Here is the next section. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know. I will be back on a regulare schedule on Monday. I haven't had a moment to rest to even thing about writing more. I have just a few more chapters ready for cleaning till I run out, but I do have quite a few need ideas to explore.
Note: I do not own Skip Beat!.
Catherine and Yashiro returned from the store to find the two actors hard at work scrubbing the living room floor. Yashiro laughed at the sight of Ren on his hands and knees with a cloth tied over his head as he wiped up the water from the floor. Kyoko had tried to convince the tall actor that he should not help, but he has insisted saying that he would not relax while she worked. He had as much reason to show his appreciation to their host as she did. Kyoko had reluctantly agreed to his help. She had given him the cloth because his hair kept falling into his eyes as they worked. They had already scoured the kitchen and the bathroom. Ren glowered at him and tossed the dirty rag at his manager. Yashiro giggled as he blocked it and went to help Catherine with their fair. Somehow Catherine had managed to pack everything except the eggs and bread away into the compartments on the bike. Once everything was in the house, Catherine helped Kyoko put the groceries away as Yashiro stripped out of his heavier clothing and back into the more comfortable ones that he had started the day in. Ren finished emptying out the cleaning water and put their supplies away. Now that the work was done, the two couples retired to the living room to rest for a while.
Kyoko was surprised when she turned on the TV. The normal program was preempted by a breaking news story about the sudden disappearance of Japan's number one actor. She settled on to the couch next or Ren to listen to the story and the speculations of the police as to how it happened and where he was. The building that Ren lived in had a high end security system guarding the doors. Since they did not want to invade the privacy of their residents, there were no cameras in the halls or stairs. The only images of the assailants were from the parking garage as they were carrying the man out. Even though the pictures were good, Catherine was mostly hidden beneath his mass and the leather jacket she had worn, and Kyoko was hidden by the fedora that Catherine had forced on her head. They all laughed when the police said they were probably looking for a middle aged muscular guy and a petite young female. The two couples cuddled as the news outlined Ren's professional career and reactions from the entertainment world. LME had only stated that they were looking into Ren's disappearance and would make a statement when they had more information. Yashiro was a little confused when the news mentioned that they had tried to reach him for comment, but could not. Had Lory not informed the police that he was missing too? He turned to ask about his thoughts to find that Catherine had fallen asleep against him. He let it go and turned his attention back the reports as he held her close.
Ren and Kyoko had found a chess board during their cleaning spell and Ren was in the process of teaching Kyoko how to play when the sailor came home. Kyoko stood up to greet their host, but the American waved her back to her game as he stowed his gear. Con was surprised by the changes in his guests when he got home. If he did not know who the actors were, he would never have been able to name them. He shook his head when he saw the short red hair of his sister-in-law as she slept against the man on the couch. He knew how much his wife had hated having her hair cut when she went into the navy, so he could imagine what Catherine felt at the change.
The return of their host let Kyoko know that it was time to start dinner. She left Ren to clear away the game as she got up to fix something to eat. She planned to make a large meal so that the nice young man would have leftovers for the next few days. Con came back out to find that they had moved and offered to help cook. Ren chuckled as Kyoko ushered Con out of the kitchen. He offered the man a game of chess instead. The sailor agreed and the two men sat down to a battle of wits.
Catherine woke slowly from her nap. She rubbed her face into her warm pillow and breathed in his fragrance. She woke up more to the chuckle that vibrated through her as Yashiro brought his arm down to make her stop. She had hit a sensitive spot that tickled. At his urging, Catherine sat up and started to take in the sounds around her. She had slept hard cuddling up against his side and her brain was refusing to work right. She caught the English words of the two men playing in the other room. She rubbed the sleep for her eyes and stood up to stretch before going to make sure everything was settled. The two men noticed her as soon as she came up to the table and sat down.
"Have a nice nap?" Con asked as he moved his knight across the board. They were into their third game and he was determined to win. They had each won one and were both evenly matched in strategy and skill. Catherine rubbed her eye again sleepily and nodded her head.
"Did you get it taken care of?" She asked her brother-in-law. Con cursed softly as Ren took the bishop that he was moving into position.
"Ya," He studied the board for his next move before looking up at Catherine tucked into her chair. "I parked the car in the long-term deployment parking for a while. No one is going to look for it there." Con turned back to the board and took another of Ren's pawns.
"Thanks Con, you're such a life saver." Catherine leaned over and placed a kiss on the man's cheek. "I already filled out the papers for the bike, you just need to have legal notarize it for you." Con nodded and grumbled as Ren took his knight. Catherine felt Yashiro walk up and lean against the back of her chair to watch Ren slowly kill their host. Catherine leaned back and covered Yashiro's hand as he placed it on her shoulder. Shortly after Ren forced Con's king into checkmate, Kyoko called that dinner was done. Now that pressing matters had been taken care of, Con pulled the taller stool over to the table so that he could talk with his guests. Once the meal was put away and the dishes done, they spent the rest of the evening talking about their jobs as actors and learning about life aboard an aircraft carrier. As the time grew late, Con wished his guests a good night and retired to his bed. The four friends resumed their sleeping spaces and spent the night in the arms of the ones they loved.