Always Be My Baby
by Kris Black
Summary: After going over lines for TDM, Kyoko and Ren have a night of passion and the result could not only cause a scandal, but ruin both of their careers. How will the two lovers withstand the trials of their love?
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Skip Beat! the manga or the anime. I do not own any characters listed in this story except those you don't recognize. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money is being made off of the story as a whole, or in part.
AN: After a two month wait, you get two chapters in one weekend – hopefully, this makes up for the lost time a little bit and people begin to forgive me.
On a happier note – Goodbye writer's block. I would say that I miss you, but I really don't.
Hopefully you will understand more of what Kyoko and Ren are feeling in this chapter.
Oh, and please give a warm welcome to Kuu, ladies and gentlemen!
Visit my website (complete with a blog). I am really proud of it:
krisblack (dot) webs (dot) com
If you are ever wondering why I am not updating for some reason, I keep a blog there on my writing status of the next chapter. Sometimes I may give small clues away too ^_~.
When Kyoko showed up for work, she felt remarkably better – despite having a huge water bottle in her back pack, everything was back to normal.
"I was thinking that for the next couple of months, I might just do a few commercials and work in the Love-Me Section," Kyoko was telling Moko. "That is probably the best option out there."
"It also reduces the amount of time that you spend in the public eye, so the paparazzi thing might die down."
"I hope so."
Kyoko looked down at her feet and sighed.
"In the world of show business you don't haunch your back!" Moko reacted instantly and smacked Kyoko across the shoulders.
Kyoko stumbled a little bit before straitening out her shoulders once more.
"Is something else wrong, Kyoko?" Moko asked. "You usually have terrifyingly good posture. For you to slump down is concerning."
"I just turned down a bunch of jobs, all of them were to play a mean, bullying character like Mio," Kyoko explained. "I might have considered them, but I don't want to cause any trouble working while I am in this condition. The manager was shocked, but I didn't give him much of a reason why I turned them down…"
"You mean no one at LME knows about…"
Kyoko shook her head.
"Ren and I haven't decided when and what exactly we want to tell them. We know that we have to soon, but it seems like neither one of us is at LME at the same time anymore…"
"Kyoko, you're going to have to tell them soon, regardless."
"I know. I was thinking about calling Ren this afternoon and doing it today. I would feel better if he were here, especially considering he knows the President a lot better than I do and would know what to say."
Kyoko's apprehension about everything was sending her into nerves. She really loved acting. At first, she did all of this to get back at him, but now she was happy. She didn't want to lose her job – she didn't want to lose the sense of being able to utterly and completely lose herself in a role and forget everything; but, she also wasn't able to let go of the baby.
Moko opened her mouth to speak, maybe to object, but didn't manage to say anything before being interrupted by a loud rumbling coming down the hallway. They both turned around slowly to look down the corridor.
They both knew that they should be used to weird things like a giant pirate ship on wheels being pushed down the hallway, working at LME with an almost-clinically-insane president usually yielded things such as this.
But, it was still rather surprising (if not a little frightening) to see a pirate ship coming towards you on ceramic tiling.
"Ah, there you are Mogami-san!" The president exclaimed as he popped out of the boat, dressed like Captain Hook from Peter Pan.
The moment he jumped out, streamers began popping, making a massive amount of colours float around the President-Captain.
"I have a job request for you," he told her from the top of the ship.
Kyoko stared up at him, wide-eyed. Had he found out that she had just refused all of her offers for a drama? If so, was he here to make sure she accepted one? She couldn't refuse the president… but she didn't want to have to tell him about her condition in this environment – in front of everyone and without Ren by her side to help her explain.
Just when Kyoko was sure she was about to hyperventilate, the President spoke up again.
"It has been a while since I have put in a request to the Love Me Section!"
Kyoko stopped. Love me section?! He didn't want her to act? She didn't know whether to feel relived or hurt. She felt relieved that she didn't have to come out just yet; but, on the other hand did he think that her acting ability wasn't good enough yet…? She admitted that she was still an amateur, but did that mean that all he thought that she was good at was menial tasks for the company?
"Love Me Section?" She asked.
Ren sat beside Kijima, (an actor who he had worked with a few times before, who had just recently been cast for a part on Dark Moon), thinking about what he was going to do about Kyoko. After all, that girl been to the hospital and didn't even bother calling him to tell him about it – would she ever have told him about it if he didn't call and ask her about it?
