Hey guys, guess what?! My mother and brother came back from overseas yesterday. I haven't seen her for two months, and my sis and I were living by ourselves, which was kinda lonely. Actually, I lie, it was fun. I can now cook some pretty good stuff (I couldn't before).
Anyway, thanks to everyone who reads this story, and double to those who review, and triple for those people who've been reading since the beginning and still review every chapter. I'll make a list when I finish this story, but now I'm kinda iffy on when that'll be. But I assure you, it will happen.
Disclaimer: Why yes, I own Skip Beat, along with three mansions, a convertible, two greyhounds and your soul.
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN!!
Kyoko felt strangely happy when she saw the door open. Somehow, she couldn't explain it even to herself, she hadn't felt anxious or scared when realised she was stuck in the Props Room with Saku. In fact, she felt rather calm, barring the pain in her arm and head. Somehow, she'd known that Ren would come to help her. Rationally speaking, of course, he was smart enough to get her message, and he was strong enough to get here and be of help, but it was more than that. She'd known, somehow, when he was reaching her position. And she hadn't been afraid for a second.
As light from the hallway flooded into their dark room, Kyoko looked at Mayui's manager and saw her eyes widen in fear. She was right; it was too late. Now there were three men with them, none of whom would allow Saku to do any more damage to Kyoko. Yashiro immediately walked over to her and started fussing, while the Director fumbled around in the doorway, hand searching for the light switch. Ren stood a couple of meters in, staring at her. Shinkai found what he was looking for, and the lights turned on, illuminating the props strewn around the room, and the red mark on the fake mountain scene behind Kyoko. Saku looked trapped.
Ren awoke from his stupor, looking her over to assure himself that she was in one piece. She smiled happily at him, not realising that she was scaring Yashiro with her totally unconcerned attitude. Ren didn't smile back. Kyoko felt his personality change before she saw his face slip. Yashiro evidently felt it too, as he turned around looking like someone who had guessed what was happening but hoped he was wrong. Most unfortunately, he was right. Kyoko watched as the Demon Lord turned to face the horrified woman standing across the room. She flinched at the look on his face. Kyoko could practically see a dark aura surrounding him, its claws reaching out to engulf the other woman.
"Well well, what should we do now?" Ren said softly in a voice that foretold violent proceedings.
Saku squeaked.
"Wait wait wait! Ren, get a hold of yourself!" Shinkai said, abandoning his post at the door to stand between Ren and Saku, whose knees had given out at the glare Ren was directing at her, "Kyoko-chan's right here, and you don't want to do anything you'll regret. It won't help if you kill her, you know."
Ren looked murderous for a second or two longer, before he sighed and his face remodelled itself into Tsuruga Ren again, albeit a totally pissed Tsuruga Ren. The tabloids would've loved a shot of him like this.
"Well, it might make me feel better." He muttered, before turning away from the female manager to walk over to Kyoko, who still wore a somewhat dazed look. Yashiro backed off, grinning. Kyoko reached out to Ren, smiling, and he took her hand and pulled her to him, hugging her as he checked the wound on the back of her head. Shinkai turned to check on Saku, and he pulled out his mobile phone as he did so to call the police. This was yet another example of how real life was just as eventful as any drama he could film.
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"Still," Ren said, as they sat in the hallway, having given their statements to the police, "You shouldn't have just left with her if you knew she was dangerous."
Kyoko turned an innocent face to him. "Who says I knew she was dangerous?"
Ren snorted, "You left a clue in the note, remember? Why would you do that if you didn't think she was trouble?"
Kyoko sighed laughingly. "Okay, you're right, I did know. Or I guessed, at least."
Ren grabbed her hand and stared at her, totally serious. "Then why did you go with her? You could have been seriously hurt. You shouldn't have gone."
"Ren, I wanted it over with. Really, it was annoying me. Besides, I knew that you'd find my message and come get me, although I admit, Saku-san being mentally unstable wasn't a part of my calculations."
"Was getting injured part of your calculations?" Ren asked sarcastically.
"Well…" Kyoko hesitated. She had realised she'd probably get injured, but Ren was currently feeling the annoyance that comes from fear and relief, so she wasn't sure if it was a good idea to mention it. Maybe not. However, Ren should know she would not do anything without a good reason. Next to her, the actor sighed and dropped his face to his hands, rubbing them through his hair in an attempt to rid himself of the worry and frustration. Kyoko suddenly felt a little guilty.
