Disclaimer : I don't own Skip Beat!

Chapter 6 : Father and Son (Part 2)

Shall we go to sleep, son? When she heard this question came out from his mouth, she was horrified. She realised that he was thinking of something. She felt how cold his hands were. She predicted that he would ask her to get into one bed with him. He waited for her outside the bathroom door when she was changing her clothes. He told her some funny jokes while he was at it. When she was finished, she heard him ask her whether she wanted to be helped with putting on the pyjamas. She blushed furiously inside the bathroom and told him that she had already put on one. He then told her to open the bathroom door. He insisted to go brushed their teeth together which she complied. It had been an awkward situation for her but she went along with his every strange behaviour since she knew he probably did the same thing with his father when he was younger. He probably is missing his father? I guess I was wrong about him and his father. It seemed that they were on a very good terms. Tsuruga-san must be a father's boy like Kuon. No wonder he agreed with my interpretation as Kuon before.

When they settled under the blanket on his bed, she was astonished when he started telling her bed time stories. How old does he think I am? I'm playing a 15 years old boy and he… is telling me children stories? Good grief, not only Hizuri-sensei, I think Tsuruga-san thinks of me as 10 years old as well, or worse… 5 years old? I don't think 10 years old kid needs his father telling him bed time story though. She sighed inwardly. She felt his hands on her head, stroking her head softly. With his deep voice, he told her story after story. It started with the Rat and the Sun, continued with Hansel and Gretel and ended with Three Little Piglets. He didn't end it because he wanted to end it. He ended it because Kyouko fell asleep, or exactly pretended to be asleep.

Kyouko tried desperately to make herself acting asleep. She closed her eyes tight and tried to breathe evenly, like one would when they slept. She heard he stopped telling the stories. She still felt his hand on her hair, stroking her softly. Ren stared down at her and almost laughed when he realised she was pretending to be asleep. Kyouko, you can't fool me. "Oh, my boy is asleep? That's fast," he said softly. He leant down and kissed her forehead. "Good night, son. Sleep tight."

She felt upset upon hearing how he kissed her good night. He sounded like he was the one being kissed good night by his father. Tsuruga-san must be thinking of his childhood.

She felt his movement beside her. Her heartbeat sped up. She felt nervous but she had to keep acting. She felt him hugged her and she couldn't move. She felt her face hot. She could smell his scent and she felt she was drugged. She almost let out a voice when she felt him patted her softly on her arm. He hummed lullaby songs softly. His voice sounded really nice on her ears and at the same time gave her a weird yet comfortable feeling. She was lulled to sleep not long after.

Ren could hear her even breathing and opened his eyes to see her sleeping face. She's so cute. If only I can get to see her in my bed every time I wake up. He smiled. His eyes turned to her lips. He was tempted to kiss those lips but aborted it halfway. It's not funny if she wakes up suddenly even though I'm sure she's already asleep by now. And it's better if I get to kiss her when she is awake. Maybe I'll have the chance when we get to those roles. I'm so pathetic, getting close under some pretences. He sighed. I just want her to realise my feelings. I'll try everything I could to make her see me.

Kyouko was awakened by the buzzing voices and food smells. She sat up and looked at the digital clock on the night stand. It's still 5.30 am. He's early. Oh yeah, we need to be there at 7am. She got off bed and walked to the kitchenette. She found him cooking sunny side up. He was all dressed up, ready for the day.

"Good morning, Dad," she greeted him.

Ren turned his head and answered her, "Morning, son. I'll be finished soon." He pointed down to the skillet with the spatula in his hand.

"Need help?"

"I know you meant well, but… no. Just wait for me or you can get ready to leave," he said with a smile.

Kyouko cringed. She nodded and went back to their room. 5 minutes later, the bathroom door was closed with a soft thud. When she finished, she saw the tables was full with two plates of sunny side up and toasted bread. She smiled contently when she saw the perfectly made sunny side up and the perfectly toasted bread.

"Come and sit down, Kuon," he said. He smiled contently knowing she was satisfied with his cooking.

Kyouko sat down and about to scoop the egg when…

"Kuon, where's your itadakimasu?" Ren asked.

Kyouko put down her spoon and said, "Itadakimasu." She then continued to eat.

Ren chuckled inwardly. Very nice! Kuon is supposed to be like that. Forgot that he had Japanese blood, and rarely remember to say itadakimasu. I think I did it a lot and got reminded all the time. Sheesh… I return the grace though.

