Disclaimer: Skip Beat! Belongs to Yoshiki Nakamura. WE, on the other hand, own this spinoff story.

Chapter 3 – Marriage?! No way.

Most of the crew froze in place when the dark, creepy aura bled into the set of "Dark Moon" from the dressing rooms, with the viscosity of something dark and dangerous. Mio stepped out as gracefully as ever, clad in her white gown for the shooting.

Her strapless gown was embedded with tiny diamonds, making her glitter under the large lights of the church set. The white satin gloves reached her mid-upper arm. The pretty sapphire necklace complemented the ensemble.

There was the final touch for Mio's costume – the veil. In the second season of Dark Moon, Mio had decided to leave her hair slightly longer, maintaining her fringe in the front. It had been pinned up for her 'big day' with her apparent favourite, Casablanca lilies. The white veil reached her upper torso, sheer and almost invisible.

~Meanwhile~

Ren stepped out of his dressing room, in his white tux. The makeup artist and female camera crew swooned. He stuffed his hands in his pockets in frustration. He had his hair as he always did – covering his eyes, messy and windblown.

Mio spotted Katsuki from afar and crumbled away. Kyoko started trembling, thinking too hard for her own good. We're shooting the matrimonial scene today…she thought. Afterwards, we have the scene where both Mio and Katsuki are facing their parents with the news.

She had lost hours of sleep thinking of how Mio would ever fall in love with Katsuki. After days and weeks, she realised one important factor in Mio's character – she believed strongly no one cared for her at all. Katsuki is supposed to try to bring out her softer side…could Mio start to believe he cared, even a little, for her?

Interrupting her train of thought, Director Ogata called for Katsuki and Mio to be on the set on standby. She gathered up the folds of her dress and ran to the door of the large church. Obviously, being Kyoko, she tripped over the silver, strappy stilettos.

Instead of hitting the ground and seriously injuring herself, she felt someone's arm catch her just inches from the ground. Her eyes were squeezed shut, awaiting the impact. When it didn't come, she opened her eyes, only to see Ren's relieved face smiling down upon her.

THE DIVINE SMILE! Her demons were severely disturbed. "Please be more careful, Kyoko-chan." He gently set her back on her feet. She blushed hard, mumbling her thanks. As Ogata yelled over the studio again, they rushed to their respective positions with a backward smile. Smoothing out the gown, Kyoko quickly snapped back into Mio.

"Okay! Lights!" the Director's voice could be heard from afar. "Camera!" Mio grudgingly took her father's offered hand, ignoring his nervous smile in her direction. "Action!"

The intricate gold doors opened slowly to reveal Mio Hongo, Katsuki's bride. Katsuki kept a neutral face. He should have been honoured to marry a lady of such high class. He should have been happy she had even agreed to it.

But all he could think of was Mizuki's smiling face and how much his heart ached to see her in the crowd. Witnessing his marriage to her cousin. It's no use, he decided, focusing all his attention on his wife-to-be walking down the aisle on her father's arm.

It had been only a week since her parents had faced them with the news. Katsuki's parents had been in desperate need of money and the Hongo family had been desperate to find a suitor for their ice princess of a daughter, Mio.

It was a huge shock for both of them, especially to the latter. She still held her strong grudges against Katsuki, now her husband-to-be, for playing with Misao and for cheating on her with stolen glances at Mizuki. She berated herself for not being able to put up a stronger fight with her parents.

She had even silently taken part in the gown fitting, rehearsals and the wedding planning. Why? She was so dead and mindless that it scared her. She decided that she would make life difficult for her husband.

As she looked forward, she decided, VERY difficult.

Katsuki took his bride's hand gently in his, taking her from her father, not wanting to use more force than necessary to aggravate her mood. For being a great actor, her father teared while giving his precious daughter away. No one believed it, let alone her ice princess herself. She had a plain expression of relent on her face, failing to even cast a glance back to her parents and relatives.

