Sorry for the late updates. I have lots of school work and other things to do, so i haven't been very productive. I'll try my best to write more and better chapters. I do not own Skip Beat (sadly).

Kyoko walked and walked in the cool night air .She stopped and looked at the sky. Her life had changed in a single night; she felt like a whole different person, but then again she didn't. 'I'm still the same old boring and plain Kyoko'.Even though she had buried that box under feet of dirt, packed cement on top of it, and placed thousands of locks on it, her heart still ached terribly. Tears defiantly began to fall. She fell to her knees, sat down, and began to sob.

'How could he?' she thought 'I thought that he was my only friend. I loved him with all my heart, but I meant absolutely nothing to him.'

'What's the point in crying over that asshat?!'

" But he was the sanctuary I ran to when my mother would hit me." she said.

'Yeah, but that bastard, in the end used you, did he not?'

" Yes"

'He never cared for you'

"No, he didn't"

' He called you his "maid"'. Kyoko's anger flared at the word. The grudge smiled. 'There's no time to be sitting around crying and feeling sorry for yourself and how unfortunate you are. You are no longer the naive little girl who believes that your knight in shining armor will come and save you. That bastard Shou used you, then threw you out like trash; he wasn't worthy of you, so what are you going to do? Are you going to continue to cry or are you going to do something about it?'

" But how?" The grudges smirked.

'Beat him at his own game, of course' Kyoko thought about it for a moment. The corners of her mouth worked upwards.

' Beat him at his own game' repeated over and over in her head.

'That's it' she thought of seeing Shou on his knees and crying for her mercy and her forgiveness made her chills go up her spine, but how would she do this? How could she even be able to step in such a extravagant world when she was so plain looking? Kyoko wracked her brain for answers.

"And who might you be?" someone from behind asked. Kyoko shrieked and jumped up from her seat. The man chuckled. "I apologize. Did I frighten you?" Kyoko stared at the man like a deer on headlights. He wore very...eye catching clothing. He looked like a Russian bullfighter, but just from a look, you could tell he was Japanese. "Miss?" the man asked. Kyoko snapped from her inner thought.

" N-No!" Kyoko shook her head vigorously. "It's my fault for being in the way and not paying attention to my surroundings."

"What is your name young lady?"

"Kyoko Mogami" the man smiled at her immediate response, people would usually get suspicious or annoyed at some stranger asking for their name, and she told him her name without hesitation.

'How innocent' he thought.

"My name is Lory Takarada. Nice to meet you Miss Mogami." Kyoko bowed.

" Nice to meet you too Takarada- san" he chucked.

'How well mannered. What would a girl like this be doing out so late?'

" Miss Mogami, why are you out on the streets at two in the morning?" Kyoko froze.

" U-Uh,well-" Kyoko averted her eyes." I-I thought I'd go for a walk since I couldn't sleep"

'At two in the morning?!' the grudge criticized. Kyoko's head bowed in shame at her own pathetic attempt to lie. The man sighed.

'I wonder if she ran away from home? Maybe had a fight with her parents?' he looked at her hands. 'But she doesn't have any things with her. Did she sneak out to go somewhere?' The young girl felt his searching gaze and began to fidget and took a step back. 'Oh no, I am frightening her.' He put back on his friendly smile; it calmed her down, but she was still on guard.

"Miss Mogami-"

" Grandfather!" a little girl called. Both Lory's and Kyoko's head turned to the source of the voice, who was coming from the building beside them. "Where have you been? I've been waiting for hours!"

" Sorry, I had to finish up some business before I could come and get you." the girl pouted. " I'll make it up to you, I promise" the girl grinned at her grandfather, then finally noticed the teenager standing beside him.

"Who's she?" she asked him. Lory picked up the girl and held her in his arms.

" This is Kyoko Mogami" he introduced.

" Another one of your projects?"

" No, I just met her"

"Hello" Kyoko greeted. She ignored her.

"It is common etiquette to greet someone who is greeting you, Maria" the girl "hmphed" and mumbled a greeting.

"What's your name?" Kyoko asked to be polite.

"Maria Takarada"

"That's a pretty name, Maria-chan" the girl beamed.

" My name's also a Spanish name!" she realized her slip in acting cold and turned away.

'How cute' Kyoko thought. 'I always wanted younger siblings.' Kyoko shivered at the remembrance of how she would be hit and thrown into some dark and cold corner all by herself. Those times could of been bearable if there was someone by her side. At the time, Shou was her comfort, but he didn't know what her mother did, no one knew, and he was utterly useless when she cried in front of him.

Lory took her shivering as her being cold.

"How about we go back inside, it's a bit chilly out here isn't it?"

"Uh, um-" Kyoko started.

"I won't take no for an answer. It's too dangerous for you to be walking around at night, and you're hardly wearing any warm clothing in this cold. You could catch a cold!"

"A-Alright" Kyoko finally accepted. They walked into the building and took an elevator to the first floor, and entered a office down the hall. Kyoko sat in a big;red;fluffy chair, while Maria- chan and Takarada-san sat on the opposite chair

"Thirsty?" Takarada-san asked.

