Chapter 17: Helping an Old Frenemy

"If you want I could stick around for a little while. I'll just call Yashiro and tell him something came up."

This was Ren's fourth attempt since waking up, at convincing Kyoko to let him stay for her meeting with Sho. They had just arrived at LME and were standing in the LoveMe section where Kyoko was unpacking the things the President had sent over.

She sighed and shook her head. She looked towards the door for a moment before looking at him with serious eyes. "Kuon, I already said no. I'll be fine. Besides, Yukia-kun is supposed to be here too. The President left an assignment for him and Sho."

She could see that he didn't look too happy with her decision but a few moments later he gave in and left after giving her a good bye kiss.

At five minutes before nine, the door opened and Yukia and James entered. James was wearing his usual slacks with a nice shirt and jacket while Yukia wore his LoveMe uniform. Kyoko smiled when they entered.

"Good morning you two!" she greeted them.

James smiled in return. "Good morning, Kyoko-chan. Don't mind him," he said nodding towards a sulking Yukia. "He's just upset he has to wear that."

Kyoko laughed, "Well, he wouldn't be the first member to hate the uniform." She mumbled, thinking about how Kanae used to disguise herself when wearing the hated LoveMe pink uniform.

"I heard that there's a new member starting today." James said as he took a seat on the couch next to Yukia. "Is that right?"

Kyoko nodded. "Yes, he should be here any time now." She glanced at the clock nearby and saw that the clock had just moved to nine o'clock. Where is he? She wondered, starting to feel frustrated.

Just then the door to the LoveMe section was thrown open and she watched as Sho strutted in. Kyoko noticed that he looked better today. He had chosen to wear nicer clothes, though she noticed his shoes were the same worn ones from the day before. His hair was styled and his ever annoying smile was in place but she didn't miss the fact that the sparkle was gone from his eye.

He's so prideful he even has to act like this here… she sighed.

"Morning, Kyoko," he greeted her, before sitting down in one of the chairs that surrounded the small conference table. It was only then that he noticed the other two occupants of the room.

"Who are those guys?" Sho asked as he gestured towards them.

Kyoko tried to hold back her irritation. She couldn't give in to it this early on. "This is Yukia-kun, he's also a LoveMe member. And his manager, James-san." she turned towards Yukia and James, "And this is our newest member, Sho Fuwa."

Both Yukia and James recognized the name of Kyoko's ex-childhood friend. Yukia stood and offered a hand to Sho. "Nice to meet you, Sho-kun."

Sho accepted the handshake silently. At first, Kyoko was going to scold him for being rude but then she saw that he was staring wide-eyed at the hot pink uniform the younger man was wearing. Is he trying not to laugh? Kyoko wondered as she watch Sho take a step back.

She was just about to be grateful for his silence, when he burst out laughing. The other three watched him incredulously as they waited for his laughter to calm.

Kyoko sighed and rubbed her temple. "Are you done?" she asked.

Sho quieted and turned back to her with a smile. "What the hell is he wearing?" he asked. "It looks so gay."

Kyoko briefly saw James tense but he relaxed again when Yukia began to laugh too.

"I know. It's terrible, right? Whoever decided to make the LoveMe uniform hot pink was crazy." Yukia agreed.

Sho stared at him in shock. Then his eyes flickered to Kyoko who was watching him with amusement. "You- you mean I'll have to wear that too?" he asked in disbelief.

Kyoko nodded and picked up a plastic wrapped package. She held it out to the singer. He opened the plastic and pulled out the contents. Inside was a short sleeve button up work shirt and matching work pants both colored hot pink. He noticed that the emblem for the Section was printed on the front and back of the shirt as well.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Nope." Kyoko answered with a smirk. "If you want to be in the LoveMe section you have to wear the uniform any time you are doing LoveMe related work."

Sho mumbled curse words under his breath as he threw himself back down into the chair he had previously occupied. Kyoko sighed as she moved back to the box from the president. I don't know how Shoko-san managed to put up with him for so long. He is so spoiled. She thought to herself.

She pulled out a pink notepad and the stamp case and set it down in front of Sho. "How the LoveMe section works is you do jobs to earn points to help you graduate from it. You have to do the jobs with love and a desire to make other people happy. Not yourself." She said seriously. "People will award you points by stamping them in this notepad."

