The Only Sister

Summary: I stiffen when coming to realize something before turning away from my sister to look back down at the paper of what I was looking into for a singing career... I had come to a conclusion that for once in my life, I was actually scared of moving on into the new world without my sister. Kyoko/Ren with Sho/OC or a Ren/OC with Kyoko/Sho pairing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Skip Beat or the characters, only Youko and different new plots!

HOS: Hey everyone, sorry, yes, this is another story that I came up with instead of updating my other stories that are unfinished; just bare with me, I'm working on updating one as I post this just to see how everyone would think. This story is based off the Manga not the Anime at the very beginning; I hope you all enjoy it! X3

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Chapter Two

Sing It From The Heart

It was around one in the afternoon at the park while spending it at my usual spot for my mini art gallery and was just finishing up my fifth sketch on my easel of a smiling little girl around five or six in a wonderful spring looking dress and curly beautiful long hair with a bow on her head. To be honest, this was the second time that I had drawn her in different pieces this year and that she always visits me on certain days with a chaperone that seems to be out of sight most of the time and she never tells me who they are.

"There, all done." I smiled as I turned the easel to face her as she was hugging a bouquet of beautiful flowers with her cheek against the petals with a happy bright smile with a warm sunny background; to think I only did this within forty-five minutes. The said child looked at it and smiled brightly as she lowered the flowers in her arms, eyes lighting up with glee.

"Oh, Youko, it's so beautiful! I just know my grandfather would just love this! Thank you so much for this!" She hops off her stool and hugs me around the waist while I lift my arms up in surprise then chuckle a bit and pat her back gently.

"You're welcome, Em; now, tell me what really brings you here at the park today, I know it isn't just to see me and have a picture drawn again..." I smiled at her as I begin cleaning up my things around my work area then gently tear the thick sheet of paper off my drawing book and rolled up and tied it with a rubber band to hold it in place and handed it to her as she took it carefully into her two small hands when giving me the flowers to hold for her.

"I wanted to go to the park since it was such a nice sunny day and had lunch with one of my grandfather's staff who was free to take me out for some fresh air! Plus, I wanted to see you; I haven't seen you all week too! I almost didn't recognize you with your new look and short hair; you look so much prettier than you did before!" I blinked behind my new small oval glasses when I looked at her with my head slightly tilting; it was true, Kyoko and I had finally moved out of that expensive apartment and sold things that we didn't need for cash for ourselves to get a new make-over and some new clothes but not enough to get any make-up or any perfume products that we dreamed of having. Kyoko had her hair cut short and dyed it kind of like a blonde-ish orange color but mostly looks kind of orange to me; it looked more her than her long dark hair that she had before. As for myself, it was cut and colored short as well, same color but different style; mine looked more short and pixy like with semi-long bangs in the front (think of Sasuke Uchiha's hair but much more shorter in the back). It has been two days since then; I smiled at her when she placed her money into my money box.

"I doubt that but my sister and I finally stood up for ourselves and got rid of the place that we were living in before and kicked the idiotic male to the curb since he had us mostly as his slaves and moved on; also got rid of everything that had reminded us of him especially how we looked." I sighed as I looked down and lightly picked at the flowers carefully, "He's in the showbiz business and treated us wrong for over two years, not at all having time on going to school, having friends or just... being the girls that we should have been; so I'm going to show him and get my revenge for hurting my sisters feelings and breaking her heart like he did."

"Isn't that the guy that you always talk about and hate, you finally got rid of him?"

"More like he got rid of us in the most wrong kind of way..." I shifted on my stool not really wanting to be reminded of Kyoko's heartbroken angry face again, "I gave him advice and he threw it in my face; I never felt such utter betrayal before. He was almost like a brother to me back in the day even though he always flirted with me but I knew better not to fall for his lies..." Em looked at me with a small frown, I didn't notice since I was still staring at the flowers in a small daze.

"You said he was in the showbiz industry; what does he do?"

"He's a singer and a guitar player; he was rich enough to take care of himself and have the agency pay for his schooling but used mostly my sister than me to serve as his maid..." I looked at the little girl and was quite taken back when seeing her angry/sad look on her face.

"What a horrible person to treat someone like that from all the hard work they did just to help that person to succeed and treat them like dirt once they make it big!" her cheeks puffed and glared at nothing before continuing, "You said he was a singer right?" I nod, "...why not play at his own game and become a singer too?! You're just as good as any other!" I flushed and looked away as I looked down at the flowers once more.

"I was thinking about doing that but... I'm scared to leave my sister behind and alone. I don't want her to be alone and feel deserted; it's always been a fear of ours when we were small children..."

