The opened invitation to host the Japanese Academy Awards, laid tossed over Ren's coat, which was stretched out over the passenger seat of his car. The prestigious event was all but lost on the driver of the porsche. As the engine of the car roared, the letter slipped off its perch and fell onto the floor of the car.
With a dark scowl marring his handsome face, Ren was remembering the aggravating encounter he had had with his wife, only two days ago. Every time he would drive home, his thoughts would always return to that moment- that one time when Kyoko announced her disdain for their love.
His lips thinned in anger and a sneer came out. Why and how could she degrade their love to the same status of her last one? Had she been comparing him to Fuwa Sho all this time? His dark thoughts were oppressive and Ren was so focused on them that there was barely any time for him to notice the small object that had run across the street.
As his car flew pass the green light of the intersection, he finally caught a glimpse of the movement. Ren slammed on the breaks of his car, and down shifted his gears, trying to pull the compact vehicle to a halt. With a loud screech of its tires, and an equally loud roar from its engine, the porsche protested at the sudden breaking force.
With precise coordination, the car swerved widely at the command of its driver, narrowly missing the female pedestrian that had carelessly tried to cross. The magnitude of the stoppage, thrusted the large actor into the stirring wheel and deployed the front airbag at the same time.
The last thoughts of the actor, as his head collided into the lifesaving airbag were of his wife and Fuwa Sho.
Word of Ren's car accident reached Kyoko immediately and she was quick to respond straightaway. Her heart beat frantically in her chest, as she raced through the long winding corridors of the hospital. Though she initially had trouble gaining entrance into the hospital, she was eventually allowed to pass through the security after she had disclosed her relationship status to the hospital staff.
Despite the massive swam of reporters present, Kyoko did not care that they would now know that Ren and her were married. Her mind was so preoccupied on the possibility that Ran was seriously injured that she did not care about anything else.
After rushing though the hallway, Kyoko came to an abrupt stop outside Ren's room. She was panting with exhaustion and trying to compose herself when a voice, behind her, called out to her.
"You came," Tina said, as she watched the young actress's shoulder stiffen in response to the sound of her voice.
Turning slowly around to face her adversary, Kyoko's eyes were narrowed into angry slits. "What are you doing here?" she asked in a low and quiet tone.
Raising two hands up in front of her, in defense, Tina was quick to answer, "I am not here to argue with you but instead to apologize to you."
Kyoko hesitated briefly at her words. What was Ren's lover trying to imply? Was she going to apologize for being a home wreaker? If so, Kyoko was not interested in forgiving her.
With a tilt of her chin, Kyoko scoffed at her. "Why should I listen to your apology? You must be more arrogant than Shoutaro, if you think I would care."
"I doubt you really mean that," Tina implored. Her eyes were huge with sincerity. Drawing a weak smile, she continued, "You have every right to hate me but please, do not blame Ren."
Kyoko's head snapped up at the mention of her husband. She had to swallow back her fears before she was able to ask, "Ren… how is he?"
Taking the initiative to disclose Ren's condition, Tina explained, "He has a concussion but is currently doing fine. The doctors are keeping him overnight for observation but expect to release him in the morning."
Kyoko let out a long sigh of relief, at her explanation. But Tina was not done. Taking advantage of her chance to talk to Kyoko, she continued, "He was innocent of everything you believed. Please, let me explain."
The desperation in Tina's voice made Kyoko eye her wearingly before she nodded and stood quietly. Tina was quick to explain the details of what had transpired between Ren and herself, from the accident regarding Rick's death to what Kyoko had witness in Ren's kitchen. When she was done, it felt as if a large burden had been shifted off of her shoulders, and she waited patiently for Kyoko's response.
It took Kyoko a while to digest what Tina had explained and when she finally realised how wrong she had been about Ren, her guilt compounded. How was she ever going to obtain Ren's forgiveness over what she had done?
Tears began streaking down her pale cheeks. What had she done? Was it too late to fix everything?
Tina's voice interrupted her thoughts, "He still loves you very much."
Shaking her head from side to side, Kyoko closed her eyes in bitter remorse. "I am such a fool!"
"You are not a fool, it was all an innocent mistake on your side," Tina protested.
"But I am so stupid. I am just not good enough for him. I only have qualities that will disappoint him. I am a weak, foolish woman, with a bad temper, and am not beautiful inside or out. How can someone like me be with someone like him?" she asked in despair.
Grabbing her by the shoulders, Tina shook her gently. "You cannot think that way. Even if you lack the confidence to be with him, you must learn to grow strong. This man needs you and I don't think he wants to lose you."