"Kid, let's play shiritori," Ren said in Japanese when they settled themselves inside the cab.

"Shiritori?" Kyouko asked. She raised her brows.

"Yes. Japanese style Word Chain, remember?"

"Um…" Kyouko hesitated but nodded none the less. She knew shiritori for sure.

"Daddy thinks that you should work on your Japanese, son. Try to speak some Japanese, okay? We're here in Japan after all," he said and continued, "So, you know the rules right? You take the last kana of the word, it should be nouns, not to end it with 'n' or you'll lose."

He must have played that too with his father. Kyouko smiled. I'm good at shiritori but Kuon… shouldn't be really good at first and gradually getting better. Hizuri-sensei said that he was smart after all. Okay, let's play, Tsuruga-san. For someone who didn't know tentekomai, you suggested some mean game.

They played shiritori all the way to the studio. Kyouko (Kuon) lost the games three times before…

"Tentekomai," Kyouko said with funny accent.

Ren laughed when he heard that word came out from her mouth. But Kuon wasn't supposed to know that word. It's a difficult word even for me. Well, maybe she let out herself a bit. Ren waved the thought off. "Itazura," he answered calmly.

"Ranbou."

"U? Udon…"

"It ended with 'n', you lost…" she said cheekily.

Ren was startled. "Ah, that's right, kid. You got better."

The taxi driver cringed upon hearing the two in the passenger seat. He smiled when he heard them playing shiritori. He was scared at first of the two dangerous looking couple. He was relieved when the big guy talked to him in Japanese. He had thought that he'd be in trouble since his English was not really good. He didn't understand them a bit. When they talked in surprisingly good enough Japanese, he raised his brows in confusion. They can speak Japanese good enough. Gee… these foreigners! The way they behaved confused him even more. The big guy kept calling the petite girl with 'musuko yo' and 'shounen yo'. It was clear that she was a girl. Maybe they're just playing around. They are foreigners, so they must have mistaken it. The guy has to learn Japanese more as well. Weird couple… they learned the wrong Japanese. He laughed silently.

Ren laughed inwardly when they stopped playing the shiritori and Kyouko started reading the advertisement boards, and any Japanese letters found outside their window. What a perfect impersonation of me. She must have never thought that Kuon and Corn were the same person and then played her Corn as Kuon. Seriously it is getting hard on me to see my supposedly nice side before Kuon turned into a dark person.

They even played the shiritori on the set, in English. They played the game in their characters as Setsu and Cain. It pricked some people's interests.

"Those two… they are playing shiritori, I guess," Murasame said. "English though. As usual, their accents are thick and hard to understand. What is a nappy anyway? I know happy."

"It's the same as diaper, Murasame-kun," Director Konoe said and blushed at the next word Cain said.

Murasame said, "I know diaper." He noticed Konoe's strange reaction upon Cain's word as well. "Hmm… what is it, Director? What did the guy say just now?"

"Ah… he answered knicker for her yank," Konoe said with a slight blush in his cheek.

"Hee… is it some embarrassing word?"

"Maybe you can start learning some British English, Murasame-kun," Konoe said and walked away, leaving Murasame in daze. Tsuruga-kun and that actress are great. They played the characters till the essences. Even the English they are using is British. Konoe smiled and sighed. Hopefully Tsuruga-kun can maintain his temper as Cain. I know that Cain is supposedly dangerous. I created that character but not till the essence like several weeks ago. So far, he did well.

5 days later…

"Ouch, it's hurt," Kyouko said when Ren shoot her on the back.

"You lost, son." Ren grinned.

They were playing with their airsoft gun inside their room. They wore their playing attires for the purpose. Still, it hurt if they got shot in short range.

"I hope it won't leave a bruise or something," she said. "It really hurt."

"Oh! Don't act so girly, son. Daddy is ashamed," he said cheekily. "C'mon, big boys don't cry over trivial matters." He grinned.

She pouted and pointed her gun to him. She smiled evilly and shot his uncovered right foot.

"Ouch," Ren winced in pain. "I thought I told you not to shoot someone or animal with that gun."

"We shot each other with the guns."

"Yes, but we have our uniforms on. Don't shoot uncovered part! That really hurt, boy." He put down his gun and sat on the floor. He looked at his foot and noticed the red mark. "Thankfully, there's no bleeding."

"Eh, you can actually bleed from that?" Kyouko asked in horror. She hurriedly walked up to him and sat down beside him. "Sorry, Dad. I'm sorry."

