More fun. I hope you like it. Please let me know what you think.
Note: I do not own Skip Beat! or any of the song mentioned here in.
The two friends played and cooked in the kitchen till about 8:20 when Kyoko heard a knock at the door and went to answer it. Catherine hadn't notice Kyoko get up because she was busy with the final preparations for dinner. Kyoko opened the door after checking the peephole to make sure it was Ren and Yashiro. The guys were welcomed in by a warm plum of garlic, tomatoes, and dance music. After dropping their shoes and coats in the entryway, the men followed Kyoko through the living room and into the kitchen. Kyoko returned to her seat at the table while both Ren and Yashiro paused just inside the doorway. They were met with the sight of Catherine cooking and singing along to the English version of "Numa Numa".
"Every word of love I use to say now I paint it everyday-e-ya. When you leave my colors fade to gray. Hey little lover stay or all my colors fade away. Every word of love I use to say now I paint it everyday-e-ya." Catherine sang as she pulled the large dish from the oven. Her movements were timed with the beat of the song as she spilled cheese across the tomato covered chicken. Without turning her attention from the hot dish in front of her she called to her companion. "Hey Kyoko, what time do you think they will get back?" To her surprise, Ren answered.
"We just got back." Catherine whipped around, spilling cheese across the floor, to see the men standing in the kitchen. A deep blush and a guilty grin rushed up her face as she discovered that they had been watching her dancing to the music.
"Umm… good. Dinner will be in a few minutes." Catherine turned back to her dish to hide her embarrassment. "Could someone set the table please?" All three of her guests moved to collect appropriate articles to set the table. Having seen the large pot of boiling water and the pan of tomato covered goodness Catherine was sliding back in the oven, they set out forks, knives, and flat plates. Catherine continued to move to the beat of the music as she cleaned up the spilled topping and set the noodles to boil. Yashiro paused in his work to watch her fluid like movement as she almost danced through the kitchen. As the music changed, she shifted into the new beat without pausing in her work. Ren stopped moving and turned to his kohai to see how her delicate morals would take this new song.
Kyoko wasn't paying attention to the English words of the Bloodhound Gangs most notorious song until the male singer's suggestion of reaching down his pants hit her ears. By the time the song reached "Yes I'm Siskel, Yes I'm Ebert and you getting two thumbs up…" a very red Kyoko had materialized by the computer and was trying to change the song. To her horror, the screen locked up and the song continued to play. Catherine sang along for a few lines as she made her way over to the computer Kyoko was trying to destroy. A few quick key strokes relieved the problem and the embarrassing song flipped to the next one in the shuffle list. Yashiro blushed lightly at the lyrics as he wondered, for a second, what it meant to be smothered and covered like waffle house hash browns. Kyoko was trying her best to disappear into the wall as the heavy beat of the next song was covered by the soft voice of the singer.
When the main lyrics started, "I'm searching for a man, all across Japan, just to find, to find my samurai" Ren nudged Yashiro and nodded to the woman singing along as she drained the spaghetti. Ren laughed as Yashiro glared daggers at the taller actor for his suggestion. Pulled by the mirth behind her, Catherine turned to see what was funny. When her eyes met Yashiro's his blush darkened before he cleared his throat and excused himself to the bathroom. Catherine looked around in confusion; taking in Kyoko's distress over the previous song and Ren's joy at his escaping manager, she quickly decided that they had enough music for one night. Prodding Kyoko back to life, she asked the talented woman to watch the food before she killed the computer and removed it to her bedroom.
Yashiro stood in front of Catherine's bathroom sink with water dripping from the end of bangs. Washing his face had done him a world of good in cooling down his raging blush. He had also cooled the burning need to throttle his charge. He dried himself off and opened the door to find Catherine had dumped her computer on the bed and was in the processes of grinding the heels of her hands into her eyes trying to rid herself of the remains of her headache. Upon hearing the door open, she dropped her hands and turned towards the noise. Pressing hard on her eyes had clouded them so she was unable to see the man she knew was there. She tried rubbing her eyes with the knuckles of her thumbs to restore her sight, but this only worsened the issue.
"Are you ok?" Yashiro asked as he came to check on the distressed woman.