"But I don't want him to see all my bad qualities; he'll just eventually learn to hate me. Won't it be better if we just went back to the way things were before, than to continue with this?" Kyoko asked, her eyes were dark with despair.
The meaning of Kyoko's words sliced though Tina like a sharp knife, for she knew she was responsible for the current situation. Deciding to fix all that she had done, she adamantly refused to allow Kyoko to be so negative. A frustrated sound escaped her, as she forced the young actress to understand. "You don't have a choice, since that man really loves you; therefore, you must remain as his wife. You owe it to him."
Tina's words rang loud and clear, like a death verdict being sentenced, making Kyoko straighten up. She knew that Tina was right. She owed it to Ren to seek his forgiveness. She owed him so much more.
Ren had always been an honorable person, and it was only her that was filled with vile and blackness. With resolution entering her soul, she hiccupped past her doubts. Wiping at her wet tears, she nodded at the elder woman. She would do whatever it took to redeem herself, even at the cost of exposing herself for the world to see, the actual idiot in love that she really was.
Stepping into the hospital room, Kyoko stared at the man that seemed to fill up the entire hospital bed. His presence was strong even though he was asleep. Scanning his face, Kyoko realised that although he was sleeping, she could tell that his dreams were not restful, with the frown overlying his eyebrows.
To the side of his strong forehead he had an ugly bruise. But aside from that, he was as devastatingly handsome as ever. Kyoko's lips turned into a sardonic grin. His fans will not be disappointed, for Japan's most desirable actor was just as desirable.
Kyoko had to catch her breath when she heard him whisper her name. Taking several large steps towards him, she positioned herself on the edge of his bed. Lifting a tender finger to his cheek, she sat there and listened to his mutterings but wasn't able to make out any of his words.
Her heart ached with sorrow at the vision of her husband lying so vulnerable in the hospital bed. Leaning down, she planted a kiss on his eye brow. There wasn't much she could do for him, but she was determined that no matter how long it would take to earn his forgiveness, she would never give up.
Ren was escorted out of the hospital by his manager and flanked on either side with two security guards. He was feeling much better and was eager to get back to work. Aside from being told to be cautious for any symptoms of further head injury, he had been given a perfect bill of health.
The loud screaming fans were ferocious. But Ren offered up a brilliant smile for their concern. Though his eyes scanned the crowd, he refused to acknowledge the familiar pair of golden brown eyes that met his.
Kyoko was here and standing within the small crowd. Her head was covered in a large hat that sat low over her face, as if in an attempt to disguise herself. Her eyes were wide and bright but Ren ignored her.
Walking past her, he diverted his gaze and continued to plaster on a bright smile. He would not think of her any longer. She carried too much weight in his being and he needed to change that.
Even though she had come, he didn't care. Things were over with them and he needed to stop allowing his fanciful mind to expect anything from her. She was incapable of loving him and he would not be fooled by her any longer.
She was no longer the little girl he had met by the river's edge in Kyoto any more, and he was no longer a youth playing the role of a fairy either. There was no need to believe that she could ever love him.
Yashiro was quick to notice the artificial smile on Ren's face. He also took note of Ren's lack of acknowledgment of Kyoko. As they entered the company car that had been waiting for them, he took his time fastening his seat belt. He needed the time to think of a way to explain Kyoko's situation to Ren.
As the car lunged forward into traffic, Yashiro finally began, "Ren, Kyoko was at your side, all yesterday, while you slept."
Dark eyes rested on Yashiro before looking away, but no reply came. Swallowing audibly, he continued, "About Kyoko being in Fuwa-san's apartment, with him naked, it was all just a mistake."
Again, dark eyes snapped back onto Yashiro but no reply came. Wiping at the sweat beading on his brow, Yashiro explained, "Since you must already know about that, I need to apologize."
Repeatedly bowing deeply from the waist down, he apologized desperately, "It was my fault for not telling you. It was difficult to tell you that she was only there to help him recover from an injury. It seemed like he was drunk at that time, and had stripped down. According to Kanae, Kyoko was taken by surprised by the photographer and didn't know Fuwa was naked."
A flicker of anger flashed across Ren's eyes but Yashiro did not notice. Instead he began to ramble on in his explanation, "And that time when you came by her dressing room. Fuwa was also there but he was hidden in the closet. Kyoko thought you would be angry, had you seen him there, since you would have already known about the press, linking her to him."
Yashiro's misguided ramblings came to an abrupt halt, when he finally recognized in horror, the dark foreboding look that had crossed Ren's features. The furious actor was sitting erect and rigid as he asked in an angry undertone, "Had she been with him all this time?"
"Eh…" Yashiro's jaw sagged opened, though he nervously contemplated his next words, "He had collapsed on stage…s-she was only there to h-help in his recovery."