He mentally kicked himself. Of course she would have. Kyoko wasn't deceitful or conniving; she was probably just scared and didn't know what to do.
Which was almost the exact position he was in – he didn't know what to do. Since that night two months ago, besides for Kyoko becoming pregnant, there relationship hadn't changed all that much, which was both surprising and disheartening. It was like no matter what happened Kyoko would forever remain the girl who Fuwa Sho had broken. Was it even possible to bring back the loving, caring and trusting girl he had fallen in love with in his childhood?
He didn't know what he could do for Kyoko though; hell, he didn't even know how to fix himself, let alone the woman who he cared deeply for.
But, she was his responsibility now. He couldn't just leave her high and dry, even if she didn't mean anything to him – but she did. She meant so much to him that it almost sent him running. He didn't want to feel like this about anyone, he just wanted to surpass his past; but it was too late now.
He wanted to protect her. He wanted her close to him and safe. He wanted her to move in with him so he could do that. He wanted to be with her forever. He wanted her.
But that would probably never happen. Kyoko had built diamond walls around her heart – nothing could break through them. No matter how much he tried to push, no matter what kind of tool he used, he couldn't break through.
He needed to decide what he was going to do.
"There are a couple of on-lookers today," Kijima commented, nodding his head towards a bunch of fans standing around swooning.
"Yeah…" Ren replied. "We're not average people after all."
"You would know all about that, what with the paparazzi following you around like flies on dead meat," said Kijima empathetically. "But, I guess a certain amount is to be expected.
"But to be honest, I am kind of disappointed that there are guys among the onlookers as well."
Ren laughed.
"You're the same as ever."
"Oh no!" Kijima burst out. "When the story develops further and Mio becomes Mizuki's ally, there will be even more onlookers for Mizuki and Mio! How awful!"
"Mio won't be back in the show for quite a few months," Ren said, looking up from his script. "Her arc is done, she really only has cameos left."
"Right…" Kijima sighed. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter, she'll never be as charming as Mizuki, after all. Between the two, Isumi-chan would definitely be the more popular."
Ren looked back down at his script, determined to ignore is co-worker.
"By the way, Tsuruga-kun, do you know Oohara-san's phone number?"
"No, I don't."
"Then what about Isumi-chan?"
"I don't know hers either."
"Eh?! You are as useless as ever, man," Kijima joked.
"Sorry," Ren said, staring at his script but not changing the page. He could barely see the words.
"Oh well, I guess I'll just have to go and ask them myself," Kijima said and lazily walked towards the ladies of the show.
Yashiro walked behind Ren.
"I am surprised that you could just laugh all that off," he noted. "Especially since that guy was basically belittling Kyoko."
"He didn't mean anything bad by it."
Although Ren knew that, he was still feeling a little stirred up. But he didn't mind. It wasn't like he expected others to find Kyoko charming the same way he did. As long as he knew her that was alright. No one else needed to get to know the sweet, charming, caring, innocent girl he knew Kyoko to be. In fact, he would prefer if no one else found out how amazing she was.
A crowd gathered at the other end of the room, all talking excitedly which brought Ren back to the room and away from his thoughts of Kyoko. Ren got up and walked over, seeing a nervous Director Ogata standing in the front of the crowd, shaking slightly.
"What's all the fuss about?"
"Tsuruga-san!" The director called out, not able to hide his apparent excitement. "It's amazing! Some amazing news has come in!"
"And what is that?"
The director looked up at Ren with undulated happiness and said four words that made Ren's whole body cease to function.
"Kuu is coming back!"
Kyoko stood with her mouth wide open. Had the president just asked her to take care of a super star?
"N-no way! Did you just say that I should take care of a super VIP?"
"Yup," the President nodded, the humongous feather in his pirate hat waving gently.
"Th-that's impossible!" Kyoko said bluntly. Then, remembering who she was talking to, and seeing the slightly surprised look on his face, added:
"Doesn't someone like that usually have tons of attendants and assistants?"
"Well, normally, yes," the president agreed. "However, he isn't normal. He hasn't brought anyone with him this time."
Being told that someone wasn't normal was not exactly a great impression; but, having someone who was as crazy and abnormal as the president tell her that someone wasn't normal was something that could strike fear into anyone. What kind of person was this super VIP?
"N-no! I don't want to take care of someone like that!"
"Don't get so worked up, it really is nothing. Besides, think of him as your sempai. He has already grown up and left so that he could become independent from me. Just be your natural self and you will be fine."
