Yays more chapters! I really did plan to only put up one chapter a day, but I just get so excited when I get one cleaned up, that I just have to get it out for you. I really hope you are enjoying this so far. Please let me know.

Note: I don't own Skip Beat!

It was a surprisingly long time before Kyoko slipped out from the curtain concealing Catherine's little corner of the emergency room. She smiled at the two waiting men before she pulled the curtain back to reveal her manager. Kyoko had wrapped the woman in the blue floral patterned yukata and held it in place with a contrasting red and black obi. The young woman had helped to comb out Catherine's long hair and pulled it up in an elegant twist held in place with a pair of decretive chops sticks. Ren smiled at the choices that his beloved kohai had made. He had been unable to find a parking spot near the shop, so he had sent Kyoko in with his credit card and the orders to pick out something that would look nice on her manager. It had only take Kyoko three minutes to return with the bag in hand. He was please when he saw the affect the traditional dress had on his manager.

Yashiro stood, open mouthed, staring at the elegantly dressed woman. Catherine blushed lightly at the attention and started to join her companions. Yashiro's mouth slammed shut when the woman stumbled and grabbed the bed so she did not hit the floor. He rushed to her sided where he was waved back by the strong willed woman with a shake of the head. Yashiro stepped back as Catherine levered herself up again and gingerly walked forwards to join Kyoko and Ren standing in the walkway. Ren let Kyoko and Catherine lead the way to reception, while he and Yashiro took up the rear. After a few bits of paperwork the group headed to the doors where they meet with a big surprise.

Kyoko and Catherine triggered the automatic doors to the blinding flash of cameras. The accident that shut down the Shuto Expressway had been big news. It turned into even bigger news when the circling news helicopters recognized Tsuruga Ren standing on the roadway and it had not taken the press long to identify the young woman pulled from the car as Kyoko. It had, however, taken the paparazzi a while to get close to the accident, at which time, Ren and Kyoko had already left for the hospital. A few calls and some well-greased palms found where the injured persons were taken, and the photographers descended on the sight like locusts. Only a few reporters made it to the hospital before the stars did, but Ren and Kyoko's appearance had just confirmed the information that was leaking out.

The press clambered for the attention of the four people leaving the emergency room.

"Tell us what happened."

"Was Kyoko injured?"

"Who caused the accident?"

"Are the rumors true that Tsuruga-san and Kyoko-san are dating?"

"Who is this Yashiro Catherine that was pulled from the car?" Catherine almost laughed at this question. Instead the woman raised both of her hands to calm the excited reporters. There was no way they were going to get to the car without some kind of statement, and Catherine decided to take it on herself to solve the problem.

"Good evening." She began. Ren was worried about what the woman would say, her behavior since the wreck had been slightly off. "I am happy to inform you that everyone involved in today's calamity is doing well. As to the cause of the accident, I do not have that information at this time. I have heard that the driver of the truck is in stable condition, and as you can see, Kyoko-san and I have been treated and released. As to the other questions, I am unaware of any relationship beyond that of senpai and kohai between Tsuruga-san and Kyoko-san." This statement caused a little stabbing pain in both actors' hearts. "And you have been sadly misinformed on the name of the woman pulled from the car. I am Catherine Saunders, Kyoko-san's manager, not Yashiro Catherine." Yashiro let out an almost unperceivable wistful sigh at these words. "Any further questions should be addressed to LME. Thank you and have a nice day." Having answered all the questioned posed to her, Catherine took Kyoko's arm and led her through the press to the silver sports car. Ren opened the doors and the group got in and drove away to the flashing of cameras.

"That was a nice job back there." Ren complemented the quick witted manager. Catherine looked at the actor through the rear view mirror.

"How did you know about the condition of the truck driver?" Yashiro asked, he had no idea where the woman had gotten the information. He had asked, but no one would tell him anything.

"That was easy." Catherine turned her attention to the man next to her. "I talked with the nurse that took me to x-ray. When I told her that I was in that accident and was worried about the man, she was more than happy to let me know that he was doing well." Yashiro was impressed that she had been able to get the information about the truck driver.

"It's impressive that you made up that entire statement on the fly. Very professional." Kyoko complemented her.

"Oh no. I had that one all worked out before we left." Catherine admitted. "To be honest, I had answers to all the possible questions figured out, so I just had to put them together."

"…"Kyoko looked dumfounded at her manager.

"I figured an accident that disrupted would be noticed and filmed for the news. SOMEONE was bound to recognize Tsuruga-san on the side of the road, and you are pretty well-known too. So of course there is going to be a big to do about it in the news which only leads to the paparazzi getting involved. The question really was not IF they hit, but WHEN. What I did not expect was for them to descend that fast. Now I am glad I walked out on my own instead of having someone help me out." Catherine smiled softly at the man sitting next to her. Yashiro nodded his understanding that her insistence on walking on her own had been posturing and not stubbornness. Silence fell in the car as the friends thought about her words.

"Tell me," Yashiro broke the pensive silence. "When do you come up with this?"

"You come up with a lot of things to think about when you are waiting for someone to tell you if your legs are broken or not." A bitter sweet smile crept across Catherine's face before she turned her attention out the window. They rode in silence for a little while longer.

"Um… Where are we going?" Ren broke into his passenger's thoughts. "Do we still need to go to the location shoot, or is it too late?" The man had been driving that way just in case, but was unsure if he needed to be. Yashiro searched his pockets for his phone, having forgotten it was not there. Remembering where it was, he turned to Ren.

"Can I have my phone back now?" The actor chuckled and pulled the missing device out of his pocket and passed it back so Yashiro could call the director. Due to the severity of the accident, several of the crew members had heard about it and had set up a television to watch the breaking news, so the director knew what was going on and let them go home for the afternoon. He would call both Catherine and Yashiro tomorrow with revised schedules. He wished the two ladies the best before hanging up.

"I guess we head over to LME to talk to Lory." Yashiro informed the driver who proceeded to correct his course. The car let out a collective sigh at the thought of being in the president's office again. Catherine felt like apologizing for the ruined shoot, even though she knew it was not her fault. Kyoko informed them all that they needed to stop for food before they went to talk with the boss.

"Well what would you like to eat?" Ren asked the car in general. Catherine spoke for all of them in her answer.

"Anything but shrimp."