Chapter eleven

I do not own Skip Beat or any of its characters. Skip Beat is owned by the lovely Nakamura.

Note: "" is for speaking, ** are for thoughts, and ~~ are for grudges.

.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

President Lory Takarada's mansion, it is night time and he is dressed in his satin pajamas. Lory is deeply engrossed in playing PlayStation.

"Gift." .Biollink

"Kiss." . Biollink

"love"...

"Love."...

"LOVE!" ... Dee-dee-dee.

Lory huffed at the screen as a large X flashed on it.

"Urgh!" *when I asked Sabastian to get me a dating game of a girl who refused to love. I didn't mean a version where you couldn't win her heart!* Lory pouted. He still was alittle disappointed he didn't recognised Kyoko's feeling for Ren sooner. But was still impressed that she was able to fool him for that long. He flopped himself back on his large orient plush leather couch, looking defeated. He glances at the time.

3:00 am.

He had played half the night away. *Maybe, I should tip the game in my favor* Lory thought. His gaze traveled toward the phone.

Scene: Kyoko is asleep on her futon, her room brightly lit with daylight.

Brring, brring.

"Agh" Kyoko awakens and clumsily reaches for her phone. "Moshi, moshi" she said half asleep. It took her forever to fall asleep after last night's events.

"Kyoko? It's late for you to still be sleeping..." Sawara stated surprised.

"Sawara-san?! Good morning!" Kyoko bolted up into proper sitting position. Her blankets floating down behind her.

"Time to wake up, the president has an acting assignment for you."

"Really?!" Kyoko was thrilled to have an acting assignment to distract her from thinking of a certain narcissist jerk. "What kind of assignment?"

"A romantic one." He replied.

Kyoko froze. "What?" Kyoko said confused.

Kyoko shook off her frozen feeling as Sawara explained.

"Well, being a love interest of a detective drama. Kanae is staring in this series and it's her partner that you will be playing opposite to. You'll be in a few episodes as a guest star.

"Guest star?...Umm..." Kyoko hesitated, part of her wants to act along her best friend Kanae but she wasn't sure if she was ready to portray a a part where she was in love.

Also she didn't know if she could portray a romantic character accurately The only love she had experience was one-sided, and naively overly devoted. She had never been on a group date, or any date for that matter. * In middle school I always said no when my classmates tried inviting me to a group date to even up numbers...*

Kyoko sighed. *another missed opportunity to make friends because of my naive devotion. But no more!* Kyoko thought firmly.

"The president said to consider it a LOVE ME assignment, and to try your best for the part. He told me to tell you that it will do you good to use this experience as a tool to further your acting abilIty."

Kyoko looked determined. "I'll do it."

Sawara explained the rest of the details and Kyoko put down the phone when Sawara said good bye.

Kyoko looked over at her poster of Ren. '

She inhaled and sighed. *I will catch up to you.*

Kyoko looked up at the clock and realised.

"Wait, Ren gets back tonight." She smiled mood lighten as she got up to start her day.

...

Scene : Kyoko is reading through the script as she is walks away from Sawara's desk. She sat down in a chair near the elevator.

Kyoko's brow wrinkled as she read through the Ice Mirror script. All the scenes before her entrance were bliss. Kanae was the female lead of a detective squad. Kyoko's eyes watered with tears of joy of the imagine of Kanae acting. The character was of a beautiful, but stern, kind hearted super detective that didn't take crap from anyone, which was perfect for Kanae. But when she got to the scene where her character entered, she felt conflicted, and cynical at each of her lines. Her character Lola was provocative, and aluring young college student. Her character is only in five scenes before she gets murdered by the villain, but she was told by Sawara that her character is to have a passionate kiss with the male lead. He asked her if she would be okay with that. She immediately responded yes as a reflex, but now she was not so sure.

Kyoko was so engrossed with trying to imagine herself as the character that she didn't even looked up as her background began to hum with whispers. Ren had entered the talent section of LME and he was heading towards her.

...

When Ren had entered the lobby of LME, his face sparkled as he responded to all of the female staff and actresses' hellos. He was still livid from yesterday and Ren was trying his best to hide his inner side from showing. He walked away quickly from the lobby of adoring women and passed through security.