Both of them stared into their respective spaces during the ceremony until the pastor tapped Mio lightly on the shoulder, bringing her out of her dream world, but earning the whole congregation a temperature drop, himself a death glare and Katsuki a light pressure on his fingers as he continued holding her hand. He was mildly worried for her – where was the stubborn spirit that was all hers?

"Mio, do you take Katsuki to be your lawfully wedded husband?" He continued on with the ceremony, his voice about to crack. In fact, he looked so positively terrified he might have cried. He hid behind the book, the candle he was holding making the flame visibly shake.

She hesitated for about two seconds. If she said no, she would be disowned, then disinherited. Her scarlet lips, painted for the occasion, parted…"I do," she sighed, gritting her teeth, her eyes narrowed. The lilies in her bouquet seemed to dull a shade as Mio watched her feet – well, the hem of her dress, anyway – as her cheeks lightly flushed while the anger slowly built up within her. It was surprising how slowly she could cook anger to make it worse than it was.

Katsuki barely noticed through her veil, but couldn't react before the pastor turned to him…"And you, Katsuki, will you take Mio to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The pastor was clearly more comfortable. The candle had stabilized, a mildly relieved smile on his face. Katsuki's eyes glazed over, his mind clouded with thoughts of his beloved Mizuki. All the memories of her flew by his eyes in an instant. All the pain, happiness, suffering and joy flooded his mind and made him dizzy.

"I do," he said, almost dreamily. Long ago, he had planned to take revenge on the Hongo family from the inside and this was his chance. To avenge his dead parents, he would do practically anything – even if he had to leave Mizuki behind. Even…if it meant Mio. Anything…Anything…

The crowd erupted in cheers behind them. Katsuki saw his bride's eyebrow twitch dangerously and suddenly, the whole place was so deathly silent you could hear a pin drop. He swore he heard an ant speak in fear as well. Hushed whispers continued in the church, but Mio couldn't care.

Then was the exchange of the rings, carried by the best man. He was tall and violet-eyed, sending shudders down Mio's spine. It was as if they had met somewhere, a long time ago. Dusting it off, she turned to Katsuki, slipping the simple gold band onto his left hand. She recited the vow mechanically, not caring to stop. It was perfect, of course, she had spent forever memorizing it and finding the loopholes.

She really didn't want to drag it longer than necessary, so she held out her hand within his reach. He, with equal speed, slipped the slimmer, sleeker gold band onto her finger. His vow was slightly slower, but spoken with equal confidence and perfection. He was perfectly robotic.

The pastor was covered in cold sweat. "I-I now pronounce you…man and w-wife," he stumbled as Mio gazed on, thoroughly annoyed at his mistakes. "You may now kiss the bride."

She froze on the spot. The kiss! She had forgotten! Katsuki looked at her, wary of her situation. He slowly lifted her veil, letting it flutter down behind her head. For the first time, Katsuki got a good look at his wife…she was much more beautiful than he expected…even with the white scar on her face.

He saw her widened honey eyes and mirrored her reluctance. He took a simple hold on her shoulders, but Mio just pulled away from his touch. However, after Mio's mother shot the girl a warning look, she took a step forward and folded her arms around herself.

Again, Mio yelled at herself. Why are you so weak? Stand up for yourself. It's not like they care about you. But she couldn't say anything.

"We have to," he whispered to her. He knew this would happen. Why hadn't she refused it? Compromised? It was unlike her to be so willing.

She shook her head violently. "I don't want…" For once in his entire life, he could have sworn she would cry.

Katsuki cut her off. "One. Just one…get it over and done with."

She visibly relaxed. It was probably just his luck – she would never listen to him like that on normal circumstances. "Just one." She spat. It was no use arguing.

He leaned in carefully and captured her lips in his for about five seconds, only to have Mio push hard and stumble backwards. Katsuki caught her hand to help her keep her balance,

"Don't push it." Her cold voice resounded through the church. "Just because we're married doesn't mean I'll ever love you." She ripped her hand from his, tearing the glove because his grip was so tight.

With that, she turned on her heel and walked back down the aisle. "I'll see you in the car," she said, before storming out and slamming the door, all while maintaining a ridiculous amount of grace and poise.

