Alright so I've decided that I want to read some Skip Beat fics so If you know any or have any of your own please let me know in a review. I am sometimes very critical though and am always brutally honest without meaning to be ^^;;

Also in this fic I talk about some American/British artists/bands but change the names, hopefully this is alright that I referred to them...I mean song fics are alright and I don't say anything bad about them. Please let me know if this is against any rules though

Chapter Nine :: The Person Underneath

Kuon sat down in the dressing room at TBM with a more restless expression than the calm, collected Ren would have. Yashiro had been noticing the differences for the rest of the afternoon they had spent together, whereas he held a kind of Tsuruga type of professionalism towards his work it felt like someone had stolen this body and was just attempting to act as Ren whilst failing. He didn't know why he had to do this live anyway as he was sure many were taped, but it was a special episode celebrating a year of doing this...or was it celebrating their nomination, whatever it was it was probably not the best venue for them if he were to reveal his identity.

Looking at the brown wig that Yashiro had given him he shook his head, "Can we get some music or something playing?" he asked trying to hide his anxiety. He leant his head back lazily and looked at the ceiling.

"Re—Kuon," Yashiro told him as he lifted his eyebrow, "The show will start in about half an hour besides you never usually listen to music so I didn't..."

"Argh," Kuon complained, "Yashiro...you're forgetting that I'm not Ren are you not?" he asked lifting a finger, "Sure the refined Ren preferred to relax in silence but I need some rock, or some rap, or some hip hop preferably in English."

"If you're talking about that kind of music, I find that the Japanese versions are actually more carefully done," he said before looking away. Ren always listened to classical music, he said that in numerous interviews...what is with this type of American music idea.

"Are you saying that Yashiro," he said with a smug smile, "Because you don't understand English?"

"Of course I know English!" Yashiro replied quickly unable to battle fully with that new smug smile of his, wait arrogance? The one thing that Ren never had, he didn't want to know now that that was one of Kuon's main qualities. "I was just thinking that if you were in a situation where you had to list the music you listen to, it wouldn't be bad for your image if you were to li-" with that he heard Kuon yawn and his back straightened, "st some Japanese artists."

"Wouldn't it be better if I'm myself?" Kuon flashed a cocky smile as Yashiro's eyes narrowed. He hadn't signed on for someone with this much pride. "I mean that's what's important right? That's what she told me afterall,"

"You mean Kyoko-chan?" Yashiro asked before sighing, "I guess she's right, but you also need to fit into Japanese society, especially since you're a foreigner."

"Ack" Kuon replied, "Yeah...don't want to get deported I guess," he shrugged

You guess? You guess? Yashiro screamed in his head, If you're deported how do you expect to raise a child with Kyoko? There are very few foreigners who have a high position in this country as far as acting goes...just try to use some Japanese names before you insult everyone.

"Do you have Barty Venus? Or DeeMoBlue? Hotplate?" Kuon asked as Yashiro's eyes widened.

Who are they! He asked, Who on earth is he talking about!" Yashiro started screaming inside of his head, Who is DeeMoBlue...some reporter? An American Artist?"

"I guess you don't know those musicians," Kuon replied bored, "SingleDemocracy?"

"Oh you mean like America itself?" Yashiro asked as he looked at Kuon who had an 'are you stupid?' disrespectful expression on his face. "Wait...how do you know current musicians anyway?" he asked.

"Have to let the lion escape sometimes" Kuon replied as Yashiro blinked.

"Huh?" he asked.

"Well...I'm a lion," he told Yashiro who turned around and hit his head on the wall out of frustration with this guy and their conflicting personalities, was he just referring to himself in third person as an animal!

"What?" he asked looking towards the wall as Kuon tilted his head to the side

"Yashiro, are you alright?" he asked as Yashiro turned around with a strained smile. Perhaps he shouldn't be representing this Ren imposter, but no...he had to have Ren aspects about him. After all he hadn't eaten right? They had still arrived early hadn't they? He did phone and offer a formal apology to all the heads of the jobs that he had missed didn't he? Only someone with Ren's professionalism and hard stomach would do that without being prompted.

As they sat there there was a knock on the door and once Yashiro answered it he found Bo standing there, wearing a formal suit which didn't match Kuon's own outfit. A hooded sweatshirt and ripped jeans.

"Wow..." Bo said in his deep voice, "When people told me about your...transformation Hizuri-san, well I wasn't expecting your hair to be so bright." He looked at him with a knowing tilt of his head although his plastic eyes were still expressionless, "So is that what you're wearing?"

"Isn't it suitable?" he asked as Yashiro shook his head.

This is why I told you to bring something more formal, he said although he saw Kuon's arrogant smile yet again.