He saw Kyoko reading in the arm chair as he walked toward the elevators. He was originally going to walk past her without speaking a word to her. He was still livid about Shou's challenge but he was also worried about what she might say about her continued relationship with Shou if he questioned her..

When he saw her worried expression his anger dimmed partially.

He still didn't know what he may say to her but he didn't liked to see her in distress. Maybe there was some bizarre reason why she was out with Shou last night.

*Not that I can think of one.* Ren/Koun thought cynically to himself.

"Why are you frowning?" Ren said. He bent down to be closer to the pre-occupied actress.

"REN!" Kyoko beamed when she focused on him. Ren almost fell backwards when Kyoko jumped up to hug him. Wrapping her arms around his neck. Stunned, but pleased with her reaction to seeing him, Ren smiled.

Kyoko snuggled her face against his neck, and took a deep breath of his scent.

Ren's open arms started to lower around her petite body to hug her back. Kyoko's eyes opened as Ren's arms were about to encapsulate her. But before he could wrap his arms around her, she quickly pulled back from him blushing. She wrapped her arms around herself in order to restrain herself.

"I'm sorry, I think Setsu got the better of me. I didn't mean to be so familiar." Kyoko casted her eyes down.

Ren was in disbelief of the swirl of emotions he just experience in the last 30 seconds. Koun stared at an embarrassed Kyoko. She was always so restraint with Ren, even though Koun knew her feelings toward his alter-ego.

*Oh, what have I done* Kyoko though. Although she only embraced Ren for a few seconds, it felt like forever. She had forgotten herself and responded so honestly.

.

She was thrilled to see him but she should of never been so familiar to a sempai.

She blushed at memories on how close she has become with him.

Seeing Kyoko blush so hard, Koun found to be her endearing. He half smiled.

"I'm glad to see you too." Ren said, trying to hiding a chuckle.

Kyoko's blushed to her ears. She could felt her face becoming hotter.

"I'm glad to see you made it back safely. When did you get in?" Kyoko asked.

"This morning" Ren feeling amused at her embarrassment.

"Why didn't you tell me you were arriving early. I would of met you at the airport." Kyoko said boldly, while still looking away to the wall next to them.

"And have you bike all way to the airport? No thank you. I thought I would surprise you by arriving early."

Kyoko smiled sweetly. Kyoko's angels swirling around her head was starting to make her light headed.

~ Get a grip on yourself~ Kyoko's grudges smacked the angels back returning to her. Kyoko frowned suddenly.

She was mumbling to herself about "the experience of a play boy." Kyoko tried to subdue her feelings of love for Ren by telling herself that he would respond kindly to any woman, even though she knew that to not be true. Kyoko knew that the two of them shared a connection, one uniquely their own and she was happy to be near him as she was now.

Ren ignored her playboy comment. He repeated "Why the frown? Is there something troubling you? Is there SOMONE bothering you? " Ren put empath on th e someone.

Kyoko's eyes widen slightly as she looked suspiciously at Ren.

"No, everything is fine." Kyoko replied. She didn't want to burden Ren with her problems, especially since Ren disliked Shou. Especially after Dark Moon, Ren's dislike for Shou seem to intensify.

*Is it possible that Ren knows about Shou's visit? Would he care to know?* Kyoko looked at him as though he was a curiosity, a puzzle that she struggled to decipher.

Ren was starting to feel pissed off at Kyoko's obvious lie, and for not relying on him. He was losing his patience with Kyoko's obliviousness to his feelings.

Koun frowned.

DING.

Yashiro stepped off the elevator.

"Ren!"

Yashiro began when saw Ren. "How was your flight?" Yashiro stopped as he saw a very smiley eyes locked for a second before Ren blinded Yashiro with a bright insincere smile.

*EEK! Why does Ren have that look!* Kyoko and Yashiro echoed.

*What did you do?!* Yashiro thought at Kyoko. Standing feet away from the young couple. He decided to let the lovebirds finish their conversation without him.