"Ren, I'm sorry, I didn't want to concern you. I was just upset about having to look over my shoulder and doubting the motives of trustworthy people."Kyoko said timidly.
"It's okay, I get it." Ren rejoined quietly. They sat in silence for a short moment, before Ren said, "So… I guess you get to go back to the Daruma-ya couple now."
Kyoko looked up. Ren was looking at the floor. She blushed. "Well, yes, I suppose I will… but you know, um, I already bought food for the next couple of days… And you can't cook…"
Ren glanced up, slightly hopeful although he'd never admit it. "You're right... You know what, you should stay for the rest of the week, just in case, make sure I eat and all that…"
Kyoko grinned while blushing, "Thanks, I might just do that."
They smiled hesitantly at each other, and then Yashiro walked out of an adjoining room into the hallway.
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Yashiro sat on an annoyingly squeaky chair, telling two policemen and a tape recorder, exactly what had happened over the past month or so. They'd already heard it from Ren and Kyoko, Mayui and the Director and what he was saying wasn't very important. He was leaving out the fact that Kyoko was currently staying at Ren's house. As Japan's top actor's manager, he and Shinkai had already talked to the District Head Officer to make sure nothing would get out about what had happened. Still, it never hurt to be careful, and that kind of news was worth a lot of money to the tabloids, which had never had a scandal on the clean cut gentleman, Ren Tsuruga.
As he talked about how Kyoko had received that box of meat from Saku Daichi, he was mentally reviewing the evidence they had. From a legal standpoint, the only things they could press were harassment and assault. They couldn't prove that Saku had pushed Kyoko onto the road a while back, and the woman was smart enough to easily wriggle out of it. As for the box, it was her word against Kyoko's, as there was no solid evidence for that yet either. Although maybe someone on the crew would be able to tie her to the box, or a butcher could testify whether or not she bought the meat. As for the assault, that they could prove, but the penalty for that sort of thing was a maximum of 3 years and a fine if the judge was feeling particularly angry. However, they could pull a restraining order on the woman anyway.
Once he had finished his account, Yashiro smiled his best managerly smile and informed the police officers that legal action would be taken against them should any information leak into the newspapers, and that their District Head had been notified about the confidentiality of this particular case. He then left then nervous men in their interrogation room, walking out into the hallway and catching Ren and Kyoko smiling at each other. Ah, the small and trivial progress.
Yashiro cleared this throat exaggeratedly, and the two of them broke eye contact. His charge coughed stood up, a slight blush on his usually composed face. Yashiro had to smile. He really enjoyed watching the two of them together; it always made him feel warm. They really did fit together well. Ren looked at him questioningly.
"I'm done for now, and the police have orders not to disclose any information about this incident." Yashiro said efficiently. "But you know, even if you do decide to prosecute, Kyoko-chan, she won't get much of a sentence. 3 years max, more like one with good behaviour."
Kyoko shook her head. "I don't want to take her to court. So long as she doesn't do anything else and keeps her distance, I don't care. She's a good manager for Mayui-chan anyway."
Yashiro had to acknowledge that Saku was, admittedly, a good manager. Not as good as him, though. He followed Ren and Kyoko down the hallway and out of the building, heading for Ren's convertible. The Director had given his statement first, as he needed to get back to his movie. The two main stars had been excused for the day. Yashiro noticed that it was already five by now, and none of them had ended up getting lunch. He mentioned it, but the two other actors merely looked at each other shrugged. Kyoko said they should just go home and she'd cook dinner, before sliding into the backseat of Ren's car.
"Kyoko-chan's still staying at your house, Ren?" Yashiro said mischievously, reverting back to his second favourite pastime, teasing Ren.
"Shut up, Yashiro. Not one word." He said. Then he sighed. "I'm glad the thing with Saku's finished. That lady was crazy."
Yashiro smiled in acknowledgement, before shaking his head melodramatically.
"And to think, you were going to set us up."
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Arrgghh!! I have a problem! I decided to continue the story and not end it on this chapter, but now I've no idea what I'll be doing for the plotline!! Ideas welcomed!!
If you liked the chapter, please review. Any flames, which I haven't got yet, will be used to burn my homework, which I also haven't got yet. I'll store them for when school starts.