Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat or any of its characters. Thank you. Also, I am doing a few cameos in this chapter to include characters and references from Naruto, The One, and Paradise Kiss, none of which I own. Disclaimer complete.

At long last, President Takarada graced the group with his presence. Miaka smiled cheerfully although she part of her wanted to curse this carefree old man. Yet, she smiled because that's what Miaka did in the face of adversity. She wasn't who she used to be. Amazing how easy it was to smother Kyoko in the presence of the President but the struggle remained when faced with Ren. Miaka cursed herself silently. Not Ren, Mr. Tsuruga. She chanced a small sideways glance him through Mr. Tsuruga and that suited her just fine. She bit her lip. It wouldn't do to be totally unfriendly, thus she'd offered him the sleeping pills. Still, Miaka's character was…..no, her LIFE was just developing. Kyoko had given her assent for Miaka's appearance and that was all there was to it. Miaka affixed her attention to Mr. Takarada.

"Allow me to make the introductions. Ms. Miaka this is Tsuruga Ren, a top talent here at LME, and his manager Yashiro-san. Tsuruga-san may I introduce Ms. Miaka, Mrs. Lele Caine, and Mrs. Caroline Hayasaka. All top models but Ms. Miaka is a satellite talent of LME's who has her eyes on procuring an international stage." The President gestured to each person in turn. Miaka turned to Ren.

"Miaka is pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Indeed, I feel the same." Ren murmured.

"We feel as if we already know you, though the formal introduction has us truly beside ourselves." Mrs. Hayasaka said. The look in her eyes was odd. It held a certain murderous gleam. Lele Caine touched Hayasaka's leg briefly.

"We are anxious to hear more about the opportunity President Takarada has offered Miaka." Lele smoothed the conversation over and Miaka let out an inner sigh. Perhaps she never should have told them. When Miaka had received the summons from LME, she knew she needed to explain to her two closest friends so that no hiccups occurred. Still, she hadn't jumped through the legal hoops she supposed she ought to have but regardless she could not tell them everything. Not to mention Miaka embellished a little bit to make up for the missing bits she could not reveal about the man known as Tsuruga Ren.

"Ms. Miaka has been offered to shoot an all seasons centered couture photo shoot with esteemed designer George Koizumi, who it would appear, Mrs. Hayasaka is quite familiar with….." Lorry started.

Caroline's eyes softened. Miaka knew of George, he was the one that gave Caroline her debut and also the one man who'd gotten away from the beautiful model. Miaka could understand that, but she believed Caroline was more strong and beautiful without a man at her side. In fact, she believed that to be true of all women. Men were nice, but they were like a nice purse to a killer outfit. Accessories to be admired, give pleasure, and hold your things. But like many great accessories, new ones always came into style. There was never truly a purse for all seasons.

"…Miaka will be shooting with her fellow talent here, Tsuruga Ren." Takarada-san gestured at Ren. Ren used every ounce of willpower he had not to roll is eyes. This was getting ridiculous the way the President was interfering. He kept throwing countless inane projects at Ren to keep his mind "occupied" while he "secretly" searched for Kyoko. Now he would be stuck on a shoot with this seemingly brainless model that kept referring to herself in the third person, and, somehow, he'd have to make himself like it, or at least tolerate it long enough to produce decent photographs.

"Is it necessary for Tsuruga-san to be Miaka's co-model, President-san?" said brainless girl questioned, startling him. He eyed her from the side. They'd only known each other for just a few moments and here she was refusing to work with him.

"George asked for him, Ms. Miaka so, I'm afraid you have no other option as you are also bound by a contract to fulfill your obligations to LME."

"Miaka understands, Mr. President." Miaka's eyes narrowed slightly and slid over to Ren. He pasted on his best gentlemanly smile.

"My apologies, of late I don't quite feel myself. I hope you will find me in a far more suitable manner on the set of the campaign, Ms. Miaka."

"Miaka hopes so too. Take care, Tsuruga-san, Mr. President." With that, Miaka and her friends left the office. Ren put his face into his hands.

"Well, she'll certainly keep you on your toes. No doubt about that. I wonder in what way you've offended her." Lorry scratched his head merrily. The President appeared a little too happy, Ren noted.

"It would appear so." Ren said, moving to make his exit.

"Oh….Ren. Please do your best to play well with others. It's a lesson you ought to learn."

Ren snorted and left through the door, which made a resounding thud.

MIAKA

Miaka looped her arms into the two of her dear friends' arms. Caroline and Lele were famous models and with Miaka rapidly emerging, it wasn't often they could find a place to go out alone without being recognized. Oh the life of a star, her eyes twinkled. She'd have to think of a way to have a little fun. Being cooped up in the house was BORING.

"We should go out to eat tonight before the onlookers and fans catch on that we've changed locations."

"AH! But we need disguises! Like sunglasses and scarves and horribly dark red lipstick!" Miaka concluded, gleefully.

Caroline laughed.

"No one does those things in real life Miaka. You've been watching too many dramas of late."

"Well, we could always borrow THAT." Lele pointed at a dark haired girl in a flamboyantly pink jumpsuit. Miaka's heart fell into her stomach, like lead.

"Oh….ah….yeah….hehe…." Miaka forced herself to giggle and tried to obscure her face from view but it was too late. Her eyes met Moko's and she dragged her eyes away, forcing them to look at Caroline even though as she did she could feel Moko-san's eyes drilling straight into the side of her head.

"Miaka-chan, do you know her?"

"Ah…well…..that is to say…."

Moko effortlessly floated by and paused to look Miaka hard in the eyes.

"I don't know this woman at all. For a moment, I thought she resembled someone I once knew, a friend of mine. It appears I was terribly mistaken. My apologies." Moko-san murmured every word staring straight into Miaka's eyes.

She knew.

But there was nothing Miaka could tell her.