knowledgeable on how to please a woman and can easily make them melt with his night of the emperor persona, it was until he encounters the girl who of his childhood Mogami Kyoko again.

At first he wasn't aware that the new aspiring actress was the Kyoko he knew from childhood, thanks for Kyoko dropping the blue stone he gave her as parting gift he was able to know her identity. From his attitude of being superior and mentor to her at first he then had a change of heart and became a man who loves her unrequitedly. They had a lot of moments spent together ranging from dialogue reading, characterization, eating together, acting at the same project until Kyoko asked him to help her feel love by being so-called lovers that led up to real love between them.

However that moment when he was able to feel love and be loved in return came various problems that threatens their relationship the latest which was them being siblings that took a great hold on his bane existence. Thinking about it he cannot prevent a tear from dropping.

Ren wiped the tear away from his eye when he heard his door creaked showing his father who returned.

"I talked to your mother, she said she was worried about you and sends her message for you to get well soon and that she misses you." Kuu said taking a seat at the chair beside his son's bed.

"Have you told her about your illicit affair?" Ren said bitterly.

"I will tell her when I return to her after the premiere night of our movie." Kuu replied blatantly

Yashiro soon followed carrying bags full of different snacks and bento boxes.

"I have bought a lot of food which is why it took me some time before I could return here. How are you feeling Ren?" Yashiro asked while handing over a bento box to Ren and Kuu.

"I think I am getting better thanks for the food."

"Kijema sent an express letter to you by the way." Yashiro said giving a telegram to Ren.

Ren tore the letter flap and read Kijema's letter.

Ren,

Hope you are feeling better. Sorry I was not able to visit you as I have been busy here in Tokyo doing projects left and right. Don't exhaust yourself or you will be hospitalized again and will be unable to commit to any projects, if you aren't active in show biz I will take your place as Japan's no. 1. Just kidding Ren, I still have a long way before reaching your level. If you are wondering why I sent a letter instead of calling you or sending e-mail, I just thought this was more formal than what modern technology can do. Say hi to Kyoko for me and tell her to take care of her health as well.

I'll see the two of you soon till then take care of your well being.

Hidehito Kijema

Ren smiled at Kijema's letter that man sure knows how to lighten the mood somehow. Kuu's heart felt light upon seeing his son smile in a long while at least he hasn't become as broken as he was before when he was still Kuon. Yashiro was also happy to see him smile somehow even for a little while.

After 30 minutes of driving Sho, Kyoko, Shoko and Saena finally reached their destination. They were all quite exhausted due to the hot weather that afternoon and can't wait to relax inside the house, but their relaxation will be extended for later as a tall dark haired man whose physique was that of a handsome man despite his crutches in his arms was standing by the front door.

"Long time no see, Yoko or should I say Saena." The man said coldly with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

AN: I hope you still like the story.

A huge thanks to those who are reading, reviewing, putting this on alert, favorite and community list.

I love reading reviews feel free to write one they inspire me more and makes me feel inspired.