Ren had heard enough, his mind exploded into a white fury. Not only had Kyoko degraded their relationship but she had even been nesting up with her ex! He couldn't decide if he was angrier at her for her biased relationship with Fuwa Sho or at himself for believing that she could have felt the same way for him, as he had for her.
He was done trying to destroy what was the inevitable destiny that linked Kyoko to Fuwa Sho. This had been made real to him, this was as Yashiro had once hinted at - it was God's will. And he was a fool to think that he could go against God.
It was time to fix things and get back on tract. One thing was certain, Ren was determined to not allow her back into his life.
Kyoko sat in the plush cushioned chair, basking in the opulence of the president's waiting room as she waited for him to make his entrance. The silent room was a welcome distraction to her current situation. Over the last two days, she had been hounded by the press consistently, regarding her relationship with Ren.
No doubt that was the reason for her being called into the president's office. As she sat there, she began to feel like a school child that had been called into the principal's office.
Fretting anxiously, she wondered if the president would be angry with her irresponsible behavior. After all, if it had not been for her disclosing to the hospital that she was Ren's wife, she would not have caused such uproar in the media.
Yet, while she had tried to call Ren to check on his situation, she had been disappointed that he had not answered. Nor had he returned her calls. She was certain that he was mad at her.
She recognized his pattern of anger; it was similar to the time she had been in Shotaro's PV. Only this time, he was probably livid, for she had truly done him an incredible injustice. And the fact that their marriage was no longer a secrete was not helping the situation either.
Now added to her many faults was another reason for him to be angry with her. Surely letting it known that he was now married to a worthless nobody like her would cause a negative impact to his sophisticated and urbane image.
Miserably, she sat quietly contemplating how she would be able to resolve her situation. Her face was downcast and pale when the president finally entered. The charismatic man was dressed as a fire fighter and behind him; his trustworthy man servant accompanied him in.
"How are you baring up under all the fiery flames?" his loud and baritone voice carried across to her, making her eyes fly up to meet his instantly.
"Flames?" Kyoko asked in confusion.
"I am talking about the press and all their pounding. It's like the flames of a hungry fire," the tall man explained to her, as he took a seat across from her.
Realising that the president was talking about the press coverage surrounding her marriage to Ren, Kyoko bent low and apologized, "I am sorry about that. It was my fault, since I had to tell the hospital, in order to see Ren. Please forgive me."
A slow smile spread across his mature face, as he clarified, "Why are you apologizing to me? I have nothing to do with your marriage. It is entirely up to you, how you would play out your love story."
Kyoko blinked in confusion at his words. Her confusion was written all over her face and Lory was quick to elaborate, "Your relationship is like a love drama that can only be played out by Ren and yourself. I have no say in this matter."
Kyoko's eyes fell to the floor and she had to blink back her tears before she could respond, "Is it really a love drama? I feel like it has become more and more like a horror show."
A deep frown crossed Lory's eyebrows and he straightened in his chair. Taking his time to light up his cigar, he watched the young actress's struggle to hold back her tears. Her face was pale and her shoulders were slouched in her depression. Even her hands that were fisted tightly over the tops of her knee showed how hard she was trying to remain composed.
"You don't have to force yourself to hold back," his words were soft and gentle, making Kyoko glance up at him.
With a sad and broken smile, she tried again to contain herself. "I am sorry president but I have somehow really messed things up."
Lory nodded kindly, indicating for her to continue. Like a dam that had finally been allowed to burst, Kyoko sobbed hopelessly, "I was so horrible to him…I wouldn't listen to him and …and I even called our relationship, something disgusting!"
"I've become a monster!" Kyoko cried out, before covering her face in her hands and weeping pitifully.
Taking a deep puff of his cigar, Lory thought about the unfolding romance between his favorite actor and Love Me's first member. Their relationship was filled with drama and was bound for hardships, due to the personalities of each character. Yet the story had only begun. There should not be any reason for them to be struggling so hard to remain together.
With confidence overlaying his tone, Lory announced, "You should go to the Japanese Academy Awards with him. It will be a great way to announce to Japan your formal relationship status."
Kyoko jolted at his words. Looking at him with wide scared eyes, she asked, "But president, Ren is really angry at me now. I don't think he would be so willing to take me."
"Nonsense! Just leave all that to me," Lory declared magnanimously, while his eyes gleamed with mischief.
The crowds were dressed to impress. With layer after layer, of Japan's finest actors and actresses, arriving and assembling into a huge amphitheater. But all eyes were focused not on the long awaited award show, but rather the ongoing drama unfolding between Japan's most desirable leading man and his elegant but not so popular wife.
