I do not own Skip Beat!

Thank you Yoshiki Nakamura for all of your incredible talent.


Chapter 8

Stepping Stones or, Clouds

When she left, she swore to never come back. There were just too many painful memories, more bad than good. Yet, here she was stepping off the plane with Kuon, in his natural look, and Danny by her side into an ocean of screaming fans.

"ROXY! ROXY!" they screamed, "We love you, Roxy!" the random voices serenaded her, too absorbed in Kyoko to notice Japan's still number one bachelor in his natural state. Well, maybe no longer a bachelor, but no one knew that except one mother, two fathers, a very eccentric boss, a fan-girl manager, a strange singer and a best friend.

There he sat watching her as she waved and blew kisses to the scores of fans before her, signing autographs along the way. The fury and jealousy in his soul bubbled up and spilled out around him. "Ugh.." he wanted to throw a brick through the television. He wanted to reach through it and strangle her. That bitch ruined my debut. He fumed. Well, she's on my turf now. Not realizing that it really wasn't his turf. Roxy had the world in her palm. It was hers, every facet of the entertainment industry was at her feet. She was a true goddess and he was just another envious demigod. She didn't need him for anything.


"She has who doing the concert with her?!" Was the question asked by two men. One in full out jealousy and anger and the other just in shock. She had forgiven and become friends with the vocalist quite some time ago when she had realized that he had been looking out for her in his own strange way. Oddly enough the two had even dated for a few months before realizing that they felt more like siblings than lovers. Normal siblings, that is. Their make-out sessions felt just awkward to say the least and they both agreed that it just didn't feel right, so... brother and sister it turned into.

"Vie Ghoul," the managers told them "She'd already done a few songs with them before her fan base grew so big. That's why she has so many fans in Japan and that's how they got so big in the US."

"Why are they always stealing from me!" Sho screamed at the television as he chucked the remote across the room. His new manager looked on in silence taking note of the behavior that he was warned about.

"Fuwa-san," the manager began "Vie Ghoul have been collaborating with Roxy for at least two years now. She made her debut on one of their albums a couple of years ago and has written several songs for them. She has even starred in a couple of their PVs." he continued as he typed something into his phone. "It's all here." The manager presented the information to Sho from the biography page of a music television channel on his smart phone.

At the top of the page was a photo of Roxy with Reino's arm wrapped around her shoulder and her sweet face looking up at him with the four other band members around them, two on each side. The page gave names, locations, a list of songs and the writers they were penned by and dates of each release. On the bottom of the page was a detailed description of the two and the results of an interview that revealed their relationship and status.


The disguised couple sat in the cozy little café drinking their coffee and talking about the day's events when her wraith-like pseudo-brother wisped in and sat beside her. Kuon tensed up.

"This is my Nii-san." she announced to him.

"What?" He asked in shock.

"Not like that silly, like Maria-chan." She clarified giggling and shaking her head.

"I don't trust you.." He mumbled under his breath.

"And I still don't trust you.. But, at least you aren't lying to her anymore." the violet eyes told him with sincerity.

"Nii-san, leave him alone." Roxy scolded.

"Fine." Reino sighed. "Just remember, I'm here if you need me." He finished as he gave her a soft hug and a kiss on the temple.

"I know." she replied with a glowing smile.

The girl and her brother continued by catching up on the events in each others lives and funny little stories of her adventures while on tour, including her run in with Fuwa-san, which, by the way, resulted in sending the three of them into fits of giggles and tears at the arrogant ass's fall.


"Hmm?" He gave her a look of surprise as they left the café, then a really intense stare into her eyes. "Ah." He smirked then hugged her.

"What?"

"Nothing.." he replied knowingly. "You'll find out soon enough." he patted Kuon on the back and left.

"That was strange." Kuon said with a puzzled look.

"Not for him." Kyoko giggled as she brushed off a feeling that sent butterflies of the unknown shooting through her being. It felt like a million of them had just been released and she was at the center of the spectacle.

"So.. meet you at LME later?" He asked as he opened the limo door for her.

"Sure but, I didn't know you had to go in today."

"Sadly Ren still has a few things to tie up before I can stay." He told her. "But, I do want to see you later. Okay?"

"Okay." she smiled. "I have to go in to sign a few things and say hi to Maria and Kanae anyway."

"See you there." He said then gave her a quick, sweet, rated-G kiss before shutting the door and waving goodbye.