Just a warning I am Dyslexic so my stories will not be perfect but I now have one Beta reader to help me along the way :D

Thank you so much to rsrdiall for offering to work with me :D

Hello my sweeties,

This chapter has been killing me!

Who would believe me if I said I'm not even sure myself who the culprit is yet XD

Enjoy.

Neh xxx

I do not own Skip Beat!

It was silent. It was the first thing Kuon noticed as he awoke slowly from the deepest sleep he had had in a while. Why was it silent? No sounds of Kyoko in the bathroom, no sound of her walking around tidying up after both of them.

Kuon lifted himself from the bed and looked around trying to figure out the reason. It only took one look at her empty bed and the open bathroom door to know Kyoko wasn't there.

"Setsu?" Kuon called knowing Kyoko still wished to stay in character around him. There was no reply.

"SETSU?" Kuon shouted now beginning to worry. Setsu never leaves Cain. She never...

"SETSU?" Kuon cried jumping out of bed and running instantly to the sitting area.

"KYOKO!" Kuon was panicking and he knew it as he flung open the hotel door and literally raced to the elevator that would take him to the top floor and his parents suite. He hardly even touched the door as it swung open instantly.

"Mom? Dad? Is Setsu here?" Kuon cried as he raced towards the room they would normally eat breakfast. He skidded to a halt at what awaited him. The panic Kuon was feeling almost doubled.

"She's not abandoned you, Kuon. It's just your mother has taken your dear sister out shopping. So why don't you calm down and come eat with your old dad?" Kuon's heart which had been pounding from fearing the worst. That perhaps Kyoko had... It was too painful to even think about. "She's coming back, Kuon. Now please come and have a seat."

And Kuon didn't argue. He never even thought about the fact he was still dressed in his sleeping clothes or that he had not brought out his room key. Kyoko hadn't walked out of his life forever and that was enough.

"So Setsu, what type of dress will we be looking for? Also ladies please don't forget you both need a dress so pick whatever you like all expenses paid." Kanae and Chiori looked at each other then towards Sayuri Heel who was almost literally dragging Setsu around the expensive store she had driven them to.

"Mom, I really do not see why I even need a dress!" Setsu pouted as Sayuri tried to point out the beautiful needle work on a blue satin gown.

"Oh pish posh Setsu! You will be going with your brother to the end of filming party! Of course you need a dress. And since the director has been nice enough to invite not only us but our companions it's only proper that we appear well dressed."

Setsu slumped against one of the solid shop fittings ignoring her mother almost entirely. "I have nice clothes Nii-san brought me," she muttered and Sayuri smiled.

"Yes of course sweetheart. But has Cain brought you a dress?" Sayuri didn't need Setsu to answer. The way she turned her head away from her mother feigning interest in another area of the store was all she needed.

Kanae and Chiori watched silently. Neither one of them were comfortable even looking at the dresses with these price tags.

"I'll help you choose Cain's tux," were the next soft words from Sayuri's mouth. Instantly it was as if Setsu's interest switch had been knocked onto full power.

"I can chose what Nii-san wears?" Setsu asked walking slowly over to one of the racks.

"If you find yourself a beautiful dress now, we may even be able to make sure the colors match."

With those words Setsu was off like lightning, picking up dresses as she went. Chiori wondered if she even knew what she was grabbing she was going so quickly. It wasn't until Sayuri chuckled that she turned her eyes questioningly towards the older woman.

"She's just going to pick up every black dress in the store and decide between those. What's the betting?" Chiori turned to Setsu again and couldn't help but chuckle too. Sayuri was right.

"Well if she's doing that I better go help her carry some," Kanae said without much hesitation. Chiori smiled as she watched Kanae go.

"What's the smile for Chiori-chan?" Sayuri asked noticing how happy the young girl looked.

"Ermm... it's nothing really. Just... well you see Kanae she... she doesn't make friend's easy. And well she's been worrying a lot about our other friend who has been away for family business. I just think it's good she has found a friend in Setsu," Chioiri said with an embarrassed grin. Sayuri smiled at the young girl and then looked back over to her daughter and the number two love me girl.

"It's always nice to make new friends, Chiori-chan. But don't forget it's not only Kanae-chan Setsu is friend's with." As if on cue Setsu's voice rang out across the store.

"Chiori! Come see which one you think looks better." so with a small bow to Sayuri, Chiori joined her friends, whilst Sayuri took a moment to check her phone messages. Her heart stopped as the text she had been waiting for was flashing on her screen.

"I hope you're right Kyoko, I really and truly hope you're right."