"No thank you" He leaned back in the chair, crossed his legs, and folded his hands in his lap. Kyoko could feel the seriousness settling in. It made her nervous.

"So" Takarada-san began "Why would a young girl like you be walking these streets at this time at night?" The inevitable question made Kyoko sit straighter in her chair.

"I-I was..."

"And don't say you were taking a stroll." Kyoko stopped in her tracks.

"Um,..." he sighed and unfolded his legs, leaning forward.

"You know, Mogami-san, the burden of problems seem a lot easier to withstand when you share them with someone." Kyoko remained quiet. Takarada sighed once more. "Alright, I won't force you to tell me. After all, you only met me a few minutes ago. It would be absurd to expect you to open up to me, but it's out of the question to let you go without making sure you're back at home and safe." Kyoko stiffened, and Lory didn't miss the action." If you would give me the number to your home..." Kyoko unconsciously scoofed.

'Home? What home? There was no longer any place where I belonged. Nowhere I can call home.' Lory stopped speaking and watched the girl's reactions. At first, there was a look of anger spread across her features, but then a look of sadness. He couldn't understand what made her look that way, and he wanted very much to help her, but she wouldn't let him.

"Miss Mogami" No answer. "Mogami-san?" Kyoko jerked back to attention.

"Y-yes, I apologize for not paying attention." Lory shook his head.

"It's alright. I was just asking for a phone number to call your parents, so that they could pick you up."

"N-no, please..."Lory could feel the girl the girl withdrawing.

'Did she run away from home like I predicted?'

"Mogami- san, I don't know what happened, but your parents must be terribly worried about you. Running away won't solve your problems." The teen said nothing; she didn't even bother to correct him.

'Fine, be stubborn'

" Alright then, if you do not give me a phone number, you will have to stay over at my place for the night." Kyoko's eyes widened. "I will be honest. I do not trust that if I put you in some hotel, you will obediently stay put, and even if you did, you can't stay there forever. You have another thing coming if you think that I will send you back out on the streets and wait for you to make up your mind to return home." Kyoko couldn't even find any space to throw in a protest. There was no point in calling anyone since there was no one to call, and if he sent her back outside, she had nowhere to sleep, but she couldn't intrude on someone else's home. Plus, someone who she only met minutes ago and was a complete and utter stranger.

"I'll go home" Kyoko confessed.

"Really?" Lory eyed her.

"Y-Yes"

'Geez, at least put some effort into your lie' the grudge threw at her. Lory sighed and got up from his seat.

"You'll be camping with us tonight, it's late, so we'll continue this conversation in the morning. You can sleep with Maria, the bed is big enough to fit three to four people."

"But grandfather!" protested Maria.

"Bear with me Maria, it'll just be for tonight." Maria's shoulder slumped in defeat to her grandfather's tone of voice that told her that there were negotiations in the matter.

"Mr. Takarada!" Kyoko stood from her seat.

"Good night Mogami-san, Maria" he kissed Maria on the cheek." I will see you in the morning.", and he left the room. Kyoko stared at the spot where he left in astonishment.

"Well don't just stand there gawking, come on" Kyoko stopped her staring and followed the girl. They walked on a red carpet, and the walls were lined with portraits. They made their way to the bedroom, where she entered her dream world. Maria had the room that she had always wanted. All pink and white, with stuffed animals, a nice, tall princess dresser with all kinds of cosmetics and perfumes, and to top it off, there was a huge princess bed in the middle of the room, with drapeS and everything. Kyoko held back a squeal.

Maria dragged her feet over to her dresser and got changed into a princess night gown, then climbed into her bed. Kyoko sighed with envy.

"Are you going to continue to stand there, or are you going to come to bed?" Kyoko trotted over to the king sized bed and stood over it. She didn't want to dirty it with her filthy clothes that she was outside with.

"Why aren't you getting in the bed?" Maria asked.

"I-I'll just sleep on the floor" Maria sat up and quirked an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"I don't want to get your princess bed dirty with my filth! Look at what I'm wearing, I would be out of place on such a beautiful bed; I'll be comfortable on the floor." Maria looked at how Kyoko's eyes sparkled when she talked about the bed and giggled.

"You're weird"Kyoko took it as an insult and pouted.

"Yeah...I guess I am" Maria sensed the uncomfortable atmosphere. She pulled up the sheet and patted the side next to her.

"Come on, hop in" Kyoko wanted oh so much to climb in, but she didn't want to stain the sheets. Maria rolled her eyes. "If you're so worried about the sheets, then take off those clothes and sleep in your underwear." Kyoko blushed. She never slept naked before, and certainly not will another person beside her, but she really wanted to know how the bed felt, so she stripped of everything except her undergarments, folded it neatly and placed it on the dresser, and climbed in the bed. The feel of the covers made goosebumps form all over body. She relaxed and sunk into the soft bed. She laid there and enjoyed the soft and comfortable bed, completely forgetting that she wasn't the only one to occupy it.

"Why did you run away from home?" Maria asked. The question caught Kyoko by surprise.

"What?"