"...but don't you think that your sister would think of the same thing that you are right now when the only thing to get back at the one who did her wrong would somehow join the business as well...?" I wondered about that; sooner or later Kyoko was going to get the same idea and quickly go for it and would do whatever it takes to get revenge on Sho.

"I had a thought that she would though since she has a lot of talent of her own; even though she isn't an actress and can't sing, I'm sure she would think of something to get everyone's attention for something that she is good at; she is a fast learner and hates to disappoint..." I let out a small fond smile when thinking of them when they were kids, "She did say that she loved my singing voice... but, I wouldn't do too well with crowds, I get too nervous..." I frowned softly while staring down at nothing with my eyes half closed.

"Why don't you practice?"

"Err, right now...? I can't do that, I'll mess up for sure; I'll choke!"

"Youko-San! If you don't face your fears, how would you ever get into the business and prove yourself that you are better than that man who wronged you both?!" I froze with my eyes slightly wide as I continued to stare at the ground; I know that she was right, I just... it's just so hard to get rid of stage fright, "Youko-Chan..." her voice was softer now, "...are you that afraid of being noticed?" I was silent as I turned my head away from her when remembering the horrible criticism that my mother gave me when ever I started singing to myself and yelled at me and telling me that my voice was annoying and forcibly told me to stop; though I did but not to my sister when she had nightmares or when I know that I was alone with no eyes or ears near me, "I have an idea; Youko-Chan, close your eyes..."

"I-I don't see how this is going to help me-"

"Just do it, trust me; I'm learning this from school on how my teachers help with people with stage fright," I looked at her a moment with a small frown when she interrupted me but complied and closed my eyes; though it's kind of sad when you're listening to a child about ten years younger than yourself on helping me with my fears; wasn't that supposed to be the other way around? "Okay, now, pretend you are alone, close off any sound and clear your mind... and take a small breath," I feel like I'm in a yoga class but I listened to her words and calmed myself and took a small breath as I let it out slowly; weird, I'm strangely relaxed... "...now reach deep into yourself and express how you feel by using your voice..." I was gone by this point as words suddenly began to slip from my lips soft but out loud for everyone to hear.

"Perfect by nature, icons of self-indulgence; just what we all need, more lies about a world that..." ignoring the things around me as I was gaining confidence within myself while lifting my head up while I sang a bit louder, "Never was and never will be, have you no shame? Don't you see me? You know you've got everybody fooled!" my eyes opened not at all 'seeing' the people around me hearing and looking at me as I continued to sing this; all of this reminded me of Shotaro on how everyone else was fooled by his fame, popularity and nothing of his selfishness. Only Kyoko and I knew who the real Sho was, not what everyone thinks he is; my face turned into a sneer as I continued my singing in an almost sarcasm-like voice while standing up quickly as the flowers fell off my lap uncaringly upon the ground before me.

"Look here he comes now," I pointed at to seem like nothing but I was imagining Sho and his annoying face, "...bow down and stare in wonder," a sarcastic bow, "Oh how we love you; no flaws when you're pretending, but now I know he..." I began stomping upon the fallen flowers a dark aura surrounding me, "Never was and never will be; you don't know how you've betrayed me and somehow you've got everybody fooled!" I paused in my stomping not realizing that my grudge and betrayal demons began slightly swirling around me as I stared down at the half stomped flowers while my eyes soften a little as I squatted down a bit when picking up the remaining not-ruined flowers as I continued singing softly, "Without the mask, where will you hide?" my voice slowly began to get a little higher as I continued, "Can't find yourself lost in your lie~!" I suddenly threw the flowers away from me at and around the crowd that I didn't know had gathered, "I know the truth now; I know who you are and I don't love you anymore!" Em, who had helped me stand where she was as a man came up behind her and placed a hand upon her shoulder and looked up at him while another man came at her other side with a cigarette between his lips and hand in his pocket as he watched the scene play out in front of him. The little girl beams a smile while holding her rolled up drawing a bit more as she watches the people begin to drop some money into the money box.

"It never was and never will be, you don't know how you've betrayed me and somehow you've got everybody fooled!" I didn't realize that I was dancing around and expressing how I felt with this song, "It never was and never will be; you're not real and you can't save me; somehow you're everybody's foo~l!" I screamed out while pointing at my imaginary Sho with a glare with a devious smirk before closing my eyes and slowly letting my arm fall to my side; my face relaxing as I took a calm breath and let all my senses back again.

I was frighteningly startled when a loud sound of applause and whistling was heard all around me; what was going on? What just happened? Why was everyone cheering? I looked around and figured out that they were cheering and clapping for me... did I just sing out loud to these people...?

