Strings Attached

by

dancingfingers

Disclaimer: I don't, under any circumstances, own Skip Beat! and its characters.

Thank you to regulusgal, a beta of mine.

Chapter 13

Kuon huffed to himself as he stared out the window, glaring at the rain. It was supposed to be a good day for filming at least three scenes, a rare feat they could achieve in the same rare sunny day, only to be send home early. The director would not risk his team to be stuck on the filming site by flood and terrible traffic jam. Only the lulling sound of raindrops splattered on the window relaxed him a bit, and he turned around, heading to the living room of his suite.

Yashiro was contently scribbling on his planner, his ever-present serene smile gave Kuon a pleasant feeling combined with guilt within. He knew that Yashiro worked as hard as he did, and he suspected the older man had spent more time working than he had. He felt bad that he had not taken more break from his activities, ignoring Yashiro's need to rest from the hustle and bustle of entertainment business. It was more amazing when the manager efficiently divided his time for work and social life, without even lowering his standard and work ethics.

Kuon took a seat on the loveseat and grabbed a remote control, turning on the television. He was aware that he wouldn't understand the language, but still, there must be something worth watching. His thumb stopped punching the button as his eyes caught an international channel, inwardly relieved. He shifted to a more comfortable position, stretching his long legs and resting them on the coffee table before focusing to the news program. Yes, it was hardly relaxing for anyone else, but to Kuon it refreshed his brain as he updated himself to the latest news.

The comfortable silence with occasional firm tone of the announcer and the scratching sound from Yashiro echoed through the room until the manager broke the silence.

"Hey, Kuon?"

"Hmm...?"

A rustling sound was heard, then, "I was thinking." Yashiro's voice was a bit louder, and Kuon turned to see that the bespectacled man had scooted closer to him. "How long would it take for us to be here?"

Green eyes looked away in thought. Tapping his forefinger to his cheek, Kuon answered, "Maybe... a week or two...? Hmm, no. Three weeks, at most, I think. I don't have many shoots left, so it should take little time unless the weather uncompromised with our schedule." I could only thank Maya-san for her professionalism and skill, he thought inwardly. If she were like any other so-called actress, I should have gone insane right now from their fangirling instead of acting.

Yashiro scrunched up his nose. "That's awfully short time." For a movie to take mere weeks was impossible, for there was always a change in the middle of production, from replacing the actors to changing a part or two of the script, resulting to a longer time for filming.

Yashiro sighed, pausing on his scribbling. "I heard that the director's going to reschedule everything because of the weather, so we can't know for sure."

Kuon shrugged, eyes staring back at the TV. "It can't be helped," he replied.

"Do you think..." Yashiro paused, struggling to swallow the disappointment back, "...we will come back soon to Japan, or we'll head to the Netherlands afterwards?" He fought the urge to scream in frustration because he had planned a reunion between his charge and Kyoko-chan and if the schedule changed… he would have to reschedule everything!

"Yashiro." Kuon straightened on his seat, smiling, misunderstanding the older man's question. "Is this about your upcoming wedding? I'm sorry for holding you up here."

"Your mother has graciously helped Kanae," Yashiro countered. "I keep in touch with the both of them and help as much as I can. Once I can go back to Tokyo, I'm going to relieve some more of their headaches."

"I can take care of myself if I have to work without you," the actor said reassuringly, holding up his hands as he proceeded, "President Takarada can arrange someone to assist me, don't worry."

Yashiro flawlessly managed to keep his expression composed. Sighing, he simply replied, "...I know."

Now, his curiosity aroused at the defeated tone in his friend's voice. It was faint, but Kuon was nothing less than a thorough observant. Kuon muted the TV and fully turned his body facing the manager. "What's wrong?" he asked, eyebrows arching.

Crap. "Nothing." He hastily added as Kuon's brow quirked in disbelief, "Nothing really." At least, it was nothing really urgent... for him.

"Then what?"

"Well, I was kinda... you know, thinking about President's odd words."

Kuon blinked. "Ah, the plan?" he murmured.

"Yes." Yashiro nodded. "What—what do you think about it? Do you have any idea of what it is? Or, when will it happen? I mean… something will be bound to happen soon when you are here, right?"

Kuon's answer threw him off. "It is a clear warning," the younger man said. "A warning that I have yet to know of its danger."

"...What?"

Kuon let out a dry chuckle. "If he were to plan something for me, he would not tell me beforehand, instead executing it behind my back, pulling strings here and there, cornering me so that I would follow his plan unknowingly. I've known him long enough to recognize his cunning ways." His eyes rolled upward to stare at the white ceiling. "However, since I still don't know what he warned me of, I could only watch over myself... and you. If he were so much to give me that, I would assume that President is really serious."

Oh, if only you knew... but then again, you will know, sooner than you think. Yashiro smiled to himself, pleased. If he could play his cards right, he was going to have his time in the world, watching the two people he deemed as brother and sister reunited, with an adorable little niece in between. Ah... I feel old already. He chuckled quietly.

