Here is the next installment. Please let me know what you think.
Note: I do not own Skip Beat!
The morning light trickled into the room and Ren studied the sleeping face of the girl in his arms. It had been a hard night for both of them, but he loved the way she looked asleep. After their talk, Kyoko had made him help her finish the plate of onigiri and clean the kitchen before they retired for the night. He had managed to coax her into his bed with the promise of storied from his childhood. She had come eagerly. He couldn't wait for the day that she would come that eagerly to his bed for other things. They had spent several hours cuddled together as he regaled her with the glories of his past. He had only stopped when her deep even breathing had informed him that she had fallen asleep. Shortly later, he too found sleep with the one he loved wrapped safely in his arms.
Kyoko stirred in her sleep. She was having a wonderful dream about her childhood fairy friend when she opened her eyes to meet the clear blue eyes of the man he had grown into. Kyoko tensed up as she tried to separate fact from fiction. Ren held his breath expecting the young girl to bolt from his bed. He started breathing again when she came to terms with her situation and relaxed in his arms.
"Good morning Kyoko." Ren whispered to her. Kyoko smiled and returned his greeting.
"Good morning Kuon." Ren's heart flipped and his careful leaned into the girl and kissed her softly. He loved the sound of his real name on her lips. Kyoko fidgeted in his arms. Ren pulled away and smiled at the blushing girl. He knew that it was still a long time till she was going to be completely comfortable being in his bed, but he was willing to wait for her. Ren looked over at the time and sighed. He had spent more time in his bed today then he had in a long time. Kyoko followed his eyes to what made him sighed and squeed at the late hour.
"How can it be so late?" Ren released Kyoko as she wiggled out from under the covers. "I was sure that Yashiro-san and Kat-chan would be back by now." Ren smiled at his love as she attempted to walk to the bathroom in the long legs of his pajamas. He had been surprised by the strange noise that escaped from her last night when she opened the overnight bag that Catherine has left for her. When he asked her what was wrong, she squeaked louder and shoved whatever she had been looking at back in her bag before telling him that Catherine had forgotten to include something for her to sleep in. Ren had solved the problem by giving her a pair of his silk pajamas that had a drawstring in the bottom. He had nearly come undone when she came out swimming in the fabric of the buttoned top, she was just too cute. What he didn't tell her was that he peeked into her bag when she went to the bathroom to get changed. He shook his head when he pulled the light lavender silk and organza baby-doll nightgown out of her bag. He had to give it to Catherine, it was a good try. He was now sure that she was spending way too much time with his manager. He had taken the garment and the matching thong and folded it carefully away in one of his draws. He knew that, given the chance, Kyoko would find a way to dispose of the article somewhere and he really wanted to see her in it someday. He didn't respond to the odd look she gave him last night when she came back to her bag to find the intimate apparel missing.
His mind was brought back to the here and now when he heard the water running in his bathroom. He had to shake himself to clear his mind of the visions of Kyoko's soft white skin covered in tiny droplets of water. He groaned and promised himself a very cold shower as soon as she was done. Ren pulled himself from his bed and went to see if he could find out what had happened to their managers.
Catherine picked up her phone on the second ring. She had been waiting for the actors to call her, but she had expected them to call much sooner.
"Good morning." Catherine answered. "Did you have a good night?" Ren could hear the teasing tone in her voice.
"Actually, yes." Ren smiled into the phone. He got a giggle out of the girl for his troubles. "Thank you for getting Yashiro out of here so that we could have a long talk."
"It was my pleasure." Catherine cooed into the phone.
"I'm sure it was." Ren teased back. Catherine reddened slightly at his words.
"So she knows now?" Catherine figured he took the opportunity, but she had to verify it.
"Yes, she knows." Ren nodded.
"And?" He could hear the anticipation in Catherine's voice. His answer would determine how she would need to act in the next few months.
"She took it better than I could have asked for." Ren admitted. Catherine could hear the relief in his words.
"Good." Catherine finished before turning to other things. "Yuki and I are already out at the villa. We met with the movers and are getting things settled here. When you're ready, come on out." Ren stood in shock at his old friends words.
"Yuki?" Ren questioned as he tried to pin that name on his manager.
"You know who I mean." Catherine gruffed at him. "Just get your backsides out here. Oh and one more thing. If anything happens to her before she gets here…. You get to answer to that knife wielding man." Ren laughed into the line as Catherine cut off the call. He could just picture himself laid out on the Darumaya's counter being reduced to little chunks of flesh by a very angry Taishou.
