Chapter 10. I hope you like this chapter, I have been having a hard time coming up with ideas, so I am farther behind then I really wanted to be, but I think that I have gotten some of the issued cleared up. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Please let me know. Thanks.
Note: I do not own Skip Beat!
Mina was waiting with a new outfit when Kyoko walked into the changing room. This one was more sophisticated than the clothing she was wearing. The makeup artist held something out to Kyoko who reached her hand out and took the plastic object and looked at it.
"There is a sink in the back. You will need to shave before you change." The young woman said to her subject. Horror filled Kyoko's eyes as she took in what the woman said. Mina looked at the tall man's shocked expression. "Is everything ok?" She asked. Kyoko realized that her emotions were showing and quickly slipped into Ren's professional face to hide.
"Everything's fine." Kyoko smiled at Mina. "I'll just go take care of this." Kyoko took the disposable razor and stepped around the woman and disappeared into the washroom that was separated by a curtain. Mina watched the man for a moment before turning back to her clothing. She looked up when the young girl that had accompanied Ren to the shoot stepped into the prep room with a bottle of water for the model. Her eyes cast around the empty room and Mina pointed her towards the room where the model was supposed to be shaving. The young girl nodded her thanks and Mina went back to checking over the wardrobe. Her eyes found a loose button on one of the shirts and she left to get the sewing kit from the travel case. Mina took one last look at the girl that was standing just outside the curtain before walking out the door. Surely Ren's friend would not interfere with what he was doing.
Kyoko stood in front of the mirror and stared at the reflection of Ren looking back at her. How was she supposed to shave his face? True, she knew how to use a razor, but the skin of the face was way more sensitive than the skin that she usually shaved. She cast her eyes around the articles on the sink. There were several bottles and tubes with what looked like makeup remover and soap, but she did not see anything that she recognized as shaving cream. Kyoko was about to pick up the soap when a familiar voice wafted through the curtain.
"How are you doing Kyoko?" Ren asked softly so that the other woman in the room would not hear him. He tried to step back as the curtain flew open but a large hand thrust out to seized him and drag him into the small room. The plea that came along with the actions stopped the startled scream that threatened Ren's throat.
"HELP ME!" Kyoko cried as she shut the curtain closed behind her senpai. Ren's eyes widened as he tried to find the cause of the girl's dismay.
"What's wrong Kyoko-chan?" He asked when he could not find a cause to her distress. Kyoko lifted the razor from where she had placed it on the sink. A smiled pulled at Ren's lips, but he let his kohai explain her issues.
"I have to SHAVE!" The horrified look on Kyoko's face made Ren's grin widen and he had to take a deep breath to keep his emotions in check. Even in his body Kyoko was just too cute for her own good. Kyoko took this sigh as a NG and she froze up. How could he give her a NG for not knowing how to shave? Ren reached out and took the plastic razor from her and squeezed her hand reassuringly. Kyoko relaxed a little at his gesture.
"It's easy, but I will help you." Kyoko relaxed even more at his words. "You have used a razor before, yes?" Ren twisted to face the sink and turned on the water to get hot before plugging the bottom.
"Yes, but never on my face." Kyoko explained. Ren took in the unguarded emotions that played across Kyoko's face. He was sure that he could never look the innocent, even if he tried.
"The basics are the same. Now, take off your shirt so that it does not get wet." Kyoko slipped out of the article and hung it on the hanger behind her. Ren had finished filling the basin and picked up a tube from among the bottles. He stepped back so that Kyoko could stand at the sink. "You'll need to wet your face." Kyoko followed Ren's instructions and brought the very hot water up to her face. He held out the black tube for Kyoko to take. She looked at the red label on it and saw that it was indeed shaving cream. Kyoko opened the top and started to squeeze some of the sandalwood scented cream into her hand.
"Not too much," Ren warned. "A little will go a long way." Kyoko dropped a pea sized dollop on her fingers and handed the tube back to Ren so he could recap it. She careful rubbed the cream between her fingers and found that it frothed up nicely. At Ren's instructions she careful covered the lower half of her face with the thick foam and rinsed her hands off. Ren pulled the cover off the razor and wrinkled his nose as he inspected the three blades before handing the sharp instrument to Kyoko. He preferred an electric razor, but this would have to do for now. Kyoko looked at the thing and back to her senpai.
"I can't do this." She looked back at Ren in fear. "What if I hurt you?" Kyoko couldn't stand the possibility of cutting Ren's perfect skin.
"It's really not that hard." Ren tried to reassure the girl. "And you would be the one feeling the pain." Ren smiled.
"Yes, but it would be your skin." Kyoko protested.
"Ok." Ren could only think of one solution to this problem. "How about I get you started?" Ren took the razor from Kyoko's hand and turned her so he could work. Kyoko smiled happy that he was willing to help her.