He didn't miss that Kuon had forgotten, or simply ignored, that he had steered the conversation away from their earlier topic.

No matter, it would work well for him...

And for them.

After taking a restless nap and washed her face, Kyoko waited for Honda to appear as she'd asked him to two hours ago. She helped herself with a cup of instant ramen, suddenly needing something to chew on to forget the chill of trepidation running down her spine. As she finished with a big slurp and a wide lick over her wet lips, a knock from the adjoining door was heard. Kyoko cautiously peeked over the peephole, exhaling her breath deeper than usual as she saw Honda's dark eyes stared back at her.

"Come in," she said, closing the door behind her as the bodyguard entered the room. She led him to a small room she designed as her temporary study."Do you bring...?"

"Yes."

Her breath caught in her throat, while the loud and painfully slow beating of her heart banged against her eardrums as she tried to compose herself.

"Okay," she nodded, gesturing for the man to show her the blasted thing. "I'm ready."

With a flick of his wrist, he opened a small, black velvet box in his hand, revealing a long, lost object she recognized from her childhood. Silver chain glinted brightly under her lamp-light; attached to it was a silver ring with two small, studded amber placed on each side of a slightly bigger, round green emerald...

Her mother's legacy.

Honda watched a number of emotions play on Kyoko's face at the same time. It was surprise at first, and he wondered whether this ring held any significant matter for her, before lowering his brows in sympathy at the fear clearly written on her face. She was deathly pale as she subconsciously reached out a hand and fingered the smooth surface of the ring. However, something suddenly, and quite visibly, struck her as the heat returned to her cheeks... and her golden eyes. They were blazing in inferno, and Honda cringed a little at the maddening rage in them. Even so, his heart and mind still warmed at the fierce determination burning in every cell of her body. He was so proud to this strong woman despite of the hardships she'd been through.

Closing the empty box, Honda straightened his spine and called tentatively, "Kyoko-san?"

The rage subsided, though the blazing gold still remained. "This is my mother's ring. A legacy that has been inherited to the daughters of my mother's family line," she explained. Her eyebrow twitched slightly as she glanced at the chain. "I thought I had lost it long ago."

He noted that bit of information and asked, "Since when?"

"Let's see... I still have it when I was... three? Four? I don't remem—oh. Oh." Her lips tightened into a thin line as the realization sunk in. A cold wave of fear almost washed over her before she stubbornly changed it into a sea of rage instead. No one, no fucking one, would harm her daughter as long as she lived! This pettiness of—well, she didn't have the slightest idea, but this had to stop. If Saena was allowed to do anything she deemed bringing her sick pleasure, Kyoko would give the woman the sweetest blow to pay back for her audacity to threaten her and her daughter... personally. She was not the same woman who had left her home five years ago, she had matured and changed into a—hopefully—braver woman. The fear she had felt when she had seen the hand-doll the first time was only natural since she had lived in peace for five full years... and she would not lose to that emotion anymore unless it was for her beloved ones, not for someone like Saena.

She clutched the ring deep to the crook of her fist, almost desperate to regain her control. It would do no good to her if she lost herself in anger. She would be her usual composed and collected self, concentrating at the current problem in her hand now and mulling over the best way to finish this all so that she and her daughter should live in quiet peace.

Looking up at Honda, she filled him in. "I lost it one day before my father's passing. I'd tried to look everywhere that day, but to no avail. I didn't tell him because I was afraid that he would be disappointed at me for losing a precious jewel, especially when it was given by my mother. Then it had been conveniently forgotten when the police came to my house and told us about the train accident." She smiled sadly. "I waited for him to come home as always, but as the dinner time came, he was nowhere to be seen. That woman then made me eat to my reluctance, yet I couldn't find myself to refuse her because I was indeed hungry. After that, I waited and waited for him, curling on the genkan, straining my ears to hear his heavy footsteps."

She took a seat and sighed. "Several hours later, I heard some footsteps heading to the door. I instantly jumped up from my light doze and opened the door, only to see the dark uniforms of two policemen. They asked me of my mother's whereabouts and wanted to tell her something. I was confused. My mother had passed away for years, so why would they ask for her?

"It was until Saena—" she spat the name venomously, "stood behind me, gasping in surprise. I hadn't recognized it at the time, but her surprise was... off. Like she faked it, somehow. I know because I've been practically living as her slave for long agonizing years, and noting her every gesture." Kyoko cleared her throat and folded her clasped hand on her lap. "Anyway, she told me straight away that I should go to sleep so that she could talk with those guys. I refused, but she gave me a frightening look that scared me terribly. I reluctantly put myself to bed, disappointed and a little angry at my father."

"Angry?"

"Yes." She nodded. "My father was the one who used to tuck me in and lull me to sleep every night. So, when I couldn't go to sleep and became restless, I got up and, since I didn't want to get that glare from her anymore, I walked to the living room very, very quietly." A shuddering breath left her as her eyes misted. "I heard them conversing about my father, and how deeply sorry they were for my family to lose him. They soon left, with the promise that all would be dealt with the train company. At that time, I felt like something was wrong and I had no power to stop it. It also didn't help me feel better when she told me in the morning the following day that my father was away for a long time. Then, two weeks later she came back from the office station and she brought home a box.