After quick showers and breakfast, Ren drove Kyoko out to the villa that she would be staying in for the next few months. He watched in rapture as Kyoko's eyes lit up when they pulled into the mansions driveway. In ways of Lory's homes, this one was very small, only six bedrooms and two living rooms, but it was like a castle to the young woman.
"It's magnificent!" Kyoko cooed as she got out of the car. Ren walked the young woman to her new home as she tried to take in everything at once. "Am I really going to stay here?" The wonder in her voice drew a chuckle from the tall actor.
"Until your birthday." Ren answered. The pair approached the porch of the home when Catherine opened the door for them.
"Good to see you made it." Catherine greeted them warmly, "Come on it and take a look around." Kyoko waffled in the entrance way for a moment before slipping out of her shoes. The house was western style so there was no place to take off her shoes, but the carpets were a very light cream and she did not want to risk getting them dirty. Yashiro came out of kitchen wiping his hands on a towel.
"Good morning Kyoko-chan." He greeted the girl warmly. "I just finished with some tea, so when you're done exploring you can have some." Kyoko thanked him and disappeared into the home. Catherine followed to help the girl pick out the room that she wanted. Ren followed the girl with soft warm eyes. Yashiro came to stand by his side. "Your mask is slipping again." he teased his charge. Ren smiled at him.
"So is yours YUKI." Ren teased. Yashiro turned bright red and looked away from his friend.
"Did you have a good night?" Yashiro asked. Ren considered what kind of answer to give him.
"It was good." He finally decided that the truth would be best. "Kyoko and I sat down and had a long talk." Ren smiled and went to the kitchen. Yashiro followed. "How was your night?" Ren grinned slyly at his friend. "I was starting to worry when you didn't come back." Yashiro blushed again and readjusted his glasses.
"Well, um…. we…. had a nice night." Yashiro could not think of a decent way to say it, so he let the details go. "This morning we swung past Catherine's apartment to get her things and met up with the movers with Kyoko's boxes." Yashiro busied himself with refreshments as he told Ren about the rest of the morning and the way Catherine had inspected the house when they arrived. "I was amazed. She didn't just look in every room; she opened ever door and cabinet in the place. She even crawled into the attic and checked out the crawlspace under the house." Ren nodded as his friend.
"She wanted to make sure the place was safe." Ren understood what she was doing. Yashiro just stared at him.
"But that wasn't the strangest part." Ren listened as his friend went on. "Before I knew what was going on, she climbed up the outside of the house and inspected the roof." Ren gave him a blank face. "Just right up the trellis like it was nothing." Ren smiled at his confused friend. "Oh, oh, and when she was done inspecting all of the skylights and roof vents, she just slipped over the edge and dropped to the overhang on the porch before jumping down, like she was some cat out for a stroll." Ren laughed then patted Yashiro on the back. He winced as Ren came down on a raw spot.
"Looks like your kitty has claws." Ren teased. Yashiro grinned and shook his head.
"Yes, but I wouldn't have it any other way." Yashiro looked to the doorway leading to the living room. "She never ceases to amaze me." Ren smiled at his friend.
"Me either." He was saved from elaboration by the auburn streak that chose that moment to shoot into the room.
"Ren-kun! There's a POOL!" Kyoko bounced in her excitement. "And it's in a greenhouse so that we can use it when it gets cold." Ren nearly dropped his cup as she pulled him from the room. It was only Yashiro's quick hand that caught it from him as he left with the excited girl. Catherine came laughing into the room. She found the sight of the much larger man being dragged at breakneck speeds through the living room by an excited teen too funny not to laugh.
"Did you get everything settled?" Yashiro turned to place the cups in his hands onto the counter. Catherine wrapped her arms around him and rested her cheek on his back.
"We still have a lot to do, but she did pick out her room." Yashiro flinched as Catherine rubbed her face against his back. "Sorry." Catherine apologized shyly. Yashiro rotated in her arms to face her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up against him.
"Don't be," Yashiro shook he head lightly. "I'm not." Catherine giggled at him. "Let's just see if we can keep those claws sheathed a little better next time, ok kitty?" Catherine giggled again then purred at him. She had to stop when he pressed his lip to hers for a long deep kiss.