Mina opened the door to the makeup room to find Ren's guest was gone. She did not think much about it as she picked up the shirt and loose button so that she could sit in one of the makeup chairs to fix it. Mina had just sat down when she heard the girl's voice coming from behind the curtain. This upset the makeup artist, her subject was supposed to be in there shaving. Mina got up to give the girl a piece of her mind, but stopped with her hand on the curtain when she heard the girl speak.
"You're too tall." The girl's voice rang out. "Why don't you help me up on this counter, it would make the angle better." Mina could not believe what she was hearing.
"Is that better?" The male voice that she recognized as Ren answered her.
"Much, now move this way so I can… right there." The girls commanded. "Now till the head up."
"Like this?" Asked Ren's voice.
"Yes." The girl's voice sounded please. "Now you use short even strokes." Ren moaned a little in response. Mina covered her mouth as a light blush bloomed across her cheeks. She could not believe what she was hearing. Asuka stepped into the room to get the next outfit for Marianna ready and Mina waved her over to listen at the curtain.
"What?" Asuka asked. Mina shushed her and pointed to the curtain as the girl's voice came out again.
"Here you try it." Asuka looked questioning at Mina as the soft noise of protest came from the man behind the curtain. "Just be gentle and it will not hurt."
"Ok." The timid words of the man sounded. Asuka's eyes widened and a blush rose on her cheeks.
"Remember, soft gentle strokes." The girl's voice informed. "Don't push so hard or you'll leave a red mark." Both the makeup artist and her assistant turned a darker shade of red as they listened to the pair. "Just let it rub over gently."
"Like this?" The male voice asked and was answered with content ah-ha from the girl. They both covered their mouths as they gasped together.
"Now, stretch the skin at the base just slightly and you can get closer without hurting." The girl instructed and was met with a light grunt from the tall model. The two eavesdropping woman both giggled quietly. "Now you have to do right here."
"How?" Asked the male voice.
"Just bite your.. ya, just like that." The girl said as Ren moaned lightly again. "Now pull straight down."
"How's that?" Ren's voice asked.
"Good, now just rinse this out." The woman heard water gurgle down the drain before the tap turned on. "Use cold." They heard the sounds of water splashing. "Now let me feel."
"What do you think?" Asked Ren.
"Very nice." The girl sounded pleased. "Not bad for your first time…." The two listening woman could not take anymore, Mina ripped back the curtain to see a shirtless Ren standing in front of his guest patting his face dry with a towel. The auburn haired girl sitting on the counter had just pulled her hand back from touching the freshly shaved cheek. The actors stared at the two red women staring at them.
"Is something wrong?" Ren asked from where he sat on the counter. Mina's mouth worked for a moment before she was able to recover.
"I …was… just…. checking to see if Tsuruga-san were done yet." Mina covered as best she could. She was not sure why the girl was helping Ren shave, but she was glad it was that and not what she had thought she had overheard.
"I just finished." Kyoko pulled the towel away from her face and hung it back up over the bar where she had found it before turning fully to the two reddened women.
"Ahh… good…." Mina and Asuka backed away so the tall man could come out. The girl slipped from the counter and followed him into the main prep room. Mina picked up the dark blue shirt and dark pants and handed them to her subject to go change. Kyoko took the clothing and slipped back into the curtained room to change into them. Ren stood just inside the room and cracked open the bottle of water and took a sip out of it.
"Are you two dating?" Asuka asked the girl. Ren considered what answer to give the girl when his eyes were drawn to the door. Marianna had stopped in the doorway when the assistant had asked her question. Ren let a playful smile slip onto his face.
"No we are not dating." Ren answered.
"You seem to be very close though." Mina pointed out as she prepared to put Kyoko's makeup back on.
"You could say that we have a unique understanding of each other's inner working." Ren smiled as he locked eyes with the French woman glowering at him. The two makeup artists turned to see the model had come in and hurried to get the next outfits ready. Ren took another slow sip of the water and was holding the bottle up in front of him as Kyoko stepped out of the changing room. Ren held the bottle out for Kyoko to take.
"Thanks." Kyoko said as she took the bottle and downed about half of the water without realizing that Ren had opened it and taken a drink. Marianna glared at the girl that had just tricked the tall man into an indirect kiss. Kyoko handed the bottle back to Ren and went to sit in the Mina's chair so that her makeup could be redone. Ren took the bottle and slowly raised it to his lips and took another lingering sip without taking his eyes off the French woman. Marianna could read the taunt and the challenge that crackled from the young girl's golden eyes. The only way it would have been louder was if the teen had actually walked over and slapped the woman across the face. Ren recapped the water as he started to leave. He gave Kyoko a reassuring pat on the shoulder as he passed and paused for a moment as he drew even with the model. He let a mischievous grin color his eyes before continuing past the model stiff with anger. Ren laughed to himself as the door shut behind him. He would have to apologize to Kyoko later for his reckless behavior, but he could not let that woman get away with treating his kohai so poorly. It did not matter that he possessed her body at the moment. Now that he was not holding up the mask of Tsuruga Ren, Kuon's mischievous side was slipping through.