Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Note: I do not own Skip Beat!

The next morning Ren picked Kyoko up early and agreed to take her to the hospital before heading into work. When they walked into Catherine's room, they found she already had an early morning visitor. Takarada Lory sat next to her bed dressed in a mariachis costume peeling an apple for the woman. She lay in the bed in a matching outfit supplied by the eccentric man. The brightly colored dress was definitely Mexican in origin. They both looked towards the new arrivals.

"How are you feeling today?" Kyoko asked as she approached the pair in the room. Catherine looked much better today. She was alert and focused. It was a great improvement from last night. Someone had removed the large bandage from her face for favor of a much smaller one. Kyoko could see the bruise showing out from under its edge.

"Much better today," Catherine smiled. She beckoned them into the room further. Kyoko came to the bedside opposite were the president was busying himself with cutting up the fruit. Kyoko's eyes reached for the bandage and Catherine raised her hand to where the younger girl was looking. "It doesn't hurt as much today. The doctor said they may release me this evening if everything goes well." Catherine dropped her hand to her lap.

"That's good. I brought you some clothing," Kyoko looked to Ren who was carrying a paper bag. He sat it on the table next to the president. Lory poked into the bag to see what Kyoko had brought, but pulled out with a sigh. There was nothing nearly as flamboyant in there as the outfit she was already dresses in.

"Thanks you." Catherine replied. "That was very kind of you." Catherine avoided looking at the bag so as not to depress the man next to her anymore. She looked at the clock above their heads. "Don't you have work this morning? And where is your manager Tsuruga-san? I need to thank him for his hard work yesterday. Lory told me about what happened."

"He had some work to do at the office so I am going to meet him there this morning." Ren explained to her. Catherine lowered her head and shook it lightly. Catherine sighed at the thought of causing the busy man trouble. She could not even remember his name at the moment. She looked up at the tall actor.

"I am sorry for causing you both trouble yesterday." Catherine apologizes to Ren. She knew a manager was important to their actor.

"It's ok. I am just glade you weren't hurt seriously." Ren smiled warmly at the slightly depressed woman. Kyoko could see he did not hold Catherine responsible for his troubles. She was sure these two would get along in the future.

"I am sorry to cut your visit short," Lory piped in, "but don't you two have work you need to be getting to?" Kyoko blanched and looked at the clock on the wall.

"Please forgive us," She said as levitated from the chair. "I will stop in after I get out of work." She turned to head toward the door. Ren bowed to both Catherine and Lory.

"I will make sure she is safe today." Ren turned to follow his new charge out the door.

"Thank you." Catherine called after the retreating pair. She turned to Lory after watching the two leave. "He really does like her." Lory smiled and turned back to the bed.

"Yes. Now how do we get those two together?" Lory grinned evilly. Catherine's eyes twinkled with mischief.

"I think we need to get Tsuruga-san's manager in on this. Do you think he will be willing to help us out?" She inquired. Lory smiled broadly and nodded in agreement. They continued to schema long after the two targets left.

Ren walked Kyoko out to his car and opened the door for her. Once they were both settled, Ren proceeded to LME to drop her off and pick up Yashiro. He glanced at his companion. She was looking out the window with a gloomy expression.

"It's not your fault Mogami-san," Ren reassured her again. "She will be fine. The doctor said she would be getting out of the hospital today."

"I know. But that does not make me feel any better. If she had not been protecting me, she would not have gotten hurt." Kyoko retorted with a heavy sigh. The corner of Ren's mouth turned up with the barest hint of a smile. He did not know what to do with his companion. She would not feel better until she had done something to make up for Catherine injury. He suddenly had a wonderful idea.

"I have an idea." Ren gleamed at her. Kyoko looked at her senpai. "Why don't you cook dinner for her when she gets out of the hospital tonight? You can invite her to my apartment and use my kitchen." Kyoko face lit up. That was an excellent idea. She remembered Catherine saying that she had not eaten much Japanese cuisine. Then it hit her, Ren had offered his apartment for the dinner. She blanched at the idea of using her senpai in such a way.

"I could never impose on you like that," Kyoko stammered. "I will make arrangement to stop by her house." Ren's expression darkened a little and then he smiled his gentlemen's smile at her. Her grudges swirled up to bask in the anger that was drifting off him. 'He's mad!' Kyoko cringed 'Why is he mad this time!'

"Mogami-san, if it was an issue, I would not have offered my kitchen. I was also going to suggest that you invite Yashiro-san to thank him too. It would be impolite to invite someone else into her home." Ren breathed. Kyoko realized her error and blushed furiously. She started to apologize to the actor. Ren sighed and the anger slipped from him. At least she saw her error. Kyoko relaxed and grinned at the man driving the car, this was going to be fun

"That is a wonderful idea." Kyoko started planning the menu in her head. Ren was glad to see her pulled out of the funk she had settled into since the attack. He pulled into LME and parked the car. Between the news of yesterday's attack and heightened security keeping people moving; the two actors went into the building without incident. Yashiro was in his office working on the offers sent to Ren. Kyoko found him and invited him to dinner with Catherine at Ren's apartment. He gladly accepted. He was interested to find out more about the foreign woman from yesterday. Maybe he could recruit her to help get those two together