"Ya. I was just rubbing too hard." Catherine answered as she stopped grinding against her eyes and started blinking to see if that would help. Yashiro placed his hand on the side of her face and tilted her head back so he could peer into her unfocused eyes as she blinked rapidly. When her vision cleared, Catherine's heart fluttered like a trapped bird as she found herself caught, for the second time that day, by the warm honey-brown eyes and soft touch of the man before her. She could see Yashiro's concern being melted away by hotter emotions as her vacant gaze sharpened to meet his. The pain that caused her original problem was pushed from her mind as she fought with herself. Did she give in and step into his embrace or harden her resolve and pull away from him? The breath that she was unknowingly holding slipped from her as she closed her eyes in surrender to the desire in her companion's face. Even though her heart was not prepared for the consequences, she was unable to deny him one second longer. Her heart pounded as she waited for him to close the gap separating them. Just as he was about to capture her lips, reality came crashing down on them in the form of the voice of the actor in the other room.
It only took Kyoko a few seconds to recover from her shock and embarrassment when Catherine asked her to watch the still cooking food. The garlic bread and chicken only needed a few more minutes to finish, and it would be a disaster to let it burn after Catherine had worked all evening to make the special meal. Unable to face her senpai yet, she turned her attention to what needed to be done. Ren watched as his love cracked open the over to check on the bread. Finding it just perfect, she pulled it out and closed the oven back. She put the hot cookie sheet down and turned to find the bowl she had prepared earlier. Since he had been paying close attention to her movements, Ren retrieved the dish from the table and delivered it to the counter before Kyoko could move for it herself. Ren decided this was the perfect time to break the uncomfortable atmosphere with a simple question.
"So did you enjoy your afternoon?" He spoke softly so not to spook the skittish girl.
"Oh yes." Kyoko replied, forgetting about her most recent embarrassing encounter. She started to gush on about the movie Catherine had introduced her to and all the types of American music they had listened to as she loaded the hot bread into the bowl. Ren leaned against the counter and smiled warmly as the girl bubbled happily about her day, he could listen to her like this forever. It didn't take her long to finish the task and turn part of her attention back to the dish of cheese covered goodness in the over. She paused in her rambling as she inspected the melted mozzarella starting to brown in the over. Not sure if this was supposed to happen, she pulled it out of the oven and set the hot dish on top of the stove. As Kyoko tended to the steaming food, Ren pushed away from the counter and informed Kyoko that he would find out what was keeping their missing companions. "Hey guys." He called as he stepped out of the kitchen.
To Yashiro's surprise and dismay, he found the woman he was about to kiss retreading rapidly from his grasp as his charge passes through the door into the bedroom. Ren came up short when he saw the rapid movement from the woman and wondered if he had interrupted something important. Both parties in the room turned to look at the new addition. Ren decided he had intruded at the wrong time because he could make out a slight hint of disappointment in his manager's eyes.
"Pardon me." He apologized to the pair. "Kyoko thinks dinner is ready." Catherine nodded her thanks and skirted around Yashiro and fled quickly from the room. Ren noticed how she had refused to look at either man as she passed and had been very careful to not touch his manager as she skittered pass him. Yashiro's heart twinged as he watched the woman escape from the room. Yashiro slowly followed expecting to be ribbed for what had just happened. As he came close to his charger, Ren shook his head as a sad smile crept onto his face. "I know how you feel." Ren dropped an understanding hand on his manager's shoulder as he sympathized with him. Both love-sick fools sighed deeply before heading to the women troubling their hearts.
Catherine chastised herself as she fled from the room. Of all the stupid, idiotic thing she could be doing, falling in love was the worst. She was only staying in Japan until things with Kyoko situation improved and her services were no longer needed. Then she was supposed to return to her life back in the states. It would be unfair for both of them if she allowed her feeling to grow anymore. Her job was unconducive to a relationship and she had already lost several suitors due to the stressful conditions it caused. Unlike a normal manager, there were extra duties that she needed to focus on. In the best of times, she spent every waking hour with her charge; at the worst it was very dangerous. Catherine continued to mutter reprimanding things as she checked on the work that Kyoko had completed. Kyoko was shocked by the string of English insults that issued from Catherine as she puttered around the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner.
"Is everything ok?" Kyoko asked as Catherine arranged the food on the counter top.
"Oh yes." She lied, "I just….." Her words fell off as the two men entered the room. She quickly turned away from them and sighed deeply before changing what she was about to say. "It's nothing, just forget it." Kyoko studied her manager for a moment before nodding and letting the subject drop. She could tell that the woman was upset about something, but this was not a good time to press the issue. Kyoko also felt that Yashiro seemed sad as his eyes traced the woman as she moved through the room. Catherine took another breath to compose herself before slipping into a happier mood. She would deal with her personal issues at a later time. She turned to the guests with a warm and inviting smile.
