Dedication: B-Czar. I know this took a long time, but I think you will be pleased.
B-Czar's Premises:
Ren starts to feel guilty after talking with Bo and goes to apologize
He tries to make it up to Kyoko and Yashiro, but Kyoko stays mad
so Ren turns on the charm
...I'd also like to see a sexually frustrated Ren story...
I like seeing him in anguish... maybe I'm evil
Content Rating: M
DISCLAIMER: Skip Beat! and it's characters are not my original creation, they are owned and created by Nakamura Yoshiki.
Smothering
"Good Morning Tsuruga-san! I really appreciate the ride to LME today. I can't believe they cancelled bus line 72 for an entire week. I'm grateful for the ride, and I'll accept since you offered first, so please forgive me imposing."
Kyoko pushed the passengers seat forward, shoved her bag in the backseat and started to climb in herself.
"You can sit in the front today Kyok-" Kyoko held up a hand and shook her finger at him. Ren sighed before finishing his sentence, "-Mogami-san. Yashiro is taking alternative methods of transportation this week."
"Oh? He has some appointments or something I take it?"
"Yeah… something like that." Ren's expression darkened and the corners of his eyes tightened. The tension level in the car jumped about a thousand volts, and Kyoko's demons began creeping out to bask in his divine anger.
"Tsuruga-san? What's wrong?"
He took a deep breath as if to say, then closed his mouth with an audible snap.
"Come on! Tell me what's wrong. Did Yashiro-san do something? Are you and him having a fight?"
Ren scowled. "Not really. He just will no longer be spending any unnecessary time around me."
This came as a great shock. Kyoko always thought Ren and Yashiro had an easy friendship. They seemed to get along great!
Ren drove down a few streets before coming to a conclusion on what to tell Kyoko. He stayed just a little too long at a red light, and the impatient individual behind him began honking. The noise shook Ren from his thoughts.
"Alright, yes. Yashiro and I had an argument. He seriously went WAY over the bounds of respectable!"
"Yashiro? Are you sure? That doesn't sound like him."
"Kyo-"
Kyoko threw her hands up again "Tsuruga-san! Please!"
Ren let out a growl in aggravation.
"MOGAMI-san, he's trying to force me against my will! Like a MOTHER! I have been independent for long enough now, I do not need someone looking over my shoulder every day to make sure I eat. Make sure I get enough sleep. Make sure I don't drink too much, or watch too much TV!"
"Sounds to me that he's just worried about you."
"There is a LIMIT to how much one should be allowed to worry! I'm in control of my life, not him!"
"That isn't very fair to say. If you aren't healthy, then your work suffers. If your work suffers, he suffers too. You should respect him more and think of his position!"
"You're chastising me. YOU, are chastising ME? I can't believe this." Ren pulled into the parking lot and hastily killed the engine before throwing open his car door and stepping out. Clearly, he was marking the conversation as over, and so Kyoko followed suit.
They split ways once entering the LME building, Ren had meetings to attend about a new shoot scheduled to start soon.
Kyoko, had to attend a review meeting with Sawara-san about her progress, then head over to the set of Kimagure Rock to shoot the next episode.
Things had gone smoothly the majority of the day, but that gave Ren time to think. Time to think just made his ire rise more about the whole situation, and by the time he headed over to his afternoon shoot, he was shaking in agitation.
"Come on Ren. Get it together. Gotta just forget about it for – HEY! Chicken!" His legs quickly carried him over to his passing friend. The chicken looked startled. Well, as startled as a chicken suited person CAN look anyway.
"I've got another question for you if you have a minute."
The chicken looked left, then right down each hall, then shrugged and stepped toward Ren, folding its wings in front of its body as if to signify it had time.
"So, your mother. Does she still force you to eat and go to bed each night? I mean, what kind of a person does that!"
Kyoko knew what this was about now. It had startled her when Ren had called to her – as Bo – coming down the hall. Did he know she was Bo? Was he trying to restart the argument from earlier? Those were her first thoughts, but now that she was certain he still did not know it was her, maybe she could turn this to her advantage!
She dropped her voice and said, "Well, I wouldn't really say I have a mother. Chickens come from eggs after all, but the guys around here take care of me. They make me eat sometimes, and make me rest when I need a break."
"Doesn't that bother you? Them controlling you like that? What good can that say about a person!"