"Why did you run away?" Maria repeated. Kyoko silently stared at the glowing star filled ceiling. She opened her mouth to answer, but couldn't form the words and closed it again, so she just shook her head. Maria took the silence as Kyoko not wanting to tell her, so she turned on her side, facing away. "Fine, don't answer if you don't want to." Kyoko panicked and continuously shook her head,leaning over her.

"No, that's not it!" Maria turned back around. Kyoko laid back down. "I...I didn't" Maria became confused.

"Huh?!"

"I didn't run away"

"Then...what happened?" Kyoko gave a soft, sad laugh.

"It's more like I was thrown out."

"B-By your parents" Kyoko shook her head. This made Maria even more confused, and she became impatient.

"Then who? Who were you living with, if not your parents? Where are your parents?" Kyoko's fist balled at her sides, her nails sinking into the skin, and she bit her lip; she could fell the tears threatening to fall once again.

'Why am I so weak? I'm never going to get revenge if I'm this effected by the thought of him.'

Kyoko turned to Maria. "Talkative now aren't you, Maria-chan? Before, you seemed to hate me."

"I-I didn't hate you!" she blushed and crossed her arms under the covers." I just don't trust adults, period." Kyoko's eyebrows arched.

"Why?"

"Because they're liars!"

"Why do you say that?" Maria's lips began to quiver.

"Mommy..." she sniffed" It's my fault mommy's gone" Kyoko took "gone" meaning "dead", and she felt for the girl. Even though she wouldn't be able to understand exactly how Maria felt, her heart still ached for her. She wiped away the girl's tears,and held her close. "W-What are you doing?!"

"Shh, keep talking" Maria relaxed and continued to speak.

"It was my birthday, and I wanted to see mommy"

"Why couldn't you see her before?"

"Mommy was a supermodel, and she had to work abroad a lot" Kyoko was shocked to hear her response, but said nothing, so she wouldn't interrupt her." I asked her to come visit me" Maria's sobs grew louder." the plane she was on crashed,and she died! Everyone said it wasn't my fault, but I knew that behind those pathetic smiles and kind words, they were all thinking that it was my fault. Even father blamed me for it" Kyoko just listened to the little girl's ramblings. " Father hates me! I KNOW IT! Everyone said that when he back to America that he just needed some space to think, but I knew he went back because he couldn't stand to be near me!" Kyoko gently caressed the girls hair.

"...Maybe he does hate you" Maria stiffened.

"Eh?"

"You took away the love of his life, and he most likely won't be able to find someone else to take your mother's place. You may be his daughter, but your father is only human, he has emotions too. If he hates you, can you blame him?" Maria was too shocked to respond.

"W-Wha-" Kyoko smiled.

"You see how much it hurts to be told something like that directly to your face? That's what those 'liars' were trying to keep you away from. Do you understand?" Maria nodded, still a bit stunned. "Good. Now I don't know what your father is thinking because I'm not your father, so how about you ask him yourself?" Maria's head shot up, looking right into Kyoko's eyes.

"But,but...I'm...scared."

"That's only natural"

"Really?"

"Of course" Kyoko thought for a moment." Do you want to get rid of that fear?" Maria's eyes widened.

"How?!" Kyoko got out of the bed and walked over to her neatly folded clothes. She searched her pants pockets for her most precious possession, her Corn stone. She pulled back on her pants and walked around the bed towards the small sliding door that lead to the balcony.

"Come on" Kyoko beckoned. Maria scurried over to Kyoko and stood attention. Kyoko opened the door, and they walked out onto the balcony. "Here" Kyoko placed the purples stone into Maria's hands.

"What is it?"

"My Corn stone."

"Corn stone?"

"Mmhm. When I was younger, I...had a lot of problems, and I met this fairy prince."

"Fairy prince?! Are you making this up?"

"Of course not!" Kyoko snapped. " The prince's name was Corn, he was always there for me when I wanted to hide and cry; he consoled me."

"What happened to'em?"

"One day, he had to leave, and I didn't want him to go, we had so much fun together. He let me forget all of my troubles" Kyoko smiled when she remembered the blond hair and blue eyed boy. "Before he left, he gave me that stone, and said that whenever I fell sad, lonely, when I want to cry, or if I'm just feeling down, to push all of those negative feelings into that stone." Kyoko smiled. She stepped behind Maria and positioned her toward the moon."Face the stone toward the moon" Maria did as she was told."Close your eyes" Maria obliged."And breathe in and out" Maria breathed in and out. Kyoko silently waited for the girl to finish. The stone turned orange, and Maria opened her eyes.

"How do you feel now?"

"Better" Maria confessed." I think that maybe I can talk to daddy again"

"That's great!" Maria beamed. She ran over and hugged Kyoko.

"Thank you onee-sama!" Kyoko blushed.

"O-Onee-sama?" Maria face also began to turn red.

"Can't I call you that?"

"No, no, you can! It's just...do you really want an onee-sama like me?"Maria nodded, and Kyoko smiled. She was touched. "It's late,so we should get to bed."

"Okay" Kyoko led the way back in, and closed the door, making sure to lock it. They curled back under the cover and drifted into dreams with their happy endings.