I bowed a little as the crowd died down and began to disperse; I then flushed and placed my hands on each side of my face in embarrassment with a small faint smile as I turned quickly and began to pack up my artwork tools into my large backpack. When I went to my money box, my eyes bulged when finding that it was overflowing with cash and change! I never made this much in my whole life let alone a whole month! I shook my head and began to gather the fallen bills and change into the box as neatly as I could.

"Wonderful performance, Miss Youko," I paused and looked over my shoulder to look at a mustached man with dark hair standing next to Em with a beaming smile still on her face when I looked at her; I looked back at the other male who had dark hair with a ponytail with his hands in his pockets when I noticed that he was the one who had spoken; I nodded my head a bit before standing with my box of money and bowed a little, my face still as red as it is.

"Th-Thank you, sir... I didn't realize what came over me; I never did that before in front of a large crowd..." I was clutching my box so tight that I was shaking a bit with nerves and staring at the ground.

"You must have been keeping all that pent up emotion for a long time..." I flushed a bit more while turning and placing my money box into my big bag and closing it tightly as I strapped my easel on the back and looked back at the three people, "How would you like to audition for our agency? You have the talent and you don't even have to make an appointment; just fill out a sheet and answer a few questions, a photo of your identity and turn it in on audition day then receive your audition number."

"I-I don't think I can do that again... I don't do so well with crowds staring at me...!" I was feeling a bit light headed and couldn't see straight.

"I'm sure you can do it again with the right help and understanding you'll be on T.V. in no time, Miss Youko; though you have to be approved of our president before anything could get started." I sat down heavily upon my portable stool as I looked up dazedly at the small group and just stared; my light headedness still floating around my vision, "Excuse me for not introducing myself, my name is Shinji Himura I manage the singing supervision in the company of L.M.E agency; I do recommend that you try out for us."

Is this really happening? Should I really try out for this? What about Kyoko, I can't just leave her; but didn't Em say that if she is that dedicated that she would find a way to do the same? What if she doesn't and she's left alone by herself? I mentally slapped myself or my angel of protection slapping the back of my head as I comically launched my head forward as the three of them looked at me weird while I talked to myself and my inner demon/angels. The two men glanced at each other a moment when feeling the intense hate swirling around me as if asking if I was even mentally stable.

This was Kyoko that I was thinking about; she is just as crazy as I am to not give up what she wants, she is that smart. It's just how she grew up with me, me taking care of her. Sadly my inner demons were released a long time ago but that's a story for another time; hopefully she'll be smart enough to realize that she can't get revenge on Sho unless she joins the business.

A pair of small feet stood in front of me and looked up from the ground to stare at Em's small smirk as she continues to hold the rolled up drawing in her small hands with the look of confidence in her eyes as if telling me that I can do it; my gold eyes widen when seeing Kyoko as her younger self staring back at me, giving me that 'I know you can do it; I believe in you!' look before going back to the long haired blond child once more. Blinking a few times as the image of young Kyoko burned in my mind, I looked up at the two men and took a small calm deep breath and let it out slowly before my eyes became determined but hesitant.

"I'll do it."

"Excellent; when it comes to singing talent, Shinji's the one of the best finders," the man in the mustache says and gives a small grin, "...it seems that you had caught his interest on your earlier performance," I blink confusingly at him, "Oh, sorry, I'm Takenori Sawara, I supervise the Talento section of the agency." I gave a small nod and smile before looking down at Em a moment before standing and folding up my portable stool and looked at everyone; I get the feeling that I'm going to see more of these three in the near future as I began to follow them back to their agency with Em surprisingly holding my hand when she started walking beside me. She smiled up at me as I couldn't help but smile back when seeing that flash of my sister once more, giving me confidence. I looked back up at the sky and let out a small little sigh; things are starting to look up now. I just hope Kyoko will realize it in time before the auditions start...

::Later in L.M.E Agency::

After I filled out the form and had my picture taken, I circled the artist and singer together as my objectives. I was asked why I had circled both and responded that I like to do both; they shrugged and allowed it as they were curious, just as long as I can handle the pressure and be quick. Apparently they haven't seen how fast I can draw or paint; I just smirked at them and took the form and placed it in my bag for all the information on the when and where and the time the auditions would start. Everything started in the mini auditorium at L.M.E where all the actors prepare themselves for their roles and practice their lines; or it's what I thought anyway.