"Dinner is ready, so please help yourselves." Lacking the proper serving dishes, Catherine had left the deconstructed meal on the counter to allow her guests to take as much, or little, as they wanted. Catherine giggled as Kyoko took Ren's plate away from him and loaded it with a decent portion. She loved how the younger woman bullied the strong willed man into eating correctly. It was something she had never seen him let anyone else do. And to her amazement, Ren ate every bite under Kyoko's watchful eye.
The rest of the meal was filled with many complements and much laughter. Ren and Kyoko carried most of the conversation as they compared their days. Both Catherine and Yashiro laughed and talked with them, but Catherine had taken the seat farthest from the man troubling her and avoided meeting his eyes as much as possible. When Yashiro wasn't laughing at Kyoko's stories, he was glancing at Catherine with a forlorn look in his eyes. The few times she did met his eyes, he was troubled by the worried look she gave him before she turned away as quickly as she could. It was like she was not sure what to do with him.
After dinner was cleared away, the four friends retired to the living room to sit before calling it a day. As her guests found seats on the couch, Catherine headed over to the small coffee table placed at the far end of the room. She stood over the table as she contemplated the best way to manhandle the heave object over where she needed it. She was saved from the daunting task by a hand placed gently on her shoulder. Her heart stopped when she found that the hand was attached to the man that she had been avoiding during dinner.
"Would you like some help?" It was amazing how much emotion she could read from that light touch and simple offer. The troubled tone in his voice made her realize that her insecurities had caused her to be rude to this sweet soul and that she needed to find a better way to deal with her feelings. Catherine let out a cleaning breath before graciously accepting his help in moving the table to a more convenient location. After depositing the table, Yashiro settled himself on the floor next to it while Catherine and Kyoko excused themselves to retrieve the fresh cookies and tea from the kitchen.
"Are you still going to hold me to our deal?" Ren needled his manager. Yashiro sat up straighter on the floor and folded his hands on the table.
"Yes." A wicked grin creped onto his face, "Just remember, you have to also." Concern filled Ren's face. After what he had walked in on earlier, he was sure that Catherine would say yes to his offer.
"Are you going to ask her tonight?" anxiety filled Ren at the possible answer his manager could give.
"Maybe." Yashiro teased the nervous man on the couch. He loved to watch Ren squirm. In reality, Yashiro did not know if he wanted to broach the subject with Catherine. After the second close call, he was sure that she was having a profound effect on his heart, but her actions spoke volumes of her unease. It was very apparent that she was reluctant to let herself be swayed at the moment. He would wait until he was sure that is was not the headache, or the medication that was making her act oddly before he took any action. The two men were saved from further discussion when Kyoko reappeared with a plate of homemade cookies. Catherine followed behind her with the lacquered tray filled with the tea service.
After depositing their burdens, Catherine came to rest on the floor so that Kyoko could take the seat next to Ren on the couch. Yashiro noted that Catherine seemed to have come to terms with what was bothering her for the slight unease she held throughout dinner was no longer there. She did place a decent amount of space between them, but she did not avoid his eyes as she had done earlier. The worry that plagued him before melted away as they ate the cookies and relaxed.
The inevitable time finally arrived when her guest really needed to be going so they could retire for the night. Catherine had refused to let Kyoko clean up in kitchen using the excuse that Ren would be inconvenienced if they stayed any longer. The actor started to offer to stay till everything was done, but his offer died on his lips when Catherine shot him a death glare over the young woman's shoulder. After assuring them that she could handle it, Kyoko finally gave in and agreed to let Ren take her home.
"You have all been so kind to me today, thank you." Catherine followed her guests to the door. She had packed up the remains of the chocolate chip cookies and handed them to Kyoko as a parting gift. "I will see you tomorrow morning." She promised her charge before turning her mind to a pressing issue that she had almost forgotten. "We will also need to give them an answer on that last job soon so think about it ok?" Kyoko froze as she thought about the decision she had been avoiding. She prayed that Ren would not ask her about that job on the way home.
"I will let you know tomorrow." Kyoko tried her best to sound nonchalant about it, but Ren could tell there was something off with her. Catherine agreed before wishing her friends good night and watching as they made their way to the elevation. Before she turned to head back into her apartment, she caught a final longing look from a pair of honey-brown eyes as the metallic door of the elevator swallowed her friend. She shivered in response before locking the door behind her and applying her frustration to the task of cleaning up. Once everything was spotless again, she took one final dose of painkillers before slipping into her bed for the night. The medication pushed her off into a deep and restful slumber.