"Can you imagine how shocked I was when Saena," here she spat her name viciously, again, "opened it, revealing a hand that looked familiar to me. It was so scary, there was old blood trailing from the elbow and the skin looked so pale, with bones sticking out. I absently wondered why she had brought that to this house. It was when my eyes caught the unmistakable wristwatch on the wrist that I realized that my father was gone, joining my mother wherever they are..."

Honda anticipated Kyoko's next words with fast-beating heart in his chest. Somehow, someway, he knew that he'd catch her reasoning behind her rage after this.

"...So when I was frightened another day, Honda-san, it was because I was too stunned to see the exact replica of his only remaining body part. I instantly knew who had sent the package, and assigned Shiori to keep close to Sachiko. Just in case. Only when you told me about this jewel," she said as she lifted the chain and the ring dangled before her face. "That I began to worry about our safety. Because, she somehow discovered that I have given birth to a daughter and kindly sent my inheritance. It would have been normal and welcoming if it wasn't for the fact that she wrapped it together with my father's hand replica. It was as if... as if..."

"She targets Sachiko now," he finished for her.

"Yes." A soft whisper. An audibly sigh. Then Kyoko looked at him coldly, reminding him of her days as Setsuka Heel, her 'persona' in showbiz. "I will end this ridiculousness sooner, or later."

Honda bowed in respect.

"I will assist you in every way, Kyoko-san," he promised, truth and sincerity lacing his words.

The golden-eyed woman smiled, cold and predatory. Gone was the usual bubbly Mogami Kyoko he'd known for five years.

"I would ask no less," she chuckled behind her hand.

Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Japan...

Second Division of Criminal Investigation Bureau, Keishichō

A man drummed his fingers against his mahogany table as his mind processed the information he had read just now and pieced them together with the report he'd just received. They all fixed into their appropriate places, if one bothered to find the connection between the two. Of course, it was faint, as the signs were subtle, but the natural molding had almost caught him off-guard. Almost.

He himself had gathered all the information he could get, regardless of how trivial it seemed. He paid attention for every little detail, and not blinded himself with the big picture. He had to see from several points of view, contemplating the merit one could gain from it, and also noted the risks one would endure. His Lieutenant often dubbed him as 'someone who should work as a businessman', and he merely shrugged, neither playing along nor put a stop to it. It didn't change who he was and this attitude of his had led them to succeed in bringing cases to a close over and over again.

Glaring slightly at the black folder in his other hand, Inspector Shingai blanked his mind and let it wander around. The distinct sound of jazz echoed through his hearing as his heartbeat slowed and his eyelids drooped half-mast.

I never thought that this was so well-planned. He idly thought. If onehave had a hold on this, they would have suspected nothing beneath but what was plain to see. Hell… if I haven't noticed the role he had in this, I would have said that I should ignore him, and yet… He shook his head. I should go after him no matter what; it will surely benefit my division, and—him, too… or whoever behind this.

Then, he curled his fist tightly, a smirk spreading across his lips. I will catch those worthless crocodiles in the squad for assisting her.

He chuckled softly, and then raised his head as he heard his Lieutenant calling for him from behind the door. "Yes?"

A brown-haired woman peered from the slightly ajar door. "Can I come in?" she asked.

"You may."

The woman huffed, flicking her ponytail over her shoulder. Her warm cinnamon eyes glanced over the black folder her superior was holding in his hand. "What is that, Shingai-keibu?" she inquired curiously. "A new case?"

"Hmm…" Shingai looked at her contemplatively. "Yes… and no," he told her.

Itsumi frowned at the vague answer. "Inspector…" she warned.

"Yes, it's new." His face was serious but his eyes clearly laughed at her. Itsumi reined the urge to strangle him for playing with her… again. If she didn't know better, she'd say that he was flirting with her. "But when you read the case, it is not new at the same time; it even almost bored me to death to see this again."

She didn't miss the way he emphasized the word 'almost'. Flicking a gaze at the folder once more, a slow, excited grin tilted her lips.

This should be interesting…

I want to thank everyone because... *drum roll* WE'VE MADE IT TO 100+ reviews! Thank you, thank you! *sniffles* I always thought that it would come later than sooner... either way, I'm so happy to know that you all love this story. I also notice that some of the reviewers are Guest/Non-member, who often times kick my lazy bum to work on the latest chapter LOL.

Sorry for the delayed update, by the way. A family member had been struck with terminal illness since last month, and then passed away weeks ago. It was a difficult time for me to see someone who used to appear so healthy in one minute then the next they are struggling to breath. It didn't help that the first time I visited him was also the last time I saw him.

Back to topic. This chapter seems to have something missing, and kind of boring since it is a filler, sort of. I promise that the next we will have something light and heartwarming, because FINALLY I can write the impending scene of father-daughter bonding!

See you later,

-dee

::Glossary::

Keishichō: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

Keibu: Inspector