Just as I was glancing at my watch to check if I'm going to run late for work at the Darumaya I bumped into someone's back. "I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was go-" I stopped myself while I was rubbing my forehead to look at the tall man in front of me; I readjusted my glasses as my eyes widened a bit in surprise, "Ren Tsuruga..." I watched as his eyes narrowed slightly in confusion and annoyance; what did I do, I had already apologized...

"How did you get in?"

"Um... the front doors like any normal person...?"

"We would have seen you come in if you had after we had thrown you out; now, how did you really get in? Don't think this disguise would fool anyone." His eyes were narrowed as if looking into the depths of my soul that caused me to shiver slightly.

"W-What are you talking about; I was escorted through here with Mr. Shinji Himura and a Mr. Takenori Sawara just about an hour or so ago!"

"Mr. Sawara had said that she had looked familiar but couldn't place it; bit it isn't too hard to make such a disguise to adjust your appearance," he took a hold of my arm as I stiffened at the touch and stared at him with wide eyes but soon narrowed with concentration as I looked down as he begins to semi-drag me toward the elevator. Before he could continue his rant, it hit me.

"Wait..." we were just a couple of feet from the elevator when we paused in the hallway, "...did this girl look exactly like me but with longer hair and a smaller breast size...?" it looked like he was slightly uncomfortable and didn't want to comment after the last thing I had said but nodded his head all the same; I took out my wallet then a picture of the two of us in our new looks that we had taken just after our hair was done, we were hugging each other with bright determined smiles on our faces as I showed this to him, "You must have met my twin sister Kyoko; you just threw her out, you say?" he looked quite surprised when he looked at the photograph then back to me again as he slowly let go of my arm to my relief.

"Yes, it was just about an hour ago at the front desk; she doesn't seem to care that much about showbiz, but wanted to become a celebrity." I gave a fake smile as my eyes held warmth when he said this as I thought of my sister, "My sister really doesn't think things through when coming to an idea that she thinks could accomplish by rushing head on..." I could feel his stare on me as I turned to look out the window to stare at a familiar figure sitting on the ground next to her bike in front of the agency.

He turned to look as well with his arm upon the big windowsill as he leaned forward a bit to get a better look at the girl outside sitting on her legs; he looked at me at the corner of his eye then back down at the other girl who had the same face as my own.

"Trust me when I say this, Mr. Tsuruga," I turned my back as I head toward the elevator as it opened to let the few people off, I entered the elevator and smirked at him with a small smug smirk when he looked at me, "...a determined person will never give up their goal until they accomplish what they set out for and would do at nothing to get it; I'm sure you were just the same back then when you were first starting out to get where you are now in showbiz, didn't you?" I saw him frown at me but said nothing as I frowned deeply with my gold eyes narrowed, "...don't underestimate my sister; she's a lot stronger than you think she is." I pushed the main floor button and looked back at him to let out a fake sparkling smile with a raised hand up in farewell as the doors slowly began to close, "Bye now!"

Ren watched the door close fully as the girl disappeared then looked back at the window to look at the other one outside; his eyes held curiosity as he wondered why this girl seemed so determined to get into the agency and for what purpose? What was her twin sister doing here? Did she apply for the audition? Why wasn't her sister with her? And why did they seem familiar? He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Ren!" he turned to see his manager standing just a few feet from him, "Time to leave, let's go." he said while thumb pointing to the elevator that the girl just disappeared into a few moments ago.

"Okay."

Ren looked at the girl once more before turning and walking away with his manager in tow; forgetting the last inner question in his mind.

::L.M.E, bottom floor::

I stepped off the elevator once the doors opened to my floor; I closed my eyes and took in a small breath as the doors closed behind me. While in the elevator, I had taken out my aviator sunglasses and beanie hat and slipped them on while hiking up my bag upon my shoulders once more and began walking toward the front doors, not wanting my sister to notice me as she continued to sit there upon the ground next to her bike in front of the large building with a determined look on her face. I smiled a bit as I walked out and stood off a bit to the far side of the building and watched her with proud eyes and hands in my pockets; sighing quietly I turned and began walking away, the smile never leaving my face as I began my walk down the streets heading toward Darumaya that was about a mile from here or so.

"Good luck, sister; I shall see you at the auditions." I said to myself quietly as I had a feeling that she wasn't going to come home tonight but torment the poor soul to get her that audition sheet that she desperately needed/wanted. Well, she's going to be in for a surprise when she finds me there as well.

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HOS: Ren has cometh, you don't think he was OOC? I tried my hardest to keep him in character, just let me know if anything else needs to be done so I can work on it! Again thank you for the lovely reviews and that I hope you enjoyed it and hope you continue to send the reviews my way so I can keep continuing!

Thanks for reading!

Ja ne!

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