Ren was clenching a smile tightly, as he escorted Kyoko into the thick maze of the entertainment's industries onlookers. With the mounting popular spectators, he resisted the urge to draw his arm away from his wife, who clung desperately to it.
His mind was still on the president's final words that threaten his entire career should he not take his new wife to the award show. Though he was furious with the president for putting him in this predicament, he had only himself to blame for being too cowardly to challenge his bosses' authority.
Yet there was little he could have done to change his circumstance where Lory was concern; however, that did not mean that he was helpless in all matters. Surrounded by his peers in show business, he was not going to let himself be manipulated by Kyoko any longer. This was a stage that he had a lot of experience on and he was not the novice here, she was.
Whispers of his name were on everyone's lips, and artificial smiles met his own wherever he looked. But Ren kept his mind in neutral, while he paraded through the evening. He knew his role in tonight's award show, regardless of how much he wanted to shove away from the enchantress of a wife.
For now, he would allow her to remain fixed by his side. Since according to Lory, she was adamant on acting as his wife, he would not disappoint her. She will get her time in the limelight tonight but he was determined to show her how brutal show business could be.
As the night progressed Ren floated from producer to director to actor, deliberately selecting the most notoriously ill-mannered of the industry to start conversations with, while he ignored the beautiful young actress at his side.
It was hard enough to stand beside Ren and try to match his confidence but dressed in a burgundy and silver laced gown, with a scooping neckline that amplified her cleavage and hugged her frame like a second skin, Kyoko felt the burden of her acting stretched to its fullest.
She was feeling naked and exposed. After enduring the appreciative smirks of one too many lecherous male producer, director or actor, Kyoko found herself hopelessly coming close to losing her patience. Even though she was the one clinging onto Ren, she still felt as if she was being paraded along like an oddity on display.
Had it not been for the extra-long hemline of her dress, Kyoko wouldn't have felt the added stress of needing to watch where she placed her feet with every step she would take. But as it was, she was so overwhelmed that she was grateful when Ren had offered her his arm and she was unwilling to let it go.
But aside from that single form of contact, Ren had hardly spoken to Kyoko. And Kyoko was finding it too difficult to even begin to apologize for what she had done. In fact neither of them seemed to be capable of acknowledging each other at the moment.
Even when the time came for them to take their seats, Ren escorted them to their seats without even mentioning a single word to her. He even immediately struck up a conversation with a fellow actor seated in front of him, seemingly happy to ignore Kyoko. His body language all but screamed his reluctance to have her by his side.
Behind them two women were snickering at the obvious lack of emotion between the newlyweds.
"It's a shame that someone so unknown should be riding the limelight of a true super star but you know how it goes in today's world," a popular middle aged actress stated to her fellow companion.
"Yes, I know what you mean," the younger brunet actress replied. With a toss of her long hair, she added coyly, "but you know, these things never last. And in the end, you never hear of these want-to-be looser actresses after a while."
Kyoko was turning red with embarrassment at their rude remarks. She had expected some resistance to their marriage but she was not prepared to be thought of as someone who would use another to gain fame and popularity. Her pride as an actress was not something she could so easily compromise.
Standing up, she excused herself before she shakingly walked towards the restroom. She needed to find a quiet place to compose herself before she exploded with all the pent up tension that she was currently feeling. Her every step was mediated with indignant fury and she kept her head lowered to the ground to hide the anger burning her cheeks.
Ren was not oblivious to Kyoko's discomfort. He had also heard the unfavorable comment that had upset Kyoko. It was one thing for him to inspire the punishment and public humiliation that was being met out to Kyoko but it was quite another to witness its effect from another source.
As he watched her small frame leave the room, Ren wondered if she was trembling from shame and decided that she had been wounded enough. Standing up, he caught the attention of the two ladies that had been gossiping about them and shooting them a chilling look; he then turned on his heel and followed after his wife.
With a few long and quick strides, he was able to catch up with Kyoko. Pulling her by her arm he walked her into a quiet and empty hallway. Placing his hands over her shoulders, neither gently nor roughly, he slowly said, "You should have expected this."
Kyoko collapsed against his chest; her shoulders were shaking so violently that Ren thought instantly that she was sobbing and his heart stung with guilt. Wanting to embrace her tightly, while at the same time, wanting to thrust her as far away from him as he could, he stood ridged and still.
Her voice was muffled as she repeated over and over into his chest, "Is this what I should expect?"
Finally with forced effort, Ren lifted her face up to meet his and his eyes widened in bewilderment. Kyoko had not been sobbing – she was laughing! She was laughing so hysterically that Ren acted instinctively. His lips met hers in a smoldering kiss.
A/N: Hi everyone. Here is the long awaited chapter!