"It doesn't bother me. Just tells me they care about me and that I'm important to them, so no, it doesn't bother me at all."
"Okay, what if the person trying to control you were your best friend, and you already had someone else who takes care of you, that you much prefer?"
"No, I don't think that would bother me still. Just means they care about the person taking care of you already too so they don't get overworked."
Maybe… maybe I am blowing this out of proportion. Talk about egg on my face… oh God… it really WASN'T fair what I told Kyoko. "Then what would you do if you told them, basically, to leave you alone, but you didn't mean to push them away or hurt them?"
"Bow down and beg forgiveness?" the chicken shrugged. "I guess I would start by apologizing."
Ren smiled at that. "I guess an apology would be a good start."
He glanced at the clock in the hallway, then turned back to the chicken. "Thanks. You always know what to say to help me when I'm in a bind." He laughed, "I actually started talking to the frozen chickens in the grocery store the other day when trying to figure out what to buy. Oh, sorry… that might have been a cousin." He smiled, then waived at the floundering chicken and turned back down the hall.
When he picked Kyoko up later from the LME building, she gave him a cold shoulder. Oh, she was well aware of their conversation earlier, and he HAD asked for her advice, but she couldn't let him know that, and besides. He had yet to apologize.
It had become habit for her to return to his apartment with him each night to fix a meal and cuddle on the couch, but each night, she demanded him return her to the Daruma Ya out of respect for the Taisho and Okami-san.
Ren respected her wishes, but wished she would stay with him. Things would get heated up between them, then when he could take it no more and stand up to bring her into the bedroom, she always took that as a cue to get ready to go home. Damn his long legs! There was no way to effectively maneuver on the couch in order to do things with her that being intimate would require.
Okay, well, he COULD… but that wasn't what he wanted for Kyoko. It would be her first time, and he loved her after all. He wanted to watch her as he took her.
With any luck, tonight would be different. He was going to apologize, and she would forgive him, like she always does when he screws up, they would eat dinner, and when it came time for desert, he would surprise her. Provided she DOES forgive me that is.
God, what's wrong with me? We have an argument, and I'm planning the make-up sex! She hasn't even accepted my apology yet!
When had he become so confident that they would make it through an argument? Their first argument was about him not wanting her to cook for him. He wanted to treat her sometimes, but after she had tasted his attempts at cooking, she won that argument.
Their second argument was about him keeping his true name a secret from her. It was still a source of contention, but he had won that argument. He trusted her completely, but it was just safer that way. She conceded when he promised to at least tell her things about his past. If she couldn't know his real name, she could at least know the real him.
He stopped worrying about their relationship making it through the arguments when he started calling her by her first name, without the honorifics, and smiled at him then informed him in no uncertain terms that he was to address her by her proper name when in public places. He still didn't agree with that, but he knew she at least intended to stay with him then.
IF we make it through tonight that is.
Ren handed Kyoko the apartment key and asked her to go inside while he parked the car. He had planned it that way. Hopefully, she would be done squealing in joy when he made it up the stairs.
He walked closer to his apartment door, but did not hear squealing. Did something go wrong? No, the door was open a crack… and the lights were still dark. As it was supposed to be… so why was there no noise?
He peeked his head around the corner, into the foyer. Her shoes were there, she definitely went inside. He slipped off his own shoes, then quietly closed the door and let his eyes adjust to the dim light spilling in from the living room.
She had to have seen the rose petals. They were hard to miss, scattered everywhere.
He moved around the corner. There she is… she's… crying? He didn't quite get it.
She had followed the rose petals to the kitchen table where the four dozen red roses were arranged, candle light spread out around the table, and a meal was prepared and under covers, hot and waiting for them.
"When…" she silenced herself and left the question unsaid. She wanted to ask "When did you have time to do all this?" but that would spoil the moment.
Did something happen I don't know about? Was there a bad phone call while I parked the car or something? She's not supposed to cry over this… His plan was NOT going how he expected it.
Ren walked up behind Kyoko and gently slid his arms around her, hugging her to himself.
"Why the tears?" he whispered into her hair. "I wanted to say I'm sorry for this morning."
"nh, I forgive you. You didn't need to do all this for a silly argument." Her voice was soft, as she turned in his arms to face him.
"Okay then," he stroked a hand down her hair. "I did it because I love you."
Aishiteru. Not daisuki. Aishiteru. She wasn't sure how to respond, but a blush crept into her face, and she opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, trying to respond like a fish out of water.