"That dress is simply stunning!" Sayuri cried out loud as Setsu stepped out of the changing room in the dress she had picked up.

"You think so?" Setsu asked as she turned around. The material shimmered like sunlight off of a raven's wing, making it look as if the dress was not black, but also shades of blue and purple. It was cut just above the knee and fit Setsu like a glove. The V-neck at the front was neither too low, nor did it make Kyoko feel 'like a nun' as she had said a few times that day. But it was the back which made Chiori almost gasp. It was almost completely backless with the exception of her lower back, attached by a chain of gold links at the top.

"I do like it, Setsu. You have such a nice figure." the Love Me girls could only nod and agree as they watched Setsu's panther like glide across the dressing room using all of the available mirrors.

"OK. Then I think Nii-san will like it too. So I will take this one, Mom."

After the almost two hours they had already spent in the shop looking at the dresses Kanae couldn't help but be surprised by the fact Setsu had simply ok'd the first dress she had tried on!

"Well then that's wonderful, Setsu. Now we just have to find dresses for these wonderful ladies," Sayuri commented as she turned her attention towards the two startled women.

"Oh Sayuri-san we couldn't," Kanae started off with a slight stutter as she remembered the price tag she had seen on some of the dresses Setsu had picked up.

I'm even beginning to sound like Kyoko! Kanae suddenly thought as images of Kyoko refusing to let Ren pay for things ran through her head. But was it really ok to accept this?

"Now don't be silly! You will both need a beautiful dress and as my daughter's friends I insist! She refused to go to her high school prom because Cain couldn't go, so please don't deny me this," Sayuri begged as she hit both girls with the well-known puppy dog look all the Heels seemed to possess.

The Love Me girls didn't even get a word in edge wise as Sayuri called over two of the shop assistants, handed Setsu a small leaf of paper and left the private dressing room. No one would bother her there Sayuri knew as she gave Kyoko a comforting look before following the two other women back into the store.

Kyoko dropped herself onto the chair Sayuri had so recently vacated. Her mind not on the shop at all but rather millions of miles away as she grabbed her phone from her leather jacket pocket and sat there staring at it. Kyoko hadn't even bothered looking at the label for the dress she was sitting in. She hadn't really seen any of the dresses clearly because her head was spinning from what she was about to do and what she was trying to accomplish.

Julie had offered to make the call for her, but Kyoko had declined. Deep in her heart Kyoko knew this was something she should do. Something only she could do. And if it was to save Kuon, then it was something she could do. Reading the number on the paper with shaking hands Kyoko slowly typed it into her phone. Her finger almost slipped as she clicked the call button but it didn't matter.

For Kuon... I'm doing this for Kuon. she repeated over and over in her head as she pressed call, lifted the phone to her ear and waited.

"How do you know all this?" Kuon asked his head in his hands as his father rubbed his back softly trying to comfort his son.

"Kyoko figured it out," Kuu said as he handed Kuon another tissue.

"She really is something else my little girl," Kuu said with utter and complete pride ringing in his voice.

Kuon chuckled as he tried to dry his eyes once more.

"She really is. And trust me you don't even know the half of it," Kuon said as he looked up at his father.

"She's like this little bit of the sun that has fallen to earth. She gives light and warmth to everyone around her. I only have to see her and my day is already infinitely better. She makes me happy just by being there."

Kuu smiled softly as the talk about Kyoko brought colour to his son's face once more. "See that's where you're wrong Kuon, I do know."

Kuon looked over at him skeptically. It was a look Kuu had not seen in years and he couldn't help but smile and ruffle his son's hair lovingly as he continued.

"I know because that is what your mother is to me. She is my sunshine, my fallen angel and my other half. Without your mother Kuon I could never be the man I am today and I think the same with you. You could never be the man you are today without Kyoko.

We all have our good and bad times in life Kuon and sometimes we don't ever think it is going to become good again. But what you have to remember like all of those fairy tales our dear Kyoko loves so much is the princess goes through some real shit to get to their happily ever after."

Kuon couldn't help it as he burst out laughing at his father's true yet blunt analogy of fairy tales.

"Thanks for summing that up so beautifully, Dad," Kuon said as his tears this time were caused by laughter.

"So is there a moral to your story?" he asked as Kuu smiled lovingly at the man his son had become.

"I just think you and Kyoko have done enough now to deserve your happily ever after."

Kuon didn't know why, it was something he hadn't done since he was much younger. But it just seemed to fit so perfectly as he reached out and hugged his father close. Kuu didn't even hold back as he hugged Kuon back just as tightly.