He put his right hand on her head and smiled. "I'm not angry at you. Well, guess I'm already old and not in a very good shape too." He sighed and shrugged.

Kyouko lifted her brows and cursed him inwardly. Great! Some cheeky old man. He must have learned that from his dad too.

"Kuon, my boy… airsoft gun, even though has range limit and used bb bullets, it can still harm people. That's why we use some kind of uniforms when we play. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Dad," Kyouko said, returned back to her role. Tsuruga-san can be a good father in the future.

"Can we have a time out, Setsu?" Cain asked suddenly.

"Eh, you turned back to niisan," Setsu said. "What is it niisan? Is the role too hard for you?"

"It's not that. The role reminded me of Dad. I think I want to take a rest from playing him," Cain said with a smile.

"Sure… do as you like. Please call action again when you're ready," Setsu said. "I'm sorry I hurt you, niisan."

He smiled and patted her head softly.

"But niisan, what kind of daddy you were playing? He's a big eater, doting parent and I can tell he loves his son so much."

"I was playing my Dad."

"Our Dad, you meant? You're my brother, so we have same Dad supposedly."

"Yes, I was playing our Dad."

"Hmm…" Setsu nodded

So, Cain and Setsu's Dad is like that. And who's he? President? No way, right? He must means his own Dad, because I have no Dad. She felt sad suddenly but then brightened up. I got one who told me to call him Dad though. Daddy Kuu… She grinned. Big eater, doting parent and loves his son a lot. Even though it's a rare type of parent, there are parents like that anywhere, I think… Hizuri sensei and Tsuruga-san's Dad are some of them. No one can beat Daddy Kuu of course. He's got a black hole for a stomach. Big eater doesn't mean he got black hole after all. She smiled.

"Hello, Kuu speaking," Kuu's voice was heard clearly.

"Hello, Dad," Ren said softly. He was standing outside at the balcony. He made sure Kyouko was asleep before he made the call. It was 12 am.

"Kuon?" Kuu from the other line answered in surprise. "What's the occasion? You never called home since you left."

"Is it okay to talk now?" Ren asked.

"Well yes, I'm having a grand breakfast now nom nom nom…" Kuu said with full mouth. He was stuffing foods into his mouth.

Ren laughed. "I know. I heard you. Is mom around too?"

"Yes, she's cooking another plate of sunny side up. Want some?" Kuu offered.

"I'll pass." Ren was immediately reminded of his mother's cooking. He cringed inwardly.

"What is it, son?" Kuu asked.

"I just want to hear your voices. I missed you two…"

Kuu was stunned and then Ren heard him call for Julie. "Julie, our baby boy called and said he missed us. Come honey!" He could hear hasty steps and some noises before Kuu said again, "Kuon, we put you on the speaker. Oh, how you make us happy with just calling."

"I'm sorry Mom, Dad."

"No no… you don't have to be sorry. Kuon, I watched the video. I'm happy that you are okay. Are you eating well? Are you doing fine? Are you…" Julie cried and Ren's heart clenched tight.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I'm doing fine and I'm eating well. I'm sorry that I'm not there but I'll come home when I've reached my goal. Please wait okay?"

Julie nodded happily. She wiped out her tears and said, "Good to hear that, Kuon."

"Really? But you didn't like to eat before. Julie used to stuff a lot of foods into your mouth, thus your horrible eating habit existed," Kuu said and whined when Julie hit him on his arm. "If only you have black hole for a stomach like me."

Ren laughed. "Actually, I'm playing you now, Dad. And I have to admit, to play you I'll need that black hole stomach."

"What do you mean with playing me?" Kuu asked, interested.

"Remember your other 'son'?"

"The second Kuon, you meant?"

"Second Kuon is a girl, right?" Julie asked. "What's with that girl, Kuon?"

"Ah, we're playing a game. And now we're acting as father and son," Ren explained.

"So I take that she's playing you again. And you are playing me in return?"

"Yes, the most difficult part is eating," Ren admitted.

Julie and Kuu laughed.

"Why did you choose to play me, son? What'd she think of you? Won't she recognise that you're playing me?" Kuu asked.

"Hmm… I only have you as example. Now you mention it but well... I don't think she would. I didn't look exactly like you anyway," Ren said. "I plan to tell her if the time is right."

"Why?" Kuu could predict his son's answer but didn't want to be presumptive.

"Cause I love her," Ren said bluntly.