She wanted to desperately to say it back to him, but her hang-ups on love still caught her sometimes. She had let this man into her heart, guarded as it was, and he loved her wholly.
He leaned down and gave her the easy way out. He kissed her gently, then whispered against her lips, "You don't have to say it. I know." He kissed her again, his lips pressing into hers, tongue pressing against her lips, begging for entrance.
She granted his wishes and opened her mouth to him, and her heart, and her tears slid down her cheeks slowly, but uncontrollably.
He hugged her tighter as he lifted her into the air to kiss him at his own height, then started walking.
He set her down gently, and only then did he release his hold on her body and her lips. The rich scent entering her nostrils told her it was definitely time, and when she opened her eyes, she was seated at the table, with Ren holding the cover to her plate of food.
It wasn't home-made food, but he was trying to make everything perfect.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek, then set the plate cover down across from her.
"Kyoko…close your eyes."
She looked at him perplexed. He couldn't have MORE to surprise her with, could he?
"Trust me. Just close your eyes."
This time she did so, and was pleasantly surprised when he kissed her with sauce on his lips. She was forced to lick the sauce from her lips before it dripped down her chin. As she did so, he laid a small piece of food on her tongue, which she wrapped her lips around and pulled into her mouth to chew.
The light sauce complimented the delicate meat perfectly. It was exquisite, and she opened her eyes to look at Ren, surprised.
"What is that?"
He smiled at her, then held up a scrawny little half-eaten frog leg.
Her eyes went wide, and she moved to hit him on the shoulder.
He laughed and ducked out of the way before setting the frog leg back on the edge of his plate.
"I knew you would like them… and I knew I'd get you to eat them eventually."
"Delicacy or not, that's horrible Ren!"
"Maybe so, but it was tasty wasn't it?"
She was loathe to admit it, but had to agree, and she nodded.
He chuckled and said, "I won't do it again. I promise. There isn't a single one on your plate, so you can stop pushing the food around searching."
She had been pushing her meal around the plate, looking for any hidden unwanted morsels, but as he said, there were none.
She finally called of the search and began eating. Wherever he ordered from, they were very good. The meal was cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of garnish where it was meant to accent the flavors rather than mask them, as so often would happen.
Her plate was almost clean, but she was startled when something slid over her foot, and she looked down, surprised.
Ren's socked foot was sliding along her own, occasionally sliding up her leg and onto her calf.
She followed that long leg up to the man leaned back in the chair, smiling at her, and once again melted her heart.
"Are you done?" There was still half of his meal on his plate.
"For now. I wanted to save room for desert."
He even got desert? Wow… Ren, who hardly eats…
His foot began moving against hers again. Strangely, it was rather comforting. Like a constant reminder that he was there, and wasn't going anywhere.
Comforting, and distracting. She pushed the plate away from her a little and laid the napkin on the table, indicating she was finished.
She slid her chair back and stood, reaching for Ren's plate.
Ren reached her hand first, took the plate from her other hand, and stood himself.
"Leave it."
She started to argue, but he pulled her to him and once again picked her up, this time, in a princess carry. Her arms flung around him to hold on in sudden surprise, and he walked her away from the table to the living room, then laid her down on the sofa. He kissed her, then kneeled down on the floor in front of her, hugging her to him, their lips at the same height. He pushed her back to lean on the back cushions of the couch, then laid his head on her chest, hugging her at the waist.
"Did you save room for desert?"
"Sure. There's always room for desert." His hair tickled his ear as her breath pushed past.
He let her go out of the hug, then leaned back on his knees.
"Then wait here."
Their tones were hushed, as if the low light could somehow be broken if they spoke at normal volume.
Kyoko did not move from her spot.
"Close your eyes." He returned with two bowls.
She looked at him incredulously, and shook her head vehemently.
He let out a small sigh. "I promised you no more frog legs, didn't I? Yes, I did. Now trust me. Close your eyes."
She closed her eyes, then opened one again just as Ren started to set down the bowls. He caught her peeking though, and lifted the bowls before she could see.
She waited with her lips slightly parted, then slid them open around the…. Strawberry? He was gently pushing into her mouth.
She bit down, and juice and chocolate spilled down the corner of her mouth.
She moved to lick it, but Ren was faster. He leaned down over her and licked the corner of her mouth, tasting the strawberry, chocolate, and her.