"Thanks, Dad."

"Sayuri-san? Is Setsu alright?" Kanae asked as they finally paid for the 3 dresses plus shoes and accessories. Sayuri hadn't even bothered to ask Setsu and picked out what she knew her daughter would like.

"She was taking a phone call when I checked on her last, so probably her grandmother. She does like to keep Setsu talking," Sayuri said as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.

As if by magic Setsu came strolling out of the changing room with the dress she had chosen over her arm like she had not just been gone for two hours.

"Ready, Setsu?" Sayuri asked looking deeply into her daughter's eyes. Julie just hoped Kyoko was holding it together. She would not mention to Kanae that Setsu had also been in tears when she had checked on her just under an hour before.

"Hiya, Mom. You know how Nanna likes to check up on me." Sayuri waited and there it was: that slight smile, the one that reached Setsu's eyes as she placed the dress onto the counter for packing.

"So we're going to go get Nii-san's next right?" Setsu asked as Sayuri smiled and nodded.

"Excellent!" Setsu almost shouted out as she clapped her hands together. "I know exactly the type of thing we should get him!"

Kanae wondered if they should be worried over the look in Setsu's eyes as Sayuri just shook her head.

"As long as he will wear it without complaint, Setsu." was all Sayuri said as Setsu smirked at her like a panther on the hunt.

"Oh don't worry Okaa-san! Nii-san will wear it. Even if I have to make him."

"So do we have a plan?" Kuon asked as he sipped the tea his father had just made for them. Kuu nodded as he took his seat. "So?" Kuon asked as his father simply looked at him.

"You will not be told, Kuon. We need everything to be as natural as possible. You will know when it happens and not a second before. Since he knows you so well he will not expect anything."

Kuon was astounded. "You mean I'm not to know anything?" Kuu could hear the underlying anger in Kuon's tone so used the trump card Lory had recommended.

"As all the attacks have been against Setsu, it is safer for her if you do not." Bingo. Kuu thought as his son's anger disappeared entirely.

"None of us want Kyoko in any more danger than necessary Kuon."

Kuon nodded and picked up his cup. "It's my fault again, isn't it, Dad? How can she end up not hating me when I have put her through so much pain and suffering?"

Even though Kuu wanted to answer, wanted to tell his son everything was going to be fine, Kyoko would never do that. The words died in his throat as the suite door flew open and in burst Setsu.

"NII-SAN! Guess what?" she cried as she ran into his arms and onto his lap amazingly without even spilling a drop of his tea Setsu noticed. Using her own hands to tip Cain's she sipped happily.

"What, Setsu?" Cain said as Kuon slipped away with a happy smile at how easily Setsu was in his arms.

"I-chose-your-party-suit." Setsu sang in a teasing singsong voice. Sayuri and the two Love Me ladies entered a few minutes later followed by the bell hop who was carrying all of their purchases.

"So will I like it Setsu?" Cain asked as Kuon and Ren's minds soured at the thought of wearing something Kyoko had hand picked for them.

"I hope so Nii-san! But shall we go try it on to make sure?" Setsu asked in a voice that screamed seduction as she drew her fingers gently down Cain's chest.

"And why are you still in your sleepwear, Nii-san?" Setsu couldn't help but ask as Cain chuckled.

"Some cute little sister did not warn her Nii-san she would be going out today. When I woke up and you were not there I panicked and didn't even think before running up here to find out if you were with Mom and Dad so I locked myself out," Cain simply explained with a shrug as Setsu laughed hugging Cain tightly.

"You're a baka, Nii-san! What would you do without me?" Setsu asked with loving humour in her tone as Cain's grey eyes burnt holes into her own.

"I would surely go crazy Setsu."

Neither of them spoke after that, each entrapped in the other's eyes as Kuon, Ren and Cain hoped the message would get through to Kyoko.

I need you. I love you. Stay with me. And even though Kyoko still refused to surface, the messages were slowly sinking in and becoming more real. In not only her head but her heart.

Kuon could not help but chuckle. So this was what Kyoko had chosen for him. If Kuon had not known any better he would think Kyoko was trying to expose him now as he stared down at the wonderfully tailored suit. Save for all but the colour and a few details here and there he could even have gone home to his apartment and picked up its brother.

Does that mean she liked that outfit? Kuon wondered as he remembered going to that actresses birthday and the fashion magazines going wild over it. This outfit certainly showed what a fashion statement he really must have made if they were making rip-offs of the style.