Sho picked up the notepad and flipped through it absent-mindedly.

Kyoko pulled out two papers from the box. "The president sent over assignments for both you and Yukia-kun." Kyoko explained. "Yukia-kun, there's a photo shoot scheduled for today that is short on crewmembers. The president has assigned you to it." She held out the paper to Yukia who accepted it with a quiet thanks.

"And what am I stuck doing?" Sho questioned, irritably.

"Your job is for tomorrow. The president has asked you to help entertain the daughter of an important foreign guest. Apparently, she's a big fan of yours." She held out the paper to him, disgusted by the excited look on his face. "No flirting with her if she's cute and don't be rude if she's not. Just be kind. Can you manage that?"

"I'm not incapable of being kind to people." Sho retorted.

Kyoko laughed. "Well, aside from yesterday's act I've never seen you manage it. But your back to normal now I guess."

Sho stood and leaned over the table towards her as they continued arguing. Before they had realized it their faces were only a couple of inches apart. Yukia glanced uncomfortably at James. He knew Ren had asked them to make sure Sho didn't cause trouble for Kyoko but this was getting awkward.

James cleared his throat, reminding them of their presence. "Kyoko-chan?"

Kyoko and Sho both looked towards the other two. She regained her composure though her face was a little red from being embarrassed about being seen arguing. "Sorry, James-san. You two can head out. The meeting is over anyway."

James watched the pair nervously before nodding and heading out of the room. Yukia said a quick good bye to Kyoko before hurrying after his manager.

"Do you think it's okay to leave them alone like that?" Yukia asked when he caught up to James. "Remember what Ren-san said."

James smiled and took hold of Yukia's hand as he continued walking. "I think they'll be fine. Ren-san said they normally fight like a couple… what I saw back there seemed more like siblings."

As Kyoko cleaned up from the meeting, Sho moved to the small couch and sat there sulking. It was only then that she noticed the suitcase he had parked on the floor next to him. Against her better judgement she decided to speak to him.

"Sho, the meetings over so you can leave if you want." She said, trying not to sound harsh.

Sho threw himself back to lie on the couch. "Is it a problem if I stay here for now?"

Kyoko felt something in the back of her mind that might very been concern. "Shotaro." She said and he looked at her. "Do you need a place to stay for a while?"

He sat up, surprised at how gentle her voice was. He scowled. "I'm not gonna stay in the same apartment as your pretty boy boyfriend." He muttered indignantly.

"Nobody said she was offering that." An irritated voice spoke from the doorway. They both turned their heads and saw Ren standing there.

"Ren, you're here," Kyoko said, feeling relieved and concerned at having Ren around Sho.

He stepped farther into the room and the two men shot glares at each other. "Are you ready to go home, Kyoko?" Ren asked, emphasizing the word home. He knew Sho was still interested in her and he had a bad feeling this was all a scheme to get closer to her again.

Kyoko looked at Sho, a determined look on her face. "Do you need a place to stay? I think I know someone who would take you in."

Sho didn't know how to respond. If that idiot hadn't interrupted he would've admitted to Kyoko that he had nowhere to go, but he couldn't admit that in front of him. Could he? He bit back his pride as he thought of his fear of having to sleep outdoors.

He nodded. "I need somewhere to stay for a while." He muttered.

Kyoko knew things were serious if Sho was willing to admit he needed help. She turned to Ren and gestured for him to lean down. She turned away from Sho to whisper.

"I think Taisho and Okami-san might be able to take him in. Can we take him there?" she asked.

Ren wanted to say no. He wanted to pick her up and take her far away from the man who had shattered her heart and then still felt the need to try to ruin her life. But when he saw the hopeful look in her eyes, he couldn't. He sighed. "Fine. We can take him."

Kyoko surprised him with a kiss on the cheek as thanks before turning back to Sho who was scowling intently at the wall.

"Shotaro." She called, getting his attention. "C'mon, we are taking you somewhere I think you can stay. At least for a little while."

Sho settled into the luxury car comfortably. "Nice ride you've got here, pretty boy," Sho commented.

Kyoko looked back at him in the backseat. "You should call him 'Tsuruga-san'." She scolded.

Sho shrugged as he leaned back. Kyoko glanced over at Ren. He had never looked so tense behind the wheel of his car. He normally loved driving, and it helped him relax. She just prayed that Taisho would agree to taking in Shotaro, because if he didn't, they might be stuck with him.