"It's a late night interview Yashiro-san, on the invitation it said casual formal," he said, "And then underneath 'something you feel comfortable in'"

"That's because you always dress formal, they were just trying to make it so you'd have a more leisurely image," he said as Kuon blinked back at him with an idiotic expression on his face which the manager could tell was fake.

"Am I not promoting that?" he asked as Yashiro wanted to hit his head on the wall again...no he wanted to ram Kuon's head on the wall and get Ren back. "I mean I'm comfortable." He pointed at the running shoes he was wearing, "Since these are a top American brand don't they suit me?"

"Well...do you have any other clothes?" Bo asked, "You still have twenty minutes,"

"I'm trying to promote a new image," he said, "Californian surfer."

That's not even the image you're giving! Yashiro screamed inside as Bo nodded his feathery head.

"Yes...I understand," Bo replied, "If you're coming out as Kuon Hizuri then..."

"Did I ever say I was gay?" Kuon asked before looking away, "I can't anyway, I have a girlfriend who will be appearing with me in an interview tomorrow morning."

Bo nodded, "I look forward to seeing who she is, if she is your girlfriend she's bound to be beautiful."

"She is," Kuon smiled happily, "Completely perfect to me."

"I expect so," Bo replied before looking at him, "Well if you're changed already then how about we go on a walk and talk about the subjects which will come up," he said, "I'm honored to be working with the best."

"You'll keep that sort of reputation or at least try I hope," Yashiro began but Kuon turned to him and then looked at the chicken and sighed as he stood up.

" You keep forgetting that I am no longer Ren Tsuruga," he told them, "I am trying to experience who I am and not get caught up in his past."

"I know," Yashiro told him before putting a hand on Kuon's shoulder, "But you won't do something completely stupid will you?"

"I'll think about it," Kuon grinned back to him before leaving with Bo.

As they had walked off a little distance from everyone else, Bo looked at Kuon. Kyoko's heart was beating in her chest, she hadn't wanted to do this, she hadn't wanted to deceive him but he was being so honest about himself that she wanted to tell him. Wasn't it better if she told him before Bridge Rock did?

As she sat down on a bench outside she looked at him, "Hizuri-san...Kuon," she said still using Bo's voice, "You have confided a lot in me, I feel it's time to confide in you."

"Sure," Kuon nodded looking at his chicken friend, "Is this something to do with the show,"

"More or less..." she said nervously, "I would like to remove my head but before I do, you have to promise me that you won't leave the show. Everyone is counting on you..." he said as he blinked.

"Why would I leave the show?" he asked before putting his hands on the head, "It's been a long time since we first met chicken," he said.

"Name's Bo," she replied with a salute before she gripped to her head and pulled it off feeling they were in a secluded face. As she took it off she saw the hurt in Kuon's eyes, the pain that she didn't want to cause. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I'm sorry Kuon...but I thought..."

Looking at her he bowed his head, "Thank you for being honest with me, it must have been hard as a beginner to give an advanced actor advice, I thank you for that," he told her.

"You're not angry?" she asked blinking, "I lied to you Kuon! I...I used my being a chicken to find out things..."

"But if I know you properly Kyoko-chan, it wasn't with malicious intent. However I am angry," he replied with a grin, "And you'll have to suffer for it tonight," he said in a seductive manner as Kyoko froze.

"W-Why?" she asked

"Because you made me suffer, you knew I was in love with you for a long time before I told you..." he sighed, She probably didn't though, she is a little stu-innocent about those types of things. She probably thought it was another high schooler, but to not even feel jealousy. "Thank you for not avoiding me at that time."

"No! No!" she said quickly shaking her head thinking he was accepting this a little too fast, "I didn't know that you were in love with me! I thought you were in love with another high school girl! I promise!" She sunk onto her knees about to go into a dogeza, "I..." she said as he looked at her.

"I don't forgive you," he said as her eyes widened seeing his crossed arms, his stubborn chin. "I don't forgive you for letting me go so long without kissing you."

"Eh?" Kyoko asked confused, "What does m-"

Kuon leaned in and kissed her deeply on the lips as memories of that night entered her mind and tears ran down her face before she heard it, a hated voice.

"Ha! I always knew you were a stupid chicken!" Shou said as Kyoko paled, her head screaming. Not knowing what they were talking about but having flashbacks to what Kyoko had told him about Shou.

"How dare you?" Kuon asked his hatred burning, "How dare you..."

Kyoko looked at him not expecting this level of anger, it was to a point she had never seen it before. Not even as Cain Heel had he, "Stop it!" she yelled before tears rolled down her cheeks, "Not until after the show! Don't ruin your image!"

"Like this bastard ruined yours!" he snapped, "I'm going to get revenge..."

"Let me!" she begged him, "Kuon!" she said trying to stop him but all he could see was the deepest red.