"I'll see you upstairs." Yashiro stepped back on the elevator he just got off from.

* What did I do?! *Kyoko thought at Ren.

"So nothing is wrong. Well, I'm glad to hear that you are doing so well." Ren smiled radiantly, as he does when he is trying to hide his anger. Mentally Ren was grinding his teeth.

*Does he know about Shou?...he shouldn't if he flew in this morning...* Kyoko thought.

"Well I must begoing, I have a meeting with President Takarada." Ren started to turn toward the elevator.

Kyoko reached out and touched his arm. She felt alarmed at his anger.

"WAIT, Ren, what's wrong?" Kyoko asked earnestly. Her eyes wide with worry.

Ren looked down at her. And sighed.

"I just wish you would lean on me more when you are troubled." Ren said.

Kyoko inhaled deeply at the implications of Ren's words. Her chest tighten. She didn't know if she could restrain her feelings her for him for much longer. She was so afraid that if she did that she would ruin what they currently have. And she didn't want to lose him, but sometimes he would say things that would make her dream that they could be more.

Her hand still against his arm.

"Umm, I have a new part...And I am struggling with how I would embody her actions. That's what I was frowning about." Kyoko stated as a matter of factly as she could at that moment

Ren looked down at her. Her eyes still wide with concern, her hand still holding his arm.

He smiled warmly at her caring behavior. He felt defeated in trying to stay mad at her. He knew he would cave to her if she responded to any of his failed gestures of increasing their intimacy.

"Well, if that is all, why not come over for dinner tonight and we can work on your character development. " Ren boldly invited her to his place under the pretense of work. Ren have her a heated look.

Kyoko inhaled again, still feeling confused on much of Ren's reactions, but she felt thrilled at another acting lessons from her idol.

"Sure..." Kyoko answered as she then registered that tonight was her 30th episode as Bow.

"Ahh,...But, tonight doesn't work for me" Kyoko said looking around. She still has to find a way to telling him the truth about Bow, but she still felt sheepish. "I was invited to Bridge Rock's after party tonight." Kyoko said under her breath.

"Well, that sounds fun." Ren pasted a smile to his response. "Where are you going?"

"Umm, Nikos bar and grill. So I probably won't be available until late."

"That's downtown. Fun place.. who are you going with?" Ren nodded, as he was processing what Kyoko's connection was to Bridge Rock or their variety show.

"Umm...I'm not going with anyone but Hikaru Ishibashi invited me." Kyoko said shyly.

*hmm, how does the Ishibash brothers know her? I don't think she has been a guest star...* Ren pondered.

* Hikaru must be interested in her if he invited her….he isn't the type to be frivolous with women...* Ren/Koun felt annoyed that Kyoko said yes to the invitation. Her going is going to send Hikaru the wrong message.

"How were you planning on getting home?" Ren asked smiling kindly.

"Oh, I was just going to ride my bike to Kanae's"

"Give me a call when you are done with the after party, I'll pick you up." Ren quickly added,

"I'll be in the area, and that way we can practice your part…."

Kyoko stared hard at Ren. Ren wasn't about to let Kyoko ride her bike across town on her own but he was about to let Hikaru take her home either. "I'm available tonight to help or do you think your sempai schedule is filled with free time?" Koun said sharply. He was going to guilt her into accepting his offer.

Kyoko's eyes widen at the thought that Ren was implying she was taking his time lightly.

"No. If tonight is convenient for you, than I would really appreciate a ride." Kyoko said quickly.

"Wonderful, I'll see you tonight. I'm done around eleven, see you then?" said Ren happened to know Kimagure Rock's anniversary party started at ten. Since he had already declined an invitation from Yuusei Ishibashi this morning.

"Okkaay. I'll see you tonight." She said confused while internally thrilled at thought of bring with Ren tonight. She almost didn't what to think, but suddenly she was wondering of she should bring another outfit to work with her.

…'…

Sorry, I had my final board exam (which I passed :D, by the way) so I was busy with studying and then I had writer's block -which I believe I have resolved. I am looking for a beta reader to help with grammar and spelling. I only write on my phone and I've realized it is a pain to back track to correct old chapters.