He looked at himself again in the mirror and smiled. The long black suit jacket reached below his knees and pleated beautifully with perfectly fitted black slacks and the black button up shirt. The only slice of colour being the perfectly white tie around his neck. Kuon wondered if Kyoko would also want him to wear his pocket watch and handkerchief too? Kuon really did like it and even Cain was happy enough with it when Setsu had said they would match. Ren was almost hyperventilating thinking of how much Kyoko must have paid attention to the clothes he had worn over the years.

Setsu was sitting in on one of the single seater chairs again when he entered the sitting room. Yet again her legs swung nonchalantly over the armrest as she scowled when she saw Cain.

"Nii-san! Where is your suit I chose for you?" Setsu asked with a full pout.

"Well if I cannot see your dress, I thought it only fair you wait to see my suit, Setsu." He watched as Setsu's eyes sharpened.

"Baka!" Setsu cried as she tossed one of the cushions she had been leaning on at him.

"Now now, Setsu. That's not nice is it?" Cain asked with a small grin as he looked at his sister in a way that made the inner Kyoko shiver.

"Baka! I wanted to see it," Setsu said ignoring him as she pouted more.

"Now now, Setsu. Anyone would think I spoil you." Setsu watched as her brother approached slowly."Maybe I should teach you a lesson?" was all the warning she got before Cain's hands were on her, tickling her without remorse as he pinned her legs to the arm of the chair so she could not kick.

"NII-SAN! STOP. NII-SAN! Setsu cried out between laughing as she gasped for air.

"OK NII-SAN! I GIVE UP. I GIVE UP!" she cried out as best she could.

Cain scooped up Setsu from the chair and dropped them both on to the seat with Cain in the position she had held with Setsu on top of him. Neither moved as they simply lay there together silently. Setsu slowly regained her breath whilst taking in the calming scent of the man below her. She would never truly realise why she had done it, but Setsu simply seemed to slip away as Kyoko returned with full force. She couldn't deny it anymore though as she continued to trace the circles on Kuon's chest Setsu had started. As she lay there feeling all the warmth and comfort his larger body offered, she would never truly understand why when her head was reeling with so many questions, why that would be the first he asked.

"What are you going to do when the Heels are over, Kuon?" she asked softly.

"I've not really thought about it much," Kuon answered honestly, as he stroked the woman's hair softly.

"I mean will you go back to being Tsuruga Ren? Or will you go back to America now that you have made up with your parents?"

Kuon's heart ached at the thought of that. He loved his parents and making up with them had been something he had wanted to do for so long. After this surely he would have reached his goal? He had lived not just a double life but a triple life and he could not have done so without her. But still could he say he had beaten his father?

Kyoko waited for Kuon's reply. She couldn't look at him knowing her eyes would show her feeling too well. She couldn't show him how much the thought of him leaving hurt her, yet his next words shocked her.

"No Kyoko, my life and my heart belong in Japan. Unless my heart moves I will stay here."

Kyoko wondered if he was using a metaphorical term for his heart. Or could she even dare to hope it was something more?

"But you will be going back to being Tsuruga Ren?" she asked again, maybe it was his stage name he was referring to.

"I will need to go back to Ren of course, but I'm not sure for how long," he admitted softly and slowly surprising even himself.

"You want to be Kuon again?" Kyoko asked as she finally did look up at the man she was so comfortably laying on.

Kuon nodded softly. "As long as you will support me?" Kuon asked in just as soft a tone as Kyoko had been using.

"Always, Nii-san." Setsu said as she slipped over Kyoko again like a protective skin.

"I love you, Setsu." Kuon muttered as he slowly allowed Cain to come into play.

"I love you too, Nii-san," Setsu replied as she cuddled into his chest deeper thinking a nap wouldn't be so bad right about now.

Even though Kuon did not know what the plan was, he knew there was one. So even though he could not truly anticipate it, he still showed small signs of his nervousness. The rest of the planners just hoped it wasn't obvious to the prey. As Tuesday rolled around Kuon began to wonder if maybe it would have something to do with the end of shoot party. Was that the reason the girls and his mother had been gone for over six hours that day?

Yet as the cast and crew set up for their last ever outdoor shoot on the Tokyo Bridge and the final death of BJ, the plotters held their breath.

Today would be the day BJ died and Kuon would be reborn. Today would be the day they put a stop to everything.

Well please don't hit me!

I know I said possibly the culprit this chapter but I promise you it will be next chapter I just needed to tie up loose ends first!

But after writing this chapter the culprit is truly set in my head so I hope you look forward to it.

thanks for reading

Neh xxx

Comments and reviews please, I will happily reply to PM's and questions