Katsuki only sighed as he watched her leave, one of the lilies fallen out of her hair. It sat sadly in the middle of the red carpet, as if willing him to chase her. This would be a very difficult wife…a very difficult marriage.

"And…cut!" Ogata snapped Ren and Kyoko out of their roles. "Mogami-chan, Tsuruga-kun, please go and change for scene 51!"

Kyoko had already run to her dressing room. The makeup artist quickly removed the red lipstick and started on her natural look. The hair stylist took the flowers out of her hair, letting the black hair fall to her shoulders.

Quickly, Kyoko changed into the next costume for the scene. The black, lacy dress cascaded down to her ankles. Without a glance into the mirror, she turned around and left the room, hurrying to the internal set of the Hongos' living room.

"Ah, Kyoko-chan! I'm glad you made it so quickly," Ogata gushed. "What a fantastic performance at the wedding!" Kyoko blushed and smiled modestly before taking her seat in the living room with a book on her lap.

"Okay! Lights, camera…Action!"

Mio scanned the pages with frightening speed, her critical eyes picking out random details. The door opened, her mother slipping into the room silently. She sat opposite Mio on the couch, eyeing her daughter carefully.

She cleared her throat. "Mio." She called. Her daughter raised her head, albeit reluctantly. "Please prepare for your wedding next week, to Yasukochi Katsuki." Mio's eyes went wide.

It processed fast in her mind. Katsuki. The man playing both her cousin and sister, both people she once admired with all her heart. If she even had one to speak of. He, her fiancé?!

"Mother, how could I marry Misao's fiancé? She will have a lot to say about this!" Rage dripped from her voice, although spoke calmly.

"It has been settled. Do as you are told," her mother spoke just as coldly.

She could only stare blankly at the book while her mother stood and walked out of the room before any more protests could be made. Mrs. Hongo wasn't fast enough.

"What would Yasukochi-sensei's parents have said about this? Marrying his student, nonetheless! What will society say about this? It will damage our name." Mio grinned to herself. Her mother could not counter that.

"They made an agreement with us. You need a husband. He needs the money." She was flat, using short sentences to avoid putting too much detail into her speech. The Yasukochis only wanted the best for their son.

"Doesn't it matter to you that he's only using me? He'll never…lo-lo-love me!" Mio shied away from the word. She didn't believe in it. No one loved her. Her mother didn't. Her father didn't. Surely, Misao and Mizuki didn't. He wouldn't ever.

"Quiet. You are a high-class lady, you cannot speak back to your elders. How disrespectful!" She struck Mio, her nails leaving scratches in her white skin. Blood seeped out and slipped down her face like disconnected tears as a spring breeze blew in through the great windows, exposing Mio's scar.

The look on her daughter's face sent her briskwalking away without a word.

"Cut!" the small director shouted. "It's a wrap!"

Kyoko was only eager to change out of her costume and go home, to avoid her senpai as much as possible. He kissed me, she muttered. She was in such a hurry that she even failed to hassle in switching out of Mio's character.

Her chest hurt thinking about it and she was breathing hard. "Oh no! It can't be! I have a cold?" she wailed. "I need to go home and rest!" But inside, she was thinking deeply. What did it mean to him? It can't have been more than a stage job. So why am I feeling so unsure? I bet that this is what all co-stars go through. How pitiful….I feel your pain!

Without hesitation, she jumped on her bike and cycled away towards the Darumaya. About two feet behind her, Tsuruga Ren skidded out of the building, his suit crumpled and unbuttoned, hand outstretched in her direction. "Kyoko!" he called.

She definitely didn't hear him. (She had probably made three streets away with the speed of her pedalling.) He sighed in defeat after trying to chase down the girl he loved and apologize for kissing her.

Tabitha: Ah, I'm so sorry that I've been away for SO LONG. This is actually reuploaded with hopefully more substance…and fixing a few plotholes for those awesome reviewers who've really helped me out. I've also tried to add more into Dark Moon itself, because it seemed lacking.