The other line was silent. Kuu smirked at the answer. He had predicted it. When he came to Japan, to make Kuon came to him, Lory said that they had to use that girl, and it turned out to be true. He had thought that Kuon liked the girl romantically. He was happy that his son called and the reason he called was probably thanked to that girl too. And he was right. He was beaming from ear to ear.

"Hiya… so I'll get a good cook for daughter in law. I can get big delicious feast every day," Kuu answered happily. "Aren't you happy, Julie?"

"Second Kuon as daughter in law? Sounds nice. I want to meet her," Julie said eagerly. "How exciting." She was being all giggly.

"So, when will you propose? She's still 16 right? Oh you need her parents' consent too," Kuu added.

Ren cringed. "Dad, I haven't even dated her yet and you guys are already talking about marriage now? She's 17, turning 18 this year. Still, it's too fast to talk about marriage."

"Eh? Why not? What's your purpose in dating someone if not for marriage?" Kuu asked. "You're a full fledge adult. You're afraid of marriage? Look at me and your mom, we have our happily ever after and we have a cute son. You don't want the same?" Kuu kept rambling about dating and marriage purposes with Julie adding more and more in the background.

Ren cringed. He felt his ears hot hearing those rambles. He didn't know how to intercept his parents. He kept saying yes when he could.

"So you have to go home fast and bring her with you, kay?" Julie finally said.

"Wish me luck for that, Mom."

Julie squealed as an answer. Kuu smiled upon seeing his wife's happy expressions.

"Eh, but you have to work hard on that, son. She hates love and doesn't think that she can act out love. And it seemed to me that she was on bad terms with her mother. She said that she wouldn't want any children." Kuu said and his face darkened a bit. "No… I want grandkids, I assure you. So, you really have to work hard on that matter too." He was reminded of his talk with Kyouko last year suddenly and thought that he had to tell his son.

"I want grandkids too. Fight! Fight! Fight, Kuon!" Julie said in the background. "Preferably before I'm all wrinkles and scared the kids. You have to hurry!"

Ren cringed. Grandkids? Too fast, guys… Geez… "I know that all, Dad. I'm working on it."

"Eh, you do? I only told you that she's a picky actress before, but well if you know about her that much… well… good luck then," Kuu finally said.

"Thanks. Dad, Mom, I got to hang up now. It's nice talking to you guys."

"Thanks for calling, son," Kuu said. "Do your best as me!" He laughed evilly.

"We love you, Kuon. Call again," Julie said.

"Okay, until next time." Ren hung up.

He huffed in relief. He was relieved that he finally talked to his parents again. He walked up to his bed and slipped into the blanket carefully. He didn't want to wake his 'son'. "Thank you," he said softly to the sleeping girl beside him and kissed her forehead softly.

A week later in the trailer in the hotel basement…

"You two have been appointed to be the award presenter for one category of Television Drama Academy Awards, aren't you excited?" Lory said when the Heel siblings turned back into their usual self as Tsuruga Ren and Mogami Kyouko.

Ren was startled but smiled happily while Kyouko was stunned shock.

"I'm flattered shachou. This is the first time for me to be paired with someone," Ren said.

"It must be a mistake, right?" Kyouko said. "I mean, I can understand if it is Tsuruga-san. I'm just a newbie actress, I haven't even debuted yet."

Lory pouted. "Uh, you're so not funny, Mogami-kun. Sawara-kun just accepted the request. They need immediate answer, that's why I'm picking you up too. Did you not believe in me?"

Kyouko gasped and apologized profusely to Lory for her rudeness. She did several dogezas till Lory stopped her. "I'm not finished yet, Mogami-kun."

Kyouko stopped in the track. Ren tilted his head and waited for Lory's next lines.

"You have been nominated as well for Best Supporting Actress for Dark Moon and the Best Newcomer. Aren't you happy?" Lory asked with a big grin.

"EH? Me? But…" NO WAY! ME?

"Ren have been nominated as Best Actor for Dark Moon. Good job, Ren!" Lory said.

"Congratulation, Dad!" Kyouko said, not noticing that she slipped. She hugged Ren and Ren hugged her back.

"Thanks, son," he said and responded to her acting.

Lory grinned evilly. "What's with this sudden call as 'Dad' and 'son'?" Lory asked.

Both Ren and Kyouko stopped in the track. They didn't realise that they slipped into their current plays as father and son. They had become quite close emotionally as father and son. When they realised they were hugging each other, they quickly let go and got flustered.

Is my plan working well? Lory couldn't stop grinning. But why father and son? Geez, Ren is so helpless… "So, what are you guys up to?"