"Keep your eyes closed."
She felt the cushion depress beside her as Ren sat down, facing her as her feet hung over the front edge of the couch.
Ren dipped another strawberry in the bowl of chocolate and brought it to her lips to bite. No sooner had she bit, than he swooped down and kissed her, stealing the strawberry from her mouth.
She let out a small whimper of protest, and he gave her a quick peck on the lips.
Kyoko started to open her eyes and look at him, but he was enjoying this too much.
"No… don't."
She left her eyes closed, and Ren dipped another, small, strawberry. This time, he intentionally dipped it too deeply, covering his fingers with chocolate, then brought the fruit to her lips.
He pushed the fruit into her mouth, and with it, his index finger. She gently bit down before realizing what was in her mouth, then lightly sucked the chocolate from his finger.
Once she released his finger, clean, he licked the chocolate from his thumb and went for one more piece of fruit.
Again he put too much chocolate on the strawberry, covering his fingers, then rolled the fruit around, preventing the chocolate from dripping back into the bowl.
He moved the fruit just above Kyoko, so the chocolate dripped onto her chest. She gasped lightly, and Ren stuck the fruit – and his finger – into her mouth as he bent to kiss the chocolate from her chest.
She mumbled something around his finger, and he removed it to hear her words.
"M-my shirt… chocolate… stains."
He grinned, though she could not see it through her closed eyes.
He licked the chocolate once again from his thumb, then placed his hand at her waist and slowly forced her shirt up, over her head, then dropped it behind the couch.
His fingers sliding across her skin had tingled where he touched, and Kyoko's breathing became labored.
Ren watched as her breasts rose up, then down, then up again. He met them on the way down, strawberries forgotten.
He snaked his arms around her, one hand sliding up her back, the other sliding down to cup her ass as he stood.
She's not getting away this time.
He kissed her, then pulled her legs around his waist, guiding her to hold on. Her arms found their way around his neck on their own.
When next he put her down, it was to be dropped gently onto the bed. She looked around the room, then back at him as he placed one knee on the bed beside her and leaned down to continue kissing her.
"Wait Ren."
"mmm?" he continued administering kisses to her collarbone.
"The Taisho and Okami-san-"
"Already know you won't be home tonight."
"B-but –aaah!" she squeaked as he bit down on her nipple through her bra.
It silenced her, and Ren stood up from the bed, pulling his shirt over his head. He unbuckled his belt and unzipped his slacks, then climbed back on the bed with his pants hanging open.
He climbed up her body to find her lips and kissed her deeply. She had only one argument tonight it seemed, and she was willing to continue. At least, she didn't tell him to wait again, and she knew he would not be bringing her back to the Daruma Ya tonight.
Ren slipped his arm behind her and rolled them over, so he was not putting the weight of his body on top of her.
His tongue trailed his kisses from her neck up to her mouth, her skin cooling as the cool air of his bedroom hit her wet skin.
The hand on her back slid down her ass and began bunching her skirt up to her waist. Once the end had been reached, Ren found the edge of her panties and slid his hand inside to grope the soft flesh of her ass.
He squeezed hard, and she gasped a little, her sounds urging him on.
His fingers slid down over her cheek, to the wet folds below, sliding gently across her lips, playing with her natural moisture.
She began to moan, but she had to ask before she lost all her sense.
"Ren" she said breathily, "You did all of this to apologize?"
"No," he kissed her, "I did this because I love you," the kiss continued, "I apologized first."
"Okay, but then," she kissed him back, "what did you do for Yashiro?"
"What do you mean?" his hand was suddenly caught tight in the cloth of her panties as she forced herself up into a kneeling position over top of him.
"What do I… Ren… you did apologize to Yashiro-san too, didn't you?"
"No." Her eyes changed to daggers, and he could feel the impending doom. "…Not yet?"
She forced herself up off of him and off of the bed, straightening her skirt as she did so.
Ren forced himself up onto his elbows as he looked down the bed at her, exasperated.
"What are you doing? Come back here." It was worth a try anyway, but Kyoko's anger flared again, and as she turned to stalk out the room with an "APOLOGIZE TO YASHIRO FIRST!" He knew he had lost this argument.
He flung himself back down onto the bed, frustrated, then yelled down the hall at her.
"but Kyoko! … He got me a NANNY!"