When they pulled up near the Darumaya, Kyoko climbed out of the car. She looked back in at the two men still seated inside. "Wait here, I want to talk to them first." She ordered, before closing the door and heading towards her former home.

It didn't take long after the door closed for Sho to begin goading Ren. He leaned forward against the backs of the seats and his face was now too close for Ren's comfort. Although to be fair, Sho just being in the same country was too close, let alone the same car.

"I bet you just hate how much she keeps wanting to help me, don't you?" Sho asked.

Ren clenched his teeth. "If she wants to help a stray animal find a place to stay so it doesn't die from being on its own, who am I to say no."

Sho chuckled, "I guess I'll be getting to spend a lot of time with her again. But don't worry, I promise I'll play nice."

Ren's grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. It was taking all of his control to not let Kuon take over and strangle Fuwa. "Well, that doesn't really matter. Because I'm still the one she'll be in bed with tonight." He said and felt a little better when he heard an irritated grunt come from the younger man in the back seat.

"You think you're just so much better than me, don't you?" Sho commented.

Ren turned to meet his eyes for the first time. On his face was a super gentlemanly smile, while his eyes held a dark anger. "Yes. Of course I think I'm better than some idiot who threw away the most amazing woman and then lost his career because he couldn't handle seeing her with someone else."

Sho glared back at him. "You know what Mr. Pretty boy-"

Before Sho could finish his sentence the door to the car reopened to reveal a concerned looking Kyoko. "You guys couldn't just sit here quietly, could you?" she asked in an annoyed tone. "Well, they are willing to talk to you. Come on."

Sho exited the car and Ren moved to follow. Kyoko opened her mouth to ask him to wait there but changed her mind when she saw how anxious he looked. Instead she grasped his hand as they made their way back inside of the restaurant.

When they entered the restaurant, Kyoko, Ren, and Sho all bowed in greeting to the couple inside. They then sat around the table where Sho remembered eating the first time he had come there. The Okami-san was friendly enough as she talked to Kyoko and Ren, but Taisho kept his eyes sternly on the young singer. Sho shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"So, Sho-kun, I understand you are a friend of Kyoko-chan." Okami-san said with a smile.

Sho nodded, "Yes, our families have known each other since we were children."

"My husband and I are willing to let you stay here in our spare room for as long as you need to for a small rent as well as help twice a week in the restaurant." The kind woman explained.

Sho felt his mouth go dry at the prospect of working at a restaurant. That kind of work was below him, what was she thinking? Didn't she know who he was?

Kyoko reached over and pinched Sho's arm causing him to jump. He took the hint and smiled charmingly at the Okami-san. "Thank you very much for your kindness." He replied with a nod.

On the other side of Kyoko, Ren had to cover up a snort of laughter by coughing. He knew from everything he'd witnessed and been told that Sho wouldn't last one shift working there. Although, he was very tempted to ask Kyoko if they could visit during that time just so he could watch him fail.

After they finished their talk, Sho unloaded his bag from the trunk of Ren's car. Kyoko and Ren said goodbye to the couple before heading towards the car.

"Wait, Kyoko. Can I talk to you for a minute?" Sho called after her.

She glanced towards Ren and gestured for him to keep going before turning back to Shotaro.

He glanced at the ground and shifted his feet awkwardly. There were very few times she had ever seen Sho look awkward and it made her feel a little uncomfortable too.

"What did you need?" she asked.

He looked up at her. "Thanks. Just thanks for finding me somewhere to stay."

Kyoko stared at him in shock. Maybe Shotaro had changed. Even if it was just a little.

"You better go. Your boyfriend is getting concerned," he smirked at Ren who was standing by the car. "If you don't hurry I'll hug you just to freak him out." He taunted.

Kyoko hurried away from him back to the car. As they drove, Kyoko couldn't stop thinking about how this Sho was so different from his former self. The changes weren't huge, but they were important ones still. Hopefully, working at Darumaya will help him learn. She thought with a small smile.

A/N: Omg so sorry for the long wait. I'm already working on the next chapter. I think we've got 3 or 4 chapters left to this part. :) hope you all enjoyed this! I had a lot of fun writing Sho. Thanks again to all my readers for your support!