"Well, we're playing some acting game," Ren answered, not bother to explain.

"Yes, to improve our skills," Kyouko added.

"Oh? Hmm… so what did you guys play?" Lory asked.

"It's our business, shachou." Ren answered with his lying gentlemanly smile on. "It's something good of course."

Geh! This stupid young man! Che… I can find out on my own. He grinned evilly. Just so you watch, youngster! "Well, fine then. Don't forget to report to Sawara-kun, Mogami-kun," Lory said then turned to Ren, "Ren, Yashiro-kun will inform you regarding the award further on."

The two of them nodded.

"Now off you go!" Lory said.

"Tsuruga-san, I'm terribly sorry for the slip," Kyouko said when the two of them settled in Ren's car. Ren offered Kyouko a ride since they were going to the same direction. "Eh, should I call you Dad instead?" She was confused.

They had agreed that they'd resume the roles when it was just the two of them for this father and son roles, and when they were on disguises. They wouldn't play the roles in The Tragic Marker set either since it'd attract unwanted attention. They agreed that these roles were too much of an attention.

Ren chuckled. "No problem with that. Let's put our roles as father and son to rest. I think we've been playing it for too long."

"Do you mean we'll move onto the next roles?"

"Yes, the next time we get into the hotel," he answered. "Or you want to pick it now? You bring the papers right?"

"Ah, that's right. Too bad! I like this role a lot though," Kyouko admitted.

"Hmm… really? I like it too. Thank you for putting this role for me, Mogami-san."

"Eh, why are you thanking me?" Kyoko said confusedly.

"Cause I can improve my acting of course. It was a tough role for me," Ren answered. Cause you made me realise that I've saddened both of my parents and gave me the idea to reconcile with them. I can never thank you enough for that.

"I noticed that. You asked for several time outs," Kyouko said with a grin. "Sorry if it was hard. I was just curious. This was something you've never done before and I wondered what if... " She giggled and continued, "I respect you even more. You're really great, Tsuruga-senpai."

Senpai again? When will you see me as a man? He almost sighed for that thought. "No, that's too kind of you, Mogami-san. You played quite a mean son as well," Ren said. "And that tentekomai for shiritori was hilarious. You sounded funny at a second there."

Kyouko stiffened and gave him an awkward smile. "Ah… really? Um… well… " She laughed nervously. She imagined herself in Bou costume, lying on top of the cutting board, waiting for Ren to chop her down. She shivered involuntarily and tried to think of a reply. "Your acting as the father was quite amusing as well. You suddenly turned into a big eater when you hate the idea of eating. You proved yourself worth your title as a top actor, Tsuruga-san. And I think that your father must be someone like Hizuri-sensei. You might as well get them being acquainted."

Ren cringed. He imagined two Hizuri Kuus were eating inside of his head. Both Hizuri Kuus were munching mountain of foods in super speed. Both of them said, "Okawari…" when their plates were empty. He shuddered at the thought. One Hizuri Kuu was enough. "Must be pretty hilarious if ever," he said and laughed. I can't tell her YET. Thankfully she hasn't realised it.

Their remaining drive to Fuji Studio was spent in silent. Both were too scared to give out hints of something they were hiding desperately. They arrived at Fuji Studio's basement and whilst they were at it, they decided to pick the new roles.

"This time is your turn, Tsuruga-san."

"Hmm… well…" Ren randomly picked one of the papers scattered around on the car's dashboard without looking. Whatever will be… will be "Here it is…" He handed out the paper to her.

Kyouko smiled and opened the paper. Her eyes widened upon reading what was written on the paper.

A/N : Part 2 of these roles are finally finished. Sorry for the delay and the cliff hanger but I'm working on the next chapter. Hopefully, it will not take too long. I tend to think a lot what to write even though I've planned it thus the prologue was like that. LOL. How do you like these roles for them? Thanks for reading. Review if you'd like to tell me what you think. I was about to fly home when I tried posting it but I failed. :D

Note on Japanese terms if some of you were interested in learning Japanese:

Itadakimasu : A word of gratitude before the Japanese eat their food.

Shiritori : Word Chain Games

Tentekomai : bustling activities

Itazura : prank

Udon : Japanese style noodle

Ranbou : rough

Musuko yo : hey son

Shounen yo : hey young man

Okawari : a term used to asked for more food

Kana : Japanese letters

Note on some UK English terms for those who aren't familiar with it:

Nappy : diaper

Knicker : panty