The president placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her. He wasn't going to take "no" for an answer, that was apparent.
So, when the day came, Kyoko was told to go to the airport and pick the super VIP up. She walked through the airport to the terminal he was supposed to exit from. There was already hundreds of press there, setting up their cameras and getting ready for his exit, not to mention fans.
When she exited the car LME company car, everyone stared at her. There was instant whispering and pointing, which made Kyoko feel a little insecure. She wasn't sure if they were whispering about the car that she had just got out of, if they had recognized her from the front of the tabloids about her and Ren, or if they were whispering about her outfit.
'Or all of the above,' she thought darkly to herself. 'Why do I have to be here dressed in my Love-Me Section uniform? After all this time, I thought that I would never have to wear these cursed overalls again. I am 'Mio' from the most talked about drama on TV right now…"
"Besides," she added out loud in a slight whisper. "I don't have the time or composure to take care of him right now."
She resisted the urge to bring her hand up to the slight (but only noticeable if you knew it was there) bulge on her stomach. If she did that right now, in front of all of the press, there would definitely be hell to pay. Instead, she put her hands at her sides and took perfectly straight – the way she was taught by his mother.
The crowd began screaming and Kyoko looked up. There was a figure walking out from the terminal, though not clear from her distance. The security guards were fighting, keeping the fans behind the barriers as they all chanted:
"Hizuri Kuu!"
As he came closer, Kyoko could see that he had three or four body guards flanking him. Flashes were going off non-stop, which reminded Kyoko of what happened when paparazzi were trying to take her picture. Luckily, this time no one was paying any attention to her – it was all on the mega superstar that was walking towards her, dressed as she imagined an American star to be dressed.
He seemed like a nice guy, Kyoko noted, glad that he wasn't bonkers. She also noted that he was wearing sun glasses, which helped protect his eyes from the flashes, she was sure. Maybe she should invest in a pair of dark tinted sunglasses when she goes out too…
Hizuri Kuu stopped in front of her and looked her up and down. Their eyes met for a second, startling Kyoko and she instantly went down into a bow.
"How do-do you do?" She stuttered. "I am-"
She was cut off by an irritated look shot out by Hizuri Kuu and stared up at him in a silent shock. What had she done wrong?
Ren had just finished getting dressed for his next scene. Everyone was so excited over Hizuri Kuu's return that Ren could barely be little more that irritated at the whole thing. Was one person really worth all of this trouble and disorder? He tightened his tie and almost chocked himself when his dressing room door swung open and Yashiro barged in.
Yashiro's hands were flying around so fast that Ren could barely see them and Yashiro took a deep breath before shouting:
"It-It's incredible! Kuu was just on the TV!"
Ren has panicked when he had first seen Yashiro, thinking that something was wrong with Kyoko – she was, after all, the only thing that Yashiro seemed to get worked up over to him. But what he had just announced made Ren second guess what he thought about Yashiro. After all, he didn't seem the type to get star-struck over something so inconsequential.
"I know. He's just arrived in Japan, right?" Ren asked, trying to feign some sort of interest but he was sure that it had come out pretty dead-panned.
"Wrong!" Yashiro shouted, startling Ren again. "Wait, no – that's right, but that isn't what this is about!"
Okay, now Ren was confused and wondered if Yashiro had had something to drink. It wasn't like his manager to be so loud and excitable.
"What happened?" Ren asked patiently with a gentle voice.
Ren held his hand up before continuing:
"Calmly, please."
Yashiro froze, Ren could only guess he was trying to clear his head and order his thoughts to deliver whatever news in a calm manner.
"I saw it," Yashiro said in a scary after a few moments of silence. "That demonic uniform that, once seen, will be burned into your eyes forever."
If Ren had thought that Yashiro was talking in riddles before, now he was thoroughly confused. What could Hizuri Kuu arriving in Japan have anything to do with demonic uniforms that burn your eyes? Was he playing some sort of new game? If so, Ren didn't understand the rules. So, instead of asking, he charmingly did the next best thing.
"Huh?"
"It was only there for an instant, and I didn't see her face, but I am sure of it. When Hizuri Kuu got into the car at the airport, so did someone wearing a pink set of overalls. I am sure that that person was Kyoko!"
AN: And that's all for now folks! I can't say when to expect my next chapter as I start a new job tomorrow, but I will try to get it out by next Sunday.
Don't forget to review and check out my website: krisblack (dot) webs (dot) com
Reviews are better than Kuu in a leather!