Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or any of its characters, also this next few chapters I will be adding some song lyrics that inspired as songs the characters performed. As I know that these belong to the artists and not Skip Beat or me, I am disclaiming these as well! Thank you. Sorry for the wait. There's a lot that's been forming in my head regarding this story (I just adore it. NEED MORE CHAPTERS!) So, for those who are reading, I will be binge writing over the next few days. Enjoy!

It had been 3 months since Ren had last seen Kyoko, Yashiro-san noted. The gentleman smile seemed to be a now permanent fixture on his face. At work he seemed ever determined and dedicated as he had always been. His personal life was entirely another matter. Yashiro hardly knew what had passed between the two but whatever it was it could not have been good for Kyoko to disappear in such a fashion. Yashiro had tried his best to tip toe around the subject but his curiosity was killing him and the fact that he had been trying to track her down on his own did not go unnoticed.

"Yahshiro-san, are you listening?" Ren's gravelly morning voice filled his ears. He had such high hopes for Kyoko and Ren and he refused to give up hope. If Ren refused to answer questions or ask for help, he would just insert himself, as he was so obviously needed, whether he wanted it or not. Besides, he had always liked Kyoko and keeping his talent happy was important. Keeping his friend happy was even more important.

"Absolutely." Yashiro pushed his glasses to their regular perch upon his nose. Ren sighed.

"I need to speak with Jelly Woods and…..I need to book a flight to see a friend of mine."

"A friend of yours? Does this have anything to do with Kyoko?" Not for the first time, Ren's eyes went soft and forlorn, leaning his forehead into his hands.

"No, this has nothing to do with Miss Mogami, and I would refrain from asking me about her in the future as it appears we are on some uneven footing with each other regarding personal matters." After months of silence the subject had been breached. Yashiro tried to pry just a bit more.

"Personal matters?" Ren's eyes went steely as he glanced sideways at Yashiro.

"Yes." Message received.

The car pulled up to Ren's apartment. He nimbly climbed out of the door; his body seemed to all the world unchanged. Yashiro noted the way his shoulders slumped just a bit and how he dragged his fingers through his hair ever so slowly. He didn't even bother turning around, jacket tossed over his shoulder.

"If the press should ask…." He muttered over his shoulder.

"Understood." Yashiro nodded.

Not a word would be uttered….by anyone, if Yashiro could help it. They slowly pulled off in the black company car and leaned his head against the cool glass window. What on Earth did Kyoko discover? What could he have said to leave her running for the hills? Where did she go? Was she safe? Did anyone know anything? Most importantly, was she ever coming back?

~Ren~

She was never coming back. That day, that slap, those eyes; just kept playing in his mind over and over again. He wiped his hand down his features, pausing where she had slapped him and sprawled across his couch, jacket-less. The last place she'd touched him. He wondered if he should have got the imprint tattooed as a constant reminder. He knew how she felt about reminders and his idea of a penance. He brought his watch up to his gaze.

He hadn't got to finish the whole story. Who wants to spin the sad tale of an orphan boy, his family murdered, only to have finally made it good by getting adopted by two incredibly famous and rich people longing to be parents. He was a regular "Orphan Annie", a rags to riches story. Kyoko would have likened him to Cinderella.

That still hadn't been enough for him. He needed his own legacy. He wanted to defend what had used to be instead of embracing what he had. He'd wanted his revenge. He'd needed blood and vengeance and enough money to enact it. Well, he'd had enough blood. It didn't matter that it wasn't the right blood.

He paused. Who was he kidding? It made all the difference. Now, he not only had blood on his hands but the weight of a broken heart. The heart of the one person who had always believed in him and his magic. She was in possession of a pure heart, a whole heart. Yes, her heart. The only thing he longed to possess and protect more than anything in this world.

He sure as hell didn't deserve it, he knew that. Yet, he still desired it.

He had tried his hardest, but all the money in the world could not trace her. After her mother's broadcast he felt doubly dirty. How would he ever be able to fix this?

He picked himself up and began to unbutton his shirt, heading towards the shower.

There was something to be said of coming clean. So, for now, this was a